|: the sefirah gevurah

Gevurah

Gevurah is the fifth Sefirah.  It’s referred to as the attribute of judgment or strength.  It symbolizes the power of restriction, limitation or restraint, and is directly connected to the characteristics of discipline and control.  Gevurah inhabits a point on the left side (the left pillar or left axis) of the Sefirotic tree.  The left side is known as the side of restriction.

In the tzelem Elohim, Gevurah (being on the left) is the left arm.  Gevurah is the Sefirah of evaluation, assessment, and measure – also known as judgment.  And as Chesed, the right arm bestows mercy, Gevurah restricts or constrains.  It’s said that God created the world with both mercy and judgment.  Gevurah is a very necessary component in the “continuous” creation of the universe we inhabit.  If it were not for Gevurah, the unchecked, unrestrained lovingkindness would annul or nullify our existence. Moreover, the judgment power of Gevurah calls for the lovingkindness and boundless mercy of Chesed to be measured or meted out to each creature in such a way that the Creation receives the Lifeforce (or Light) of God directly in proportion to its capacity to receive it. 

Gevurah also corresponds to the Second Day of Creation.  During this period, the waters were separated – the Upper (Higher) waters from the Lower waters.  The restraining and judgment power of Gevurah was an essential factor in this.