Originally, the voice of the yetzer hara existed outside of the human being in the form of the Nachash (the Snake).
The Nachash came to Chava (Eve) and spoke to her in second-person — “You.”
Chava wasn’t looking to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. Disaster did not begin with Chava saying, “I could really use some Tree of Knowledge fruit right now.”
No.
The fatal push came from outside Chava.
The Nachash came to Chava saying you, you, you —YOU will not die, YOUR eyes will be opened, YOU will be like God…in other words: YOU should really do this. YOU will like it. YOU will benefit from this.
And once she listened, the yetzer hara & the yetzer hatov switched places: The yetzer hara became internalized while the yetzer hatov ended up outside.
The yetzer hara no longer speaks from outside of us; it no longer says “you” — YOU should do this, YOU need that, etc.
Now the yetzer hara says “I.”
For example:
- “I want what my neighbor has.”
- “I like money.”
- “I really need a cigarette.”
- “I sure could use a drink!”
- “I just can’t help myself.”
- “I deserve a reward.”
- “They can’t treat ME like that!”
- “No one better ever speak to me that way!”
- “I just can’t help myself.”
- “I’ll show ’em who’s boss.”
- “I can’t do anything right.”
- “There’s no hope for me.”
And so on.
Rav Dessler notes that thoughts emanating from our desires come in the first-person: “I” “me,” “my,” etc.
Yet thoughts emanating from the spiritual arena, like the prodding of the yetzer hatov, approach us in second-person:
- “You really need to daven now.”
- “You shouldn’t say that — it’s lashon hara.”
- “Hey, you need to say Birkat HaMazon before it’s too late.”
- “You should really apologize.”
- “You’ll feel better if you restrain yourself.”
- “Your child needs a hug.”
- “Your spouse needs your help.”
Command form is also second-person (without stating “you” outright):
- “Don’t touch that light; it’s still Shabbos.”
- “Remember to say thank you.”
- “Better take out the garbage; it only takes a minute.”
Needless to say, it’s a bit confusing because sometimes, you speak the voice of your yetzer hatov in first-person: “I WILL daven this Mincha with kavanah!”
(Although preceding your first-person declaration, maybe a second-person nudge came first: “You ought to daven Mincha with kavanah.”)
And our yetzer hara can speak in second-person.
But in general, the voice speaking in first-person (I) indicates the voice of non-spiritual desires — the voice of the yetzer hara.
The yetzer hatov presents itself in the second-person (you).
And this can offer us a much-needed clue as to which inclination is prodding us.
May Hashem grant us the wisdom & strength to always listen to the yetzer hatov.