tzimtzum

T1Z10I1M3T1Z10U1M3

noun

A foundational concept in Kabbalah, describing the theological process by which God withdrew his infinite light to create a void, making room for the existence of a finite universe.

OriginHebrew צִמְצוּם →
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Meanings

nountzimtzum (countable and uncountable, plural tzimtzumim)

plural tzimtzumim · alternative tsimtsum · alternative zimzum

  1. JudaismcountableuncountableA foundational concept in Kabbalah, describing the theological process by which God withdrew his infinite light to create a void, making room for the existence of a finite universe.

Origin

  1. Hebrewצִמְצוּם
  2. Hebrewצִמְצוּם
  3. Englishtzimtzum

Borrowed from Hebrew צִמְצוּם (tzimtzum, “contraction, withdrawal”).

More words from Hebrew

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

tzimtzum. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tzimtzum

MLA

“tzimtzum.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tzimtzum. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tzimtzum,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tzimtzum.

Source: tzimtzum on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.