Four Expressions of Redemption

ד' כוסות נגד ד' לשונות של גאולה.

“The four cups correspond to the four expressions of redemption.”

The Sefat Emet begins by aligning the ritual of four cups with the Torah’s fourfold promise of redemption, establishing a structural parallel between the seder and divine speech.

כי כתב בזוה"ק כי הדיבור הי' בגלות ויש ה' מוצאות הפה.

“For the Zohar writes that speech was in exile, and there are five outlets of the mouth.”

He explains that, according to the Zohar, the human faculty of speech itself was constricted in Egypt, reflected in the five physical forms through which articulated sound emerges.

ונגד שינים הוא אכילת מצה.

“And corresponding to the teeth is the eating of matzah.”

The act of chewing matzah corresponds to the teeth, one of the components of the mouth tied to the restoration of liberated speech.

ונגד הד' אחרים. הכוסות.

“And corresponding to the other four are the cups.”

The four cups correspond to the remaining four outlets of the mouth, completing the symbolic system that reconnects ritual practice to the redemption of speech.

שכל הבחי' הנ"ל היו בגלות שלא היו יכולים להוציא הדיבור לפני ה' כראוי.

“For all the above faculties were in exile, such that they could not bring forth speech before God properly.”

He teaches that each dimension of the mouth’s expressive capacity was hindered in Egypt, preventing the people from offering authentic speech before God.

וכ' אנכי ה' כו' המעלך מארץ מצרים הרחב פיך ואמלאהו.

“And as it is written: ‘I am the Lord… who brought you up from the land of Egypt; widen your mouth, and I will fill it.’”

The verse is understood as God’s invitation to expand the faculty of speech after redemption, promising divine filling of that expanded capacity.

ובוודאי הוא הרחבת פה בשבחים והודאות.

“And surely this refers to widening the mouth with praises and thanksgivings.”

He clarifies that the expansion of speech is primarily expressed in the acts of praising and thanking God.

ולכן תקנו הרבה שבחים בליל פסח כמ"ש ז"ל פה סח כיון שהדיבור יצא לחירות הי' רק כדי להלל ולהודות.

“Therefore many praises were instituted on the night of Passover, as our sages said: ‘A mouth that speaks,’ for once speech went free, it was solely in order to praise and thank.”

The Sefat Emet concludes that the liberation of speech is the inner reason for the abundant praise on the seder night: freedom of speech exists in order to give voice to gratitude.

Summary: The four cups and matzah symbolize the liberation of the mouth’s expressive powers, which had been in exile. Passover restores speech to its true purpose: praising and thanking God.