The 72 Names of God (Shemhamphorasch)
The 72 Names of God (שמהמפורש, Shem HaMephorash - "The Explicit Name") are derived from three consecutive verses in the Book of Exodus (14:19-21), each containing exactly 72 Hebrew letters. These verses describe the parting of the Red Sea, one of the most dramatic moments in biblical history.
According to Kabbalistic tradition, when these three verses are written one above the other - the first from right to left, the second from left to right, and the third from right to left - they form 72 three-letter combinations. Each combination is a distinct Name of God, embodying specific divine powers and attributes.
The Three Verses (Exodus 14:19-21)
14:19 וַיִּסַּע מַלְאַךְ הָאֱלֹהִים הַהֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵי מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיֵּלֶךְ מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶם וַיִּסַּע עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן מִפְּנֵיהֶם וַיַּעֲמֹד מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶם
"And the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them."
14:20 וַיָּבֹא בֵּין מַחֲנֵה מִצְרַיִם וּבֵין מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיְהִי הֶעָנָן וְהַחֹשֶׁךְ וַיָּאֶר אֶת־הַלָּיְלָה וְלֹא־קָרַב זֶה אֶל־זֶה כָּל־הַלָּיְלָה
"And it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud and the darkness, yet it gave light by night; and one did not come near the other all night."
14:21 וַיֵּט מֹשֶׁה אֶת־יָדוֹ עַל־הַיָּם וַיּוֹלֶךְ יְהוָה אֶת־הַיָּם בְּרוּחַ קָדִים עַזָּה כָּל־הַלַּיְלָה וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת־הַיָּם לֶחָרָבָה וַיִּבָּקְעוּ הַמָּיִם
"And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided."
The 288 Sparks System
Each of the 72 Names manifests in each of the 4 Worlds (Atziluth, Beriah, Yetzirah, Assiah), creating 72 × 4 = 288 unique Sparks. Each Spark represents a specific divine force operating at a particular level of reality.
The 72 Sacred Names
Using the Names
In Kabbalistic practice, each Name is associated with specific powers and used for particular purposes. The Names are not pronounced aloud but rather meditated upon, their letter combinations contemplated to draw down specific divine energies.
Traditional Applications:
- Healing - Certain Names (e.g., #6 Lelah, #60 Metzar) for physical and spiritual healing
- Protection - Names like #10 Elad and #24 Hahu for spiritual protection
- Wisdom - Names such as #2 Yeli and #25 Netah for intellectual illumination
- Revelation - Names like #17 Lau and #46 Ari for discovering hidden truths
Related Across the Mythos
99 Names of Allah
Islamic Divine Names