582. One Whose Wife Provides for Him

“Woe unto one whose wife provides for him.” Provision means what a person enjoys; this is one’s provision. We see that there are people in the world who have abundance and lack nothing, yet do not have joy in life and are regarded as poor, meaning they have no provision. In other words, they have nothing from which to receive pleasure.

Man consists of two forces: One is that which he receives, and what he gives to the other, regarded as the force of reception and the force of bestowal. The force of bestowal in him is called “male,” meaning one who receives all his provision, namely his pleasure, from giving to others. There is also the contrary, when all his pleasure is from what he receives for himself. This is called “female,” meaning a woman.

This is the meaning of “Woe unto one whose wife provides for him,” when all the delight and pleasure are from receiving. This is called “Woe unto him,” since he is in the place of Tzimtzum [restriction]. Conversely, if his delight and pleasure, meaning his provision, is from engaging for the benefit of others, he is close to the goal that one should achieve—to bestow contentment upon his Maker.