Likutei Moharan 58:11/ליקוטי מוהר"ן נ״ח:י״א

111. This is the explanation of: Why are the Babylonians’ heads segalgalot (oval)? Because they have no chayot pikchot (trained midwives) (Shabbat 31a) .

2Babylonians—This is the generation that blemishes speech, the aspect of “[That is why it is called BabeL,] because there God BaLal (mixed up) the speech of the whole earth” (Genesis 11:9) .

3heads—These are the generation’s devout individuals.

4SeGaLGaLoT—That is, SeGoL GaLuT. SeGoL is the aspect of grandeur and kingship, the aspect of “SeGuLat (the treasure) of kings” (Ecclesia st es 2:8). The GaLuT (exile) of the Divine Presence, as explained above, is due to their grandeur having been blemished, so that they are trapped by pride.

5And this is what he answered them: Because they have no chayot pikchot .

6ChaYot—This is the aspect of Shabbat mentioned above, the aspect of “Those who taste [Shabbat] merit ChaYim (life)” (Shabbat Mussaf Prayer). [This is] the aforementioned aspect of repentance, the aspect of “repent viChYu (and live)” (cf. Ezekiel 18:32). [It is likewise] the aspect of healing, as it is written, “You have restored me to health and given me life” (Isaiah 38:16) .

7They do not receive ChiYuT (life-force), the aforementioned aspect of Shabbat, from the pikchey (clever ones) of the generation, from the generation’s sages/the aspect of Moshe mentioned above, because they cannot receive Shabbat/repentance from the aforementioned sage except by guarding speech, as explained above.

8However, as explained above, a generation that is the aspect of Babylonians, that does not receive the life-force of Shabbat, its heads, who are the generation’s devout individuals, are segol galut—their grandeur and prominence are in exile; i.e., the aspect of kingship is blemished. And this is the exile of the Divine Presence: they succumb to pride, God forbid.