Tehillim 96 – Why a Husband’s Parnassah Comes from His Wife

Zohar on Tehillim – Why a Husband’s Parnassah Comes from His Wife

Tehillim 96:11  “Yismechu hashamayim, vetagel haaretz” – (The heavens will rejoice, and the earth will exult). The Zohar ha-Kadosh reveals that Shamayim (the heavens) represents the man, while haaretz (the earth) represents the woman. The Zohar explains the inner meaning of the pasuk: when “Yismechu hashamayim” (the heavens will rejoice) – Shamayim learns to bring joy to haaretz (the earth), then – “vetagel haaretz” (the earth will exult) – the earth will reveal its vast and boundless treasures, for the word “vetagel” derives from the word “legalot” (to reveal). In other words, if a man brings joy to his wife (the earth), she will reveal to him all the wealth she possesses. We know that the earth is rich in its natural resources: gas, oil, and minerals. From this, Chazal conclude that all of a husband’s parnassah – his entire livelihood and all his wealth – comes from his wife, in proportion to the joy he brings her. (Rabbi Bentzion Melamed, a lesson on Tomer Devorah)