Formation of the Embryo (Yetsirat ha-walad)

How is an embryo created? R. Yoḥanan said: What is the meaning of that which is written: Who does great, unsearchable things, marvelous without number (Job 5:9)? This refers to the great and marvelous things that the Holy One performs in the creation of an embryo. For when a man comes to engage in marital relations with his wife, the Holy One calls to the angel appointed over pregnancy and says to him, “Know that So-and-so will emit seed tonight for the creation of a person. You are to go and guard that drop, place it in a basin, and winnow it in a granary into 365 parts.” The angel does so, and then takes the drop and brings it before the Holy One and says to Him, “Master of the universe, I have done everything that You commanded me, but what will become of this drop? Decree upon it according to Your will.”

Immediately, the Holy One decrees whether it will be mighty or weak, tall or short, male or female, clever or stupid, wealthy or poor. However, He does not decree whether it will be wicked or righteous, as we say, “Everything is in the hands of Heaven, except for the fear of Heaven” [b. Berakhot 33b].

Immediately after, the Holy One signals to the angel appointed over the spirits and says to him, “Bring me the spirit of So-and-so,” as there is a specific number of created spirits that span the time from the day the world was created until the world ends.

The spirit soon comes before the Holy One and bows before Him. At that hour, the Holy One instructs it, “Enter this drop.” Straightaway, the spirit opens its mouth and declares, “Master of the universe, it is enough for me to be to be in the world where I have been from the day that I was created. If it be Your will, do not place me in this putrid drop, for I am holy and pure.” The Holy One replies, “The world into which I am placing you is better than the world where you previously were. Furthermore, when I created you, I created you only for this drop.” Without delay, the Holy One inserts it against its will into that drop, and the angel returns and puts the spirit into its mother’s womb. [ . . . ]

The fetus remains in its mother’s womb for nine months. During the first three months, it resides in the lower compartment; during the middle three months, it resides in the middle compartment; and during the last three months it resides in the upper compartment. It eats of all that its mother eats and drinks from that which its mother drinks, but it does not emit excrement, for if it were to do so, its mother would die. That is why it states: Who does great [and unsearchable things, marvelous without number] (Job 5:9).

When the fetus’s time to emerge arrives, that angel comes and says to him, “Emerge, as your time has come to emerge into the world.” The fetus retorts, “But I already declared before the One who spoke and the world came into being that it is enough for me to be in the world where I have been living.” The angel responds, “The world into which I am placing you is beautiful. Furthermore, it is against your will that you are formed in your mother’s womb, and it is against your will that you will be born and emerge into the world.” Immediately, the fetus cries. And why does it cry? Because of the world where it has been, which it must now leave behind.

Upon its emergence, the angel strikes it under its nose, extinguishes the candle that was above its head, and brings it out against its will, and then the fetus forgets all that it has seen. Yet it cries again upon its emergence. Why? Because seven worlds of life begin for him at that hour. In the first world, he is like a king, for everyone inquires about his health and all are eager to get a look at him. They hug and kiss him until he is a year old. In the second world, he is like a swine that is frequently found in dunghills. Similarly, for two years he is frequently covered with excrement and dirt. In the third world, he is like a kid-goat, skipping about in the pasture. Thus, he dances all around until he is five years old. In the fourth world, he is comparable to a horse that trots haughtily in the thoroughfare. Likewise, the child walks about haughtily, gloating in his youth until he is eighteen years old. In the fifth world, he is like a donkey upon which a saddle has been placed. They burden him similarly; they give him a wife, he fathers sons and daughters, and then he has to seek out a livelihood to provide for his children and his household. In the sixth world, he is like a dog searching for its sustenance, which snatches its food from wherever it can like an impudent creature, stealing from this person and robbing from that one without shame. In the seventh stage, he is not comparable to anything, as he has changed from all other things. The members of his own household curse him and wish for his death, and even children mock him.

Finally, the time arrives for him to die, at which point the angel comes to him and asks him, “Do you recognize me?” He replies, “Yes,” and then says, “Why have you come to me today?” The angel responds, “To take you from the world.” Immediately he weeps, and his voice is heard from one end of the world to the other—though no creature can hear his voice apart from a cockerel. He says to the angel, “Have you not already taken me out of two worlds and placed me in this world in which I reside?” The angel replies, “Have I not already told you that against your will you were created, were born, and will die, and that in the future you will have to provide an accounting before the supreme King of kings, the Holy One?”