Da'at - The Balancing Stick

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Da'at - The Balancing Stick

The Hebrew word Da’at means knowledge. It comes from the Hebrew root Yada, which means, “to know.” In the study of Kabbalah, Da’at is like the bridge that connects the thought process to the bodily actions. You might say it is like the spinal cord that connects the head to the body. The spine is an important electrical communicator that, if damaged in any way, can cause you lots of major problems. Da’at sits just below the Keter (crown) on the Sefirotic tree. You could say it balances between wisdom and understanding. We can see the these three words used in the following passages of scripture: See, I have called you by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: And I have filled him with the spirit of Elohim, in wisdom (Chochmah), and in understanding (Binah), and in “knowledge” (Da’at) in all kinds of crafts. (Exodus 31:3-CJB) The fear (Yireh) of YHVH is the beginning of “knowledge” (Da’at): fools despise wisdom (Chochmah) and instruction (Torah).

(Proverbs 1:7) We have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the “knowledge” (Da’at) of His will (Keter) in all spiritual wisdom (Chochmah) and understanding (Binah) (Colossians 1:9) And in this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in “real knowledge” (Da’at) and all discernment (Binah), so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Mashiach. (Phillipians 1:9-10) We can see there are many different types of knowledge. Elohim has perfect Da’at contained in his will, his wisdom, and his understanding. We are limited as his creation, but still capable of gaining more and more Da’at if we really desire it. There is knowledge based on the things here in this world, which we certainly need to have. Spiritual wisdom is great, but you need to mix in a little human knowledge in the batter also. You know, things such as, don’t stick your tongue to a frozen pole in winter. Then there’s the verse that says it all in Hosea 4; My people are destroyed from “lack of knowledge” (Da’at). Since you have forgotten the Torah of your Elohim, I also will forget your children.

So we see there is a knowledge that leads to life and “that knowledge” is in the Torah. The knowledge that is all derived from man leads a person into arrogance. In 1st Corinthians 8:1-3, it tells us that when a person thinks he knows something, then he really doesn’t know what he should know. It states that knowledge puffs you up, but love edifies. So it’s man’s knowledge that will get him into pride, but YHVH’S knowledge always leads you down the good paths of life. So there’s only two basic types of Da’at - man’s and divine. I think it would befit us all to strive a little more after the divine and a little less on the worlds. Shalom