Exodus, Exile and Redemption: Decoding the Enigma of Judaism's Shifting Forms

EE & R, 3_14: Between the Torah and the Prophets: The Godly Power of Man

Feb 03, 2025

3. Between the Torah & the Prophets – Can Man Truly Know Hashem?

The prophetic craft grants mankind its greatest power. As the Sages remarked:

How immense is the power of the prophets, for they portray a form to the Creator of all forms, as it is written: “And upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man upon it from above” (Ezekiel 1:26).1

What immense power is given to those who see God in their own image! If God is man-like, then man is God-like. And if God is man-like, then all His work is man-like, the fabric of existence reflecting human traits in its very order, such that the microcosm which is man finds himself perfectly aligned with a universe that mirrors his image back to him. His own character traits are manifest in the structure of existence; just as man is merciful, so too is his God merciful; just as man is wrathful, so too is his God wrathful; just as man strives for justice, so too is his God just; and just as man seeks meaning, so too does his God demand purpose.

The prophets know God’s character, His personality, so to speak. This makes them into co-creators with God, His partners who bring His character to life among mankind. Intimate knowledge of Hashem causes His Shechinah to dwell on earth, among mankind – indeed, that knowledge itself constitutes the dwelling through which man is imbued with divine power. For just as God is powerful, so too is His partner, whose power derives from Divine Providence – the Shechinah made manifest.

Nonetheless, the dangers of prophetic anthropomorphism are evident. Viewing God in human terms risks constraining the infinite within human limitations; if the divine is reduced to the image of man, its transcendence fades beyond reach.

From this perspective – central to our ongoing study in general, and to the dichotomy between Moshe and the prophets in particular – the Sages’ remark about the great power of the prophets takes on a more complex tone. This immense power wielded by the prophets is not without controversy. As Maimonides explains: “How immense is the power”2 is a phrase the Sages used “whenever they perceived a word or act difficult to explain.”3 In this context, we might render their remark thus: “How bold are the prophets!” – in their audacious likening of God to man and man to God.