224. “At that time it is seen as a certainty, etc.” At that time it is visibly clear that it is a living creature [nefesh ḥaya], i. e., a soul [nefesh] of that holy creature [ḥaya], which is Malkhut, and not from the other side [Sitra Aḥara]. This is [the meaning of]: “Let the waters swarm” [Genesis 1:20], which is explained [as follows] in the Book of Enoch: The waters of the holy seed will be imprinted with the impression of the living creature. This is the imprint of the letter yod, which is inscribed in the holy flesh more than all the other inscriptions in the world.

Explanation: [The Zohar] interprets the verse: “Let the waters swarm [yishretzu] with swarms of living creatures” as a language of imprinting and inscription [hitztaiyrut]. Through the circumcision and [the act of] uncovering [prior to the circumcision], the supernal masculine waters which are transmitted to a person’s soul, are imprinted and inscribed in the imprinting and inscribing of the Nukba, which is called a “living creature” [nefesh ḥaya].

Now, the higher world, Bina, is inscribed and sealed with the [letter] yod, while the lower world, Malkhut, is inscribed and sealed with the [letter] heh. When the Malkhut, which is the Nukba, ascends and enclothes the higher world, Bina, the heh leaves and is replaced by a yod, like the Bina (as stated at the end of section #17#, above; see the Sulam there).

[The Zohar] continues: “This is the imprint of the letter yod, which is inscribed in the holy flesh more than all the other inscriptions in the world.” Through circumcision and [the act of] uncovering [prior to the circumcision], all the inscriptions of this world, which are from the [letter] heh, are removed from man as well, and the imprint of the letter yod comes in its stead, just as occurred in the Nukba which ascended to Bina, as stated. Since the holy flesh of Yesod is sealed with the yod, the man can also receive a complete living soul [nefesh ḥaya] from the holy Nukba.