What are the 13 Attributes of Mercy?

The gemara (17b) discusses at length the thirteen attributes of Hashem’s

mercy. Rebbi Yochanan says that when Hashem passed before Moshe and told him
these thirteen attributes, Hashem told Moshe that whenever B’nei Yisrael sin they
can daven with these attributes of mercy and they will be forgiven. Everyone agrees
that these thirteen attributes exist, but the rishonim argue over what exactly are
the thirteen attributes and how do you count them. Tosafot quotes Rabbeinu Tam
who says that the thirteen attributes begin with “Hashem, Hashem, K-el,
Rachum…,” with each name “Hashem” counted as a different attribute. Tosafot
quotes Rabbeinu Nissim who says that only the second “Hashem” is an attribute of
mercy, but not the first. Finally, the Arizal and Gra held that neither name of
Hashem should be counted, because the attributes of mercy only begin with “K-el,
Rachum…”

T he gemara explains that the meaning of the first two “Hashem”s is as

follows: “I am Hashem before they sin, and I am Hashem after they sin and repent.”
Since “Hashem,” as opposed to “Elokim,” represents mercy, these two names
represent Hashem’s mercy both before and after sin. However, this explanation
seems perplexing. It makes sense that we need mercy after we sin, but why do we
need mercy before we sin? This is one of the reasons why some would not want to
count the first name of Hashem as a separate attribute of mercy. It just doesn’t
make sense to talk of Hashem’s mercy before there is any sin.

Despite the difficulty, Rabbeinu Tam and many other rishonim understood
that there is an attribute of mercy specifically set aside for before we sin. Many
have suggested explanations for this concept. The Rosh says that it means that
even when Hashem knows that in the future we are going to sin, he still has mercy.
Even though Hashem could punish us to prevent the sin before it happens, He only
judges and punishes us based on what we have actually already done.

The Aruch L’ner explains Rabbeinu Tam based on another gemara in

masechet Succah (52a). There, the gemara says that everyday the yetzer harah
becomes stronger and stronger, and the only way we survive is because Hashem
helps us. Without Hashem’s constant support and encouragement, we would
succumb to the yetzer harah almost instantly. This is Hashem’s mercy even before
we sin. Even though we don’t necessarily deserve it, Hashem helps to try to protect
us from stumbling and making a mistake.

The Maharal (N’tiv Hateshuva 6) explains that even before we sin, even if
we’d be perfect we need Hashem’s mercy. Our very lives and the existence of the
world are gifts from Hashem. We didn’t do anything to deserve it; Hashem created
us through His infinite mercy and kindness. Thus, even before we sin, there is an
attribute of mercy which is the constantly renewing source of our existence.