איוב, פרק ל״ח, פסוק ל״ו

A profound wonder exists in the miraculous bridge God builds between the spiritual and the physical. He pours intellect, understanding, and divine providence directly into the material world, raising deep questions about the true source of inner wisdom and the ability to observe and understand [מלבי״ם, אלשיך].

The primary approach among commentators suggests that this inner wisdom is housed within the kidneys, which are physically covered and sealed in a protective layer of fat [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, רמב״ן, חומת אנך]. In this view, the kidneys serve as a wellspring of inner counsel and wisdom that operates within a person, particularly during the quiet hours of the night [רמב״ן]. There is even a physical and spiritual flow where an abundance of wisdom travels from the heart down to the kidneys, and from there ascends through delicate channels up to the brain [חומת אנך]. Alternatively, this concept can be understood more broadly as referring to the hidden inner organs of a person [אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ], or even as a metaphor for the physical human body itself. This highlights the sheer marvel of placing heavenly, spiritual wisdom inside a physical body of flesh and blood, which is otherwise as dense and sealed as thick clay [רלב״ג, מלבי״ם, אלשיך].

Alongside this inner counsel is the capacity to look ahead and perceive. A large group of commentators identifies this ability with the human heart, which gazes into the future, calculates outcomes, and grasps hidden truths [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, רלב״ג, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ, רמב״ן]. The heart is viewed as the canvas where human thoughts and ideas are deeply engraved [אבן עזרא, רמב״ן]. On the other hand, a tradition rooted in the teachings of the sages identifies this perceptive ability with the rooster [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ, רמב״ן, חומת אנך, אלשיך]. God embedded a unique understanding within the rooster's nature, enabling it to distinguish between different times and call out at precise hours.

These different viewpoints weave together into a broader conceptual picture. Just as the kidneys provide inner counsel and discipline during the night, the rooster grasps the passing of the night hours, serving as a guide to teach a person to rise at midnight and offer thanks to his Creator [רמב״ן]. Furthermore, the rooster stands as a definitive proof of God's active providence in the world. A person might mistakenly assume that human intelligence stems solely from possessing an elevated, divine soul. The rooster, however, proves that God grants precise understanding and guidance even to a simple creature of flesh that lacks a high spiritual soul [אלשיך].