The Hebrew of the Mutus Liber

Introduction

The Mutus Liber first appeared in 1677 in France. The hermetic climate of the time favored the publishing of alchemical information but only with certain locks attached that required the keys of particular learning and experience to open. The fifteen plates of the Mutus Liber are no exception. They require a level of familiarity with certain symbols, processes, and patterns of logic to open. One of those perspectives is that of the Qabbalist.

The following is my perspective, as a Qabbalist, on but one small part of the Mutus Liber — the Biblical verses noted in Plate One. I present my personal conclusions only in an effort to better illustrate the Qabbalistic techniques discussed. The “Allegory” section is the standard English translation of the Masoretic text, while the “Directive” and “Letter as Symbol” sections are personal interpretations based upon months of work. Appendix A and B may be of some assistance in deciphering their evolution.

I urge the reader to employ the techniques described and divine one’s own meanings. Alchemy and Qabbalah as an Art are, after all, processes of self discovery.

The Mutus Liber

Through its title, the Mutus Liber declares itself the “wordless book,” yet three of its fifteen plates contain words: Plates One, Fourteen and Fifteen. Plate One contains, in Latin, the following inscription:

”The wordless book, in which nevertheless the whole of Hermetic Philosophy is set forth in hieroglyphic figures, sacred to God the merciful, thrice best and greatest, and dedicated to the sons of the art only, the name of the author being Altus.” (Adam McLean’s translation)

This is followed by the notation:

21.11.82. Neg:
93.82.72. Neg:
82.81.33. Tued:

To the experienced Qabbalist, this serves as a clear instruction to look to the original Hebrew (deduced from the fact that these notations are written from right to left as is Hebrew) of:

Genesis 28:11 + 12
Genesis 27:28 + 39
Deuteronomy 33:18 + 19

In the Latin verse, we are being told the book is “wordless” — separating the idea “word” from “hieroglyphic figures” such as the images of the plates; and, most significantly from Hebrew, which is a hieroglyphic aleph-beth. The term “sacred to God” in reference to the “hieroglyphic figures” which set forth the “whole of Hermetic philosophy,” is another reference to the Hebrew letters of the Torah. “Thrice best and greatest” may indicate the threefold techniques expressed in the following section on Qabbalistic practice. “Dedicated to the sons of the art only” indicates that the “hieroglyphic figures” are intended as specific alchemical symbols. And finally, the author’s self-declared name encourages the elevating and sanctifying of those very meanings (another echo of Qabbalistic practice).

The Hebrew verses (translated later on) refer to the allegory of Jacob’s transmutation, as do the images presented in Plates One and Fifteen. (Plate One shows Jacob asleep beneath the ladder, angels trumpeting, and Plate Fifteen shows the conclusion of the allegory with Jacob’s ascension as Israel.) This is to say, essentially, that the main body of the Mutus Liber occurs within the content of these six verses, symbolically sandwiched between images of Jacob’s vision and his eventual ascension as Israel.

As a Qabbalist, then, I recommend that these hieroglyphic-Hebrew verses be considered as a further elucidation of the processes described by the illustrations of the Mutus Liber. I expect they provide instruction that was felt to be too sensitive for “open” publication.

I further assert that the Latin verse of Plate One is a clear indication to the reader that she/he is to treat the Torah verse Qabbalistically.

Torah and Qabbalist Practice

The mythology on which much of the Qabbalitic approach to the Torah is based goes something like this: the Torah was passed to us, from ‘god’, as a string of Hebrew letters. They were given without the vowel points which make them pronounceable, essentially leaving it to our wisdom to divide them into words and interject the vowel points.

Thus, the old Rabbinical aphorism that there are “72 ways to interpret the Torah”; meaning that there are as many ways to interpret it as there are interpreters.

The more practical working approach is that there are 3 basic levels of meaning:

1) The Allegory: This is the tale being told by the letters through their common interpretation based upon accepted word groupings and vowel points. This is the level of dogma.

2) The Directive: This is the technique of looking at the individual words of the allegory, their verb-roots, and possible vowel point options. With this information, the Qabbalist arrives at an interpretation in the directive tense. (An excellent example of this technique can be found in Sefer Yetzirah The Book of Creation: In Theory and Practice by Aryeh Kaplan.)

3) Letter as Symbol: At this level, the Qabbalist looks at each individual letter as a symbol. Hebrew is a hieroglyphic aleph-beth and as such, each letter is symbolic of a specific meaning. The Qabbalist through meditation, study and prayer, works with the letter/symbols, considering their interrelationships, frequency, context, charts their flow throughout, performs every trick they can think of to lure out their meanings, divining a deep (and often detailed) level of symbolism.

The Art of the Qabbalist is like that of the Alchemist. The process of looking for successively deeper levels of meaning can be equated to the Solve of the Alchemist. The Coagula is accomplished by the Qabbalist through a process of bringing what is learned at the level of letter/symbol, up into one’s awareness at the directive level. This is then integrated into the experience of the allegory.

This process elevates the merely dogmatic allegory to the state of personally meaningful symbol (i.e.: a Magical Tool).

Allegory

Genesis 28:11

And he lighted on the place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took one of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep.

Genesis 28:12

And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

Genesis 27:28

So God give thee of the dew of heaven, and of the fat places of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine.

Genesis 27:39

And Isaac his father answered and said unto him: Behold, of the fat places of the earth shall be thy dwelling, and of the dew of heaven from above;

Deuteronomy 33:18

And of Zebulun he said: Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out, and Issachar, in thy tents.

Deuteronomy 33:28

And Israel dwelleth in safety, the fountain of Jacob alone, in a land of corn and wine; yea, his heavens drop down dew.

A Directive Translation

Genesis 28:11

Willfully direct what you perceive/observe into the dew. Activate the principle of fertility, enlivening the water. Take hold of the power which is housed within the medium of the physical sun (sunlight). Subtly cause the containment of the essence of sunlight, actively upon the dew. Enliven the water, consciously condensing the essence of sunlight and actively fixing it therein. Hold the essence of sunlight, housing it in the dew, physically manifesting the fixing of the essence of sunlight.

Genesis 28:12

Cause the containment of the active force within the water, and fix its fertility within the earth, thus strengthening the active force of the water. The water shall contain fermenting herbaceous matter (the medium which lures fertility into the earth). Consciously fix the essence of sunlight by placing the water upon the earth; the essence of sunlight active in the water fixes fertility within the earth. The water which holds the active force, opens. The essence of the active force within the earth is active upon the water. Perceiving the force active upon the water, consciously open the water and fix it therein.

Genesis 27:28

Physically manifest fertility - grasp the active force! The herbaceous matter is active upon the water; the water, because of its actively fixed sunlight, activates the latent force within the matter; fertility is active upon the herbaceous matter. Fixed, it rises within and opens the doorway for the powers of fertility, achieving the physical manifestation of alcohol.

Genesis 27:39

Observe/perceive the fertility active within fermentation, and holding it therein with your subtle powers, the essence is actively fixed. Concentrate upon the essence; the essence of the active force fixes fertility within the earth. Coalesce the sunlight, causing fertility to be active upon the herbaceous matter - rhythmically. The water fixes the fire, holding it within, fixing in the water the latent and active forces. The physical sunlight, active upon the water, coalesces the perceivable active force.

Deuteronomy 33:18

Separate the active force from the fixed force of fertility. A subtle vapor arises during digestion, separating the fixed force of fertility. The subtle body (Salt) is held within the ferment. You shall increase the fire/heat and grasp what arises, for this subtle body holds the active force.

Deuteronomy 33:28

Heat the grasped fertility and the rising subtle force. Digest it and then fraction it. Fertility springs forth from the subtle force below it - seen in the rising fermentation. Fertility emerges as the fixed manifestation of alcohol, the subtle expression of fixed sunlight, containing the active and latent force.

A Letter-as-Symbol Translation

Genesis 28:11

1) Fixed * Sulphur * imbibe * movement * observable
2) Within * water * below * fixed * water
3) Fixed * Sulphur * active * Mercury
4) Distil (heat * water)
5) Grasp * sulphur — within * essence
6) Matter * distil * heat
7) Fixed * Sulphur * below * sealed container
8) Water * essence * within * Mercury * Sulphur
9) Matter * water * below * fixed * water
10) Fixed * Sulphur * distil
11) Water * above * essence * heat * Salt * Sulphur * fixed
12) Fixed * Sulphur * heat * grasp * within
13) Within * water * below * fixed * water
14) Matter * matter * fixed * essence

Genesis 28:12

1) Fixed * Sulphur * sealed container * active * water
2) Fixed * matter * Mercury * matter
3) "Prop" * active * water
4) Water * ferment * within
5) Essence * above * ferment * matter
6) Fixed * above * essence * heat * fixed
7) Water * movement * Sulphur * observable
8) Matter * distil * Sulphur * water * matter
9) Fixed * matter * Mercury * matter
10) Water * active * essence * grasp * Sulphur
11) Essence * active * matter * Sulphur * water
12) Observable * active * Sulphur * water
13) Fixed * Sulphur * above * opening * Sulphur * water
14) Within * fixed

Genesis 27:28

1) Fixed * Sulphur * Salt * Mercury — active * grasp
2) Matter * essence * active * matter * Sulphur * water
3) Water * circulate * active
4) Matter * distil * Sulphur * water
5) Fixed * water * distil * Mercury * Sulphur
6) Matter * essence * above * ferment
7) Fixed * above * within
8) Opening * movement * Mercury
9) Fixed * Salt * Sulphur * above * heat

Genesis 27:39

1) Fixed * Sulphur * observable * Mercury
2) Sulphur * ferment * sealed container * below
3) Essence * within * Sulphur * fixed
4) Fixed * Sulphur * essence * water * above
5) Essence * active * Sulphur * fixed
6) Matter * Mercury * matter
7) Water * distil * Mercury * Sulphur
8) Matter * essence * above * ferment
9) Sulphur * matter * Sulphur * matter
10) Water * fixed * heat * within * grasp
11) Fixed * water * circulate * active
12) Matter * distil * Sulphur * water
13) Water * observable * active

Deuteronomy 33:18

1) Fixed * active * "sword" * within * fixed * active * Mercury
2) Essence * water * above
3) Distil * sealed container (digest?)
4) "Sword" * within * fixed * active * Mercury
5) Within * ferment * essence * Salt * grasp
6) Fixed * Sulphur * heat * heat * grasp * above
7) Within * essence * matter * active * Sulphur * grasp

Deuteronomy 33:28

1) Fixed * Sulphur * heat * grasp * Mercury
2) Sulphur * heat * above * essence * active
3) Within * circulate * sealed container
4) Within * opening * opening
5) Observable * Sulphur * Mercury
6) Sulphur * observable * below * within
7) Essence * active — Essence * above * ferment
8) Opening * movement * Mercury
9) Fixed * Salt * Sulphur * above * fixed * heat
10) Essence * imbibe — Distil * Sulphur * fixed
11) Sulphur * observable * above * imbibe * fixed — circulate * active

Appendix A

The following contains the Hebrew words, their root-verbs, and a simple directive translation of each.

Genesis 28:11

1) VIPGAa; to meet with, light upon; "And you shall meet with."
2) BMQVM; to arise, stand up, stand; "This place of remaining/standing."
3) VILN; to lodge, pass the night; "And remain through the night."
4) ShM; adverb; "There in that place."
5) KI - BA; because — to enter; "Because — entered has."
6) HShMSH; noun; "The Sun."
7) VIQCh; to take, take hold of; "And take hold."
8) MABNI; noun; "Of the stones/weights."
9) HMQVM; see #2; "One from that place."
10) VIShM; to put, set, make stand erect; "And set it upright."
11) MRAShThIV; head, chief, topmost; "Above your apex/head."
12) VIShKB; lie down; "And you shall lie down."
13) BMQVM; see #2; "In this place of remaining/standing."
14) HHVA; pronoun; "That one."

Genesis 28:1

1) VIChLM; to dream or to be strong; "And you shall dream/become strong."
2) VHNH; adverb; "And behold!"
3) SLM; to raise, connect. link; "A ladder."
4) MTzB; take one's stand; "Is stationed on."
5) ARTzH; noun; "The earth/ground."
6) VRAShV; head, chief, topmost; "And its head/apex."
7) MGIAa; to touch, meddle with; "Of which is touching."
8) HShMIMH; noun; "toward the heavens."
9) VHNH; see #2; "And behold!"
10) MLAKI; to send, to minister; "The angels/ministers of."
11) ALHIM; to worship, to adore; "Elohim."
12) AaLIM; to spring or grow up; "They spring up."
13) VIRDIM; to descend or decline; "And they are in decline/descent."
14) BV; preposition with suffix; "Within it."

Genesis 21:28

1) VIThN - LK; to give — prefix with suffix; "And he will give to thee."
2) HALHIM; to worship, adore; "The Elohim."
3) MTL; to moisten, to cover; "Out of dew."
4) HShMIM; to be high; "The heavens."
5) VMShMNI; to be or become fat/fertile; "And out of the fatness/fertility."
6) HARTz; noun; "The earth/ground."
7) VRB; to become many; "And abundance."
8) DGN; noun; "Corn/grain/bread."
9) VThIRSh; take possession of, inherit, dispossess; "And new wine/fermentation."

Genesis 27:39

1) VIAaN; to answer; "And he will answer."
2) ITzChQ; to laugh; "Isaac (he laughs)."
3) ABIV; noun; "His father."
4) VIAMR; to declare; "And he will declare."
5) ALIV; to, towards; "Unto him."
6) HNH; adverb; "Behold!"
7) MShMNI; to be or become fat/fertile; "Out of the fatness/fertility."
8) HARTz; noun; "The earth/ground."
9) IHIH; to exist; "He will exist."
10) MVShBK; to dwell; "In your dwelling/abode."
11) VMTL; to moisten/cover; "And out of his dew."
12) HShMIM; noun; "The heavens."
13) MAaL; to ascend; "From above."

Deuteronomy 33:18

1) VLZBVLN; to dwell; "And to Z'booloon (Habitation)." (Earth, Capricorn)
2) AMR; to declare; "He declares/commands."
3) ShMCh; to rejoice, be glad, shine cheerfully; "Be joyful; shine cheerfully."
4) ZBVLN; see #1; "Z'booloon (Habitation)." (Earth, Capricorn)
5) BTzAThK; to go or come out; "Upon your going forth."
6) VIShShKR; to hire; "And Esaskar (He Brings Reward)." (Water, Cancer)
7) BAHLIK; to tent; "On account of your tents."

Deuteronomy 33:28

1) VIShKN; to settle down, abide; "And he will rest."
2) IShRAL; to wrestle; Israel (Wrestler With God)."
3) BTCh; to trust; "Safely."
4) BDD; to be separate, isolated; "Apart from." Or: heart, love; "With the beloved."
5) AaIN; noun; "Fountain of/eye of/descendants of."
6) IAaQB; to supplant; "Jacob (The Supplanter)."
7) AL - ARTz; preposition — noun; "On the earth/ground."
8) DGN; noun; "Corn/grain/bread."
9) VThIRVSh; take possession of, inherit, dispossess; "And new wine/fermentation."
10) AP - ShMIV; preposition — noun; "Furthermore, his heavens."
11) IAaRPV - TL; to drop, distil — to moisten/cover; "They will distil dew."

Appendix B

Letter-as-Symbol Definitions

Aleph: Occurs 19 times. This is the Mother Letter of the Element Air. As the meaning encompasses so much more than (yet includes) mere atmosphere, I have chosen the term ESSENCE. In each case it seems to denote a subtle substance, sometimes as vapor, sometimes as energy.

Beth: Occurs 16 times. Beth signifies enclosure (it means "house") as either an action or an achieved state. I have chosen the word WITHIN as it is most closely equal in meaning.

Gimel: Occurs 4 times. Gimel is "camel" and signifies movement from one place to another, as well as the vehicle of travel. I've used the word MOVEMENT throughout but the vehicle of that movement is always implied or stated by the letters surrounding it (as is the subject of said movement).

Daleth: Occurs 5 times. Daleth means "door" implying an opening or passage. I have used the word OPENING, but with reservations because I have the sense that it may be more an indication of some form of fractioning (especially as Deut. 33:28, 4th word).

Heh: Occurs 23 times. Heh means "window" as seen hieroglyphically. But the pertinent symbolism in this context is that of the Heh-final of the Tetragrammaton - the Element Earth, material force, Assiah, etc. Therefore, I have chosen the word MATTER which, in several of its 23 contexts, also signifies the matter.

Vav: Occurs 36 times. Vav means "nail or hook." It affixes. This seems to be its predominant significance throughout, so I have chosen FIXED as its word. However, it may sometimes refer to a Yetziratic influence (derived from its symbolism within the Tetragrammaton).

Zayin: Occurs 2 times. Zayin means "sword" and is supposed to look like one. I haven't come to any conclusions yet as to its meaning in this context. The possibilities I've been considering are as follows: 1) separate, sever (cutting aspect); 2) beware of! (weapon aspect); 3) destroy (killing aspect); or 4) indicative of some kind of acid. So I have merely noted it in its hieroglyphic form of "sword."

Cheth: Occurs 5 times. Cheth means "fence" and implies an intentional anclosure of something. Therefore I've used the phrase SEALED CONTAINER.

Teth: Occurs 4 times. Teth represents a serpent coiled. The serpent is either coiled in readiness to spring forth or coiled in rest, or perhaps coiled as the Uroboros. It is for this reason that I have chosen the term CIRCULATE (although "digestion" might have done as well).

Yod: Occurs 39 times. Yod is the "open hand" and indicates a particular force. I have, after considerable thought, decided that this represents ** (SULPHUR). This seems to work in context, but I may well be incorrect.

Kaph: Occurs 9 times. Kaph is the "closed hand." I have used GRASP.

Lamed: Occurs 19 times. Lamed means "ox (Aleph) prod" and is also seen to be the serpent uncoiled and active, so I have chosen the word ACTIVE.

Mem: Occurs 38 times. Mem is the Mother Letter for the Element Water and has this essential meaning throughout. Sometimes it seems to mean "condense," or "distillate," or "water vapor," or "liquid water." I have used WATER throughout except when Mem is preceded by Shin, which I have designated DISTIL.

Nun: Occurs 15 times. Nun means "fish." The symbolism here is one of great abundance and fertility, multiplication, yet with a sense of homogeneity. I've given it the alchemical designation of ** (MERCURY).

Samek: Occurs 1 time. Samek means PROP and indicates something that supports and gives stability to another thing.

Ayin: Occurs 8 times. Ayin has three possible meanings: "eye," "fountain/spring," or "zero." I have chosen to use the "eye" symbolism and have designated it with the word OBSERVABLE. In most instances this seems to work, but in a few "fountain/spring" may be more appropriate.

Peh: Occurs 3 times. Peh means "mouth." The Mars overtones in its related symbolism lead me to think in terms of consumption. I have therefore used the word IMBIBE, but its opposite "express" may work just as well.

Tzaddi: Occurs 7 times. Tzaddi means "fish hook" - that with which one catches the Nun. I have used FERMENT for alchemical reasons which relate to Nun symbolizing mercury. The importance of the ferment/must/new wine principle is evident through all three layers of these passages' meaning.

Qooph: Occurs 6 times. Qooph means "back of the head." My initial sense is that Qooph meant the unconscious, while Resh ("top of the head, face") signified the conscious. Qooph can also be Luna to Resh's Sol, or descent to ascent, etc. For now, I've settled on BELOW for Qooph.

Resh: Occurs 15 times. See Qooph. ABOVE.

Shin: Occurs 21 times. Shin is the Mother Letter for the Element Fire and as such, I have translated it HEAT. This word seems to be a middle ground for all the various types and meanings of Fire. (Note: Shin followed by Mem has been translated as DISTIL.)

Tau: Occurs 5 times. Tau signifies the "equal-armed cross" or balanced, concrete manifestation. Thus I have designated it as ** (SALT).

Bibliography