Holy Tongue United Creation

בפסוק זכור ימות עולם כו' בהפרידו בנ"א יצב ג"ע למספב"י פי' שצריכין לזכור חסד השי"ת שכל זה הי' לטובת בנ"י כי למה נתן השי"ת לדור הפלגה מקודם שיהיו שפה אחת ודברים אחדים שעי"ז נאמר לא יבצר מהם כו' כדאיתא בזוה"ק שכח לשון הקודש הי' מסייע להם ע"ש ולמה ניתן להם כח זה.

“In the verse ‘Remember the days of old…’ when He separated human beings, He set the borders of the nations. The explanation is that we must remember the kindness of God, for all of this was for the benefit of Israel. For why did God give the generation of the Dispersion, at first, a single language and unified speech, through which it was said of them, ‘Nothing they plan will be withheld from them,’ as the Zohar teaches that the power of the holy tongue assisted them—and why was such power given to them?”

The Sefat Emet teaches that the initial unity and shared language granted to the generation of the Tower was itself a divine kindness intended ultimately for Israel. Even though these people misused the gift, the question arises: why would God empower them with the sanctity and potency of a unified tongue at all? The answer begins by seeing the arc of history as preparation for Israel’s spiritual inheritance.

רק הכל לטובת בנ"י שעי"ז נשאר כח אחדות הנ"ל לבנ"י דהנה כתיב כל הארץ שפה אחת.

“Only everything was for the benefit of Israel, for through this the power of that unity remained for Israel; as it is written, ‘The whole earth was of one language.’”

The original universal unity was not lost but transferred. Once the nations forfeited it through misuse, the deep spiritual capacity for oneness was preserved for Israel, who could channel it toward divine purpose.

ומשמע שאינו מדבר רק ממין אישים רק כל הברואים הי' להם זה האחדות וזהו ענין לשון הקודש שכל הבריאה מתקשרת בזה הלשון וכח זה לא הי' באפשרי לתת לאומה אחת והי' צריך מקודם להיות זה הכח בכלל כל הארץ ואח"כ ע"י שחטאו ניטל מהרשעים כח זה האחדות וניתן לבנ"י בזכותם וזה החסד הגדול שצריכין לזכור תמיד וגם יש לנו לבטוח בזה מאחר שכוונתינו לטובה בוודאי לא יבצר כו' כי כח האחדות ולה"ק מסייעינו כנ"ל:

“And it seems that this refers not only to human beings but to all creatures, for they all possessed this unity. And this is the matter of the holy tongue, through which all creation is interconnected. And this power could not be given to a single nation; first it had to exist throughout all the earth, and afterwards, when they sinned, this power of unity was taken from the wicked and given to Israel in their merit. And this is the great kindness that we must always remember. And we must also trust in this, for when our intention is for good, certainly nothing will be withheld from us, for the power of unity and the holy tongue assists us.”

The Sefat Emet broadens the concept of unity, teaching that the primordial oneness once bound not only humanity but all creation. This universal harmony was expressed through the holy tongue, the language that ties all beings to their divine root. Such a force could not originally be entrusted to a single people; it first had to permeate existence itself. When humanity misdirected it, the power of creative unity was reclaimed and entrusted to Israel, who could safeguard and elevate it. This kindness is both a remembrance and a source of strength: when Israel acts with pure intent, the spiritual force of unity itself supports and empowers them.

Summary: The Sefat Emet explains that the original universal unity and holy language were given to humanity so they could later be inherited by Israel. When the nations misused these gifts, the power of unity was transferred to Israel, who can channel it toward divine purpose. Remembering this kindness brings both gratitude and confidence, for the spiritual force of unity accompanies all good intentions.