532. Since all numbers in the Word signify things and states, and the compound numbers derive their significations from the simple numbers of which they are compounded, and since the simple numbers are principally two, three, five, and seven, it is important to point out their signification in the Word, and at present, that of the number three, because it is said; "Woe, woe, woe, to them that dwell on the earth by reason of the voices of the trumpet of the three angels which are yet to sound!" That all numbers, in the Word, signify something pertaining to a thing and to state, may be seen above (n. 203, 429); and that the greater and complex numbers signify the same as the simple numbers from which they arise by multiplication, and that the simple numbers are two, three, five, and seven, may also be seen above (n. 430).

[2] That by three in the Word is signified what is full and complete, and hence an entire period, greater or less, from beginning to end, is evident from the following passages; thus in Isaiah:

"Within three years, as the years of an hireling, the glory of Moab shall be contemned, with all that great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and feeble" (16:14).

Here by Moab are meant those who are in falsities from evil. His glory, and that great multitude, mean those falsities themselves. By the three years within which his glory shall be contemned, is signified that which is complete and consummated; it is therefore said, "then the remnant shall be very small," which signifies that it shall be no more. Three years are spoken of, which means consummation, thus, from beginning to end. It must be observed, that the same is signified by three years, as by three months, three weeks, three days, and three hours, for times, in the spiritual sense, signify states, and three times, whether greater or less, a full state.

[3] Again, in the same prophet:

"Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Cush; so shall the king of Assyria lead the captivity of Egypt, and the multitude of Cush that is to be carried away; boys and old men, naked and barefoot" (20:3, 4).

Egypt and Cush do not mean Egypt and Cush, but Egypt means the External or Natural as to the Scientific, and Cush the External or Natural as to worship. When these are without an internal spiritual, they are also without truth and good, for all the truth, and all the good in the natural or external man, is from influx from the Lord through the spiritual man; and when it is destitute of truth and good, then the natural or external man, as to the things therein, is like a man naked and barefoot. That there will be only reasonings from falsities, and that these things will destroy, is signified by the king of Assyria leading the captivity of Egypt, and by the multitude of Cush, that is to be carried away naked and barefoot. By the boys and old men, whom the king of Assyria shall lead away, naked and barefoot, is signified that all innocence and all wisdom would perish. Their total and complete destruction was represented by the prophet going three years naked and barefoot; three years signifying an entire period from beginning to end, and therefore, total destruction.

[4] So in Hosea:

Jehovah "after two days will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up" (6:2).

To revive after two days, and to raise up the third day, signifies to reform and restore the church, the third day denoting full reformation and restoration, wherefore it is said, that Jehovah shall then raise them up; that neither two days are meant nor the third day is evident.

[5] Since the number three signified completeness even to the end, therefore that number was adopted in the representative church, and used as often as completeness was represented, as is evident from these things in the Word. They were to go a three days' journey, and sacrifice (Exodus 3:18; 5:3); in the third month after their departure from Egypt, they came to mount Sinai (Exodus 19:1); they were commanded to prepare themselves against the third day, because on the third day Jehovah would descend upon mount Sinai (Exodus 19:11, 15, 16, 18). For three days there was darkness in the land of Egypt (Exodus 10:22, 23). During three years the fruits of the trees planted in the land of Canaan were to be uncircumcised (Leviticus 19:23-25). No part of the flesh of the sacrifice was to be left till the third day (Leviticus 7:16, 17, 18; 19:6, 7). The water of separation was to be sprinkled upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day (Num. 19:11-22). Those who touched what was slain, were to be cleansed the third day, and the seventh day (Num. 31:19-25). Joshua commanded the people, that within three days they should pass over Jordan (Joshua 1:11; 3:2). Jehovah called Samuel three times, and three times Samuel ran to Eli, and the third time Eli understood that Jehovah called Samuel (1 Samuel 3:1-8). Jonathan told David to hide himself in a field until the third evening, and afterwards Jonathan threw three arrows to the side of the stone, and David bowed himself three times to the earth before Jonathan (1 Sam. 20:5, 12, 19, 20, 35, 36, 41). Three things were proposed to David, of which he was to choose one, a famine of seven years, or he should flee three months before his enemies, or a pestilence should be in the land three days (2 Sam. 24:11-13). Elijah stretched himself upon the son of the widow three times (1 Kings 17:21). Elijah commanded them to pour water upon the burnt-offering, and upon the wood three times, and they poured it three times (1 Kings 18:34). Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights (Jonah 1:17; Matthew 12:40). Daniel mourned three weeks (Dan. 10:2, 3, 4). The third year was the year of tenths (Deuteronomy 26:12). The Lord said of the man who planted a vineyard, that he sent his servants three times, and afterwards his son (Mark 12:2-6; Luke 20:12, 13). The Lord said to Peter, that before the cock should crow twice, he would deny him thrice (Matthew 26:34, 69, to the end; Luke 22:34, 57-61; John 13:38). The Lord said three times to Peter, Lovest thou me? and feed my lambs and my sheep; and the third time Peter was grieved (John 21:15, 16, 17). The Lord said, that the kingdom of heaven was like to leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until the whole was leavened (Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:21). The Lord said, I do cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected (Luke 13:32, 33). The Lord said that He should be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights (Matthew 12:40). He said that He should rise again the third day (Matthew 16:21; 17:22, 23; 20:18, 19; Luke 18:32, 33; 24:46). He said that He was able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days (Matthew 26:61; 27:40; John 2:19, 20). He prayed three times in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39, 42, 44); He was crucified at the third hour (Mark 15:25); and then there was darkness over the whole land for three hours, from the sixth hour to the ninth, when He said, it is finished, and expired (Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33, 37; John 19:30). The Lord rose again the third day (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1; John 20:1).

[6] It is evident from these references that the number three signified what was consummated or complete to the end, and therefore an entire period, greater or less, from beginning to end. From this simple number many compound numbers derive their significations, as 6, 9, 12, 60, 72, which consequently signify all truths and goods in the aggregate. Similarly the numbers 30, 300, 3000; for, as shown above, the compound numbers derive their significations from the simple numbers of which they are compounded. Moreover, it is to be observed, that the number three, in the Word, is used in reference to truths, and two and four, to goods. The reason of this is that two and four signify conjunction, while three signifies fulness; and spiritual conjunction is love, and all good is of love, and spiritual fulness is formed by means of truths. Those who do not know that all numbers in the Word are significative, think and believe that nothing more is meant when the numbers two and three, also three and four, are mentioned, than two and three, or a few, whereas they denote all who are in good and truth, as in the following passages.

[7] Thus, in Isaiah:

"Gleaming grapes shall be left in it, as in the shaking of an olive tree, two-three berries in the top of the bough, four-five in the branches of the fruit-bearing [olive]" (17:6).

The subject here is the vastation of the church, and these words are said of the remaining few who are in good and truth. Comparison is made with the shaking of an olive tree, because the olive tree signifies the church as to the good of love, and the branches the truths therefrom. Two-three signify the few who are in good, and thence in truths, two denoting good, and three denoting truths; and four-five signify the few who are in good, four denoting those who are in good, and five denoting few. And because four-five signify the few who are in good, therefore it is said, four-five, in the branches of the fruit-bearing [olive], the fruit-bearing olive signifying those in the church who are in good as to life; and in consequence of this signification of those numbers, it is said two-three, four-five, and not two and three, four and five.

[8] So in Amos:

"Two-three cities wandered into one city, to drink waters, but yet they were not satisfied" (4:8).

This is said respecting the defect of truth at the end of the church, and means that they who then desire truth from a spiritual affection will not find any in doctrines, wherever they may enquire. It is therefore said, "two-three cities wandered into one city, to drink waters, but yet they were not satisfied." By two-three cities are signified those who are in the affection of truth from good. City signifies the truth of doctrine. By drinking waters is signified to learn truths; by wandering is signified to enquire; and by not being satisfied is signified not to find truth which in itself is truth. Two-three cities are mentioned, because by two-three are signified those who are in good and thence in truths.

[9] So in Zechariah:

"It shall come to pass, that in all the earth, two parts therein shall be cut off, they shall expire; but the third shall be left therein. Yet I will bring the third part through the fire, and will try them" (13:8, 9).

Here also the subject is the vastation of the church as to good. That all good is about to perish is signified by its being said, "In all the earth two parts therein shall be cut off, and they shall expire," in the whole earth denoting the church universal, and two parts all good. That something of truth would remain, but scarcely any genuine truth, is signified by, "The third part shall be left therein, yet I will bring the third part through the fire, and will prove them." By the third part are meant the remaining truths; proving the genuineness of these is signified by bringing them through the fire. To prove by fire is to prove by the affection of love, with which if the truth does not agree it is not genuine truth, for fire, in the Word, signifies love; when the good of love perishes, the truth also becomes not truth, because all truth derives its essence from good.

[10] The signification of these words of the Lord in Matthew is therefore evident:

"Where two and three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (18:20).

Here, two and three do not mean two and three, but they who are in good and in truths thence; neither by the name of the Lord is meant His name, but all the good of love and the truth of faith by which He is worshipped (see above, n. 102, 135).

[11] From this also the signification of the words of the Lord in Luke is evident:

"From henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three" (12:52).

These words mean, that after the coming of the Lord, when He Himself has become known, and the interior things of the Word have been revealed by Him, and with Him, then both in the church in general, and with the man of the church in particular, there will be dissension between good and truth, and between truth and good. This is understood by five being divided in one house, three against two, and two against three; house denoting the church in general, and with the man of the church in particular, and three denoting truths, and two denoting goods. The statement that five shall be divided, signifies that such dissension shall exist with those who are reformed; therefore, it follows also that "the father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother" (ver. 53). For father signifies the good of the church, son the truth of the church, mother the truth of the church, and daughter its good. Who cannot see that the numbers five, two, and three, would not be mentioned here unless they were significative? Five, in the Word, when two and three follow, signifies all those; but when preceded or followed by the numbers ten or twenty, five then signifies some and few.

[12] Similar things are meant in the precept of the decalogue by "the third and fourth generation," or by "the third and fourth sons," upon whom Jehovah will visit the iniquity of the parents (Exodus 20:5; Num. 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9, 10). By the third and fourth generation are signified all who are in falsities from evil. The third generation signifies those who are in falsities of evil, and the fourth generation those who are in evils of falsity; for, in the opposite sense, three signifies falsities, and four evils. Who does not see that it would be contrary to the Divine justice to visit the iniquity of the parents upon the sons, even to the third and fourth generation? For the Lord teaches that "The soul that sinneth, it shall die; the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the justice of the just shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him" (Ezekiel 18:20; Deuteronomy 24:16; 2 Kings 14:6). It is evident therefore, that the expression third and fourth generation does not mean third and fourth generation, but that which those numbers signify. Similar things are signified by "For three and four transgressions" (Amos 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 13; 2:1, 4, 6). From this it is evident how great are the interior things contained merely in numbers in the Word, and these things no one can know without the spiritual sense.

392. The souls of them that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held. That this signifies those who were rejected and hidden on account of the Divine truth, and their confession of the Lord, is plain from the signification of the slain, as denoting such as are rejected by the evil, and concealed by the Lord, of whom we shall treat presently; and from the signification of the Word of God, as denoting the Divine truth. What the Lord speaks is called the Word of God, and this is Divine truth. The Word or Sacred Scripture is nothing else; for all Divine truth is contained therein, but the truth itself does not there appear in its glory except before the angels, because the interior things of the Word, which are spiritual and celestial, come within their perception, and also constitute their wisdom. Therefore by the Word of God, in the genuine sense, is signified Divine truth, and in the highest sense, the Lord Himself, who spoke it, for He spoke from Himself, or from His Divine, and what proceeds from Him is also Himself.

[2] That the Divine proceeding is Himself, may be illustrated by this circumstance. Around every angel there is a sphere called the sphere of his life; this puts itself forth to a great distance from him. This sphere flows out, or proceeds from the life of his affection or love, therefore it is an extension of the life, such as it is in him, outside of him. This extension is effected in the middle atmosphere or spiritual aura, which is the aura of heaven. By that sphere an angel is perceived at a distance by others according to the quality of his affection; this it has also been granted me sometimes to perceive. But about the Lord there is a Divine sphere, which near Him appears as a Sun, which is His Divine love, from which that sphere proceeds into the whole heaven and fills it, and constitutes the light there; this sphere is the Divine proceeding from the Lord, which in its essence is Divine truth. A comparison is here made with the angels for the sake of illustration, in order that it may be known that the Divine proceeding from the Lord is the Lord Himself, because it is the proceeding of His love, and the proceeding is Himself outside of Himself; and from the signification of testimony, as denoting confession of the Lord, and the Lord Himself, of which we shall speak presently.

[3] That by the slain are here meant those who were rejected by wicked spirits, and concealed by the Lord, or removed from the eyes of others, and reserved to the day of the Last Judgment, is evident from what was said in the article above, and also from what follows in the two verses that treat solely of them. In the article above it was observed, that the former heaven which passed away, consisted of those who lived morally in externals, but yet were not spiritual, but merely natural, or who lived as it were a spiritual life, only from the affection or love of fame, honour, glory, and gain, thus for the sake of appearance. These, although they were inwardly evil, were still tolerated, and constituted societies in the higher places in the spiritual world; these societies, taken together, were called heaven, but the former heaven which afterwards passed away. Hence it came to pass, that all those who were spiritual, that is, who were not only outwardly but also inwardly good, could not be together with such, but withdrew from them, either of their own accord or from compulsion, and were subjected, where found, to persecutions; therefore they were concealed by the Lord, and reserved in their places to the day of Judgment, in order that they might constitute a new heaven; these, therefore, are those who are meant by the souls of the slain seen under the altar. Hence it is evident that by the slain are signified those who were rejected and hidden, for they were hated by the others on account of Divine truth and the confession of the Lord; and those who are hated are called the slain, for to hate is spiritually to kill. That they are meant by the souls of the slain, is evident also from what follows in the two verses where it is thus said concerning them:

"And they cried with a great voice, saying, How long, O Lord, who art holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet a little time, until both their fellow-servants and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled."

That those here spoken of are meant by the slain, no one can know except he to whom it has been revealed; for who, except from revelation, could know of whom the former heaven, mentioned in theApocalypse 21:1, consisted, and of whom the new heaven was formed; and that those of whom the new heaven was to be formed, were in the meantime concealed and reserved by the Lord? And unless these things had been revealed to some one, all the things contained in the Apocalypse in the internal sense must have remained hidden, because they principally treat of such things as were to take place in the spiritual world before the Last Judgment, also of those things that occurred during it, and after it.

[4] That by testimony is signified confession of the Lord, and the Lord Himself, is evident from the passages in the Word which follow. This signification thus derives its origin because the Word, in all things in general and particular, testifies concerning the Lord; for, in its inmost sense, it treats of the Lord alone, and in the internal sense, of the celestial and spiritual things that proceed from the Lord, and in the particular sense the Lord testifies concerning Himself with every one who is in the life of love and charity. For the Lord flows into the heart and life of such, and teaches them, especially concerning His Divine Human, for He gives to those who are in a life of love, to think of God under a human form, and God under a human form is the Lord. Thus do the simple think in the Christian world; and thus also do the Gentiles think, who live in charity according to their religious persuasion. Both of these are astonished when they hear the learned speak of God as not to be perceived under any human form, knowing that, in such case, they would see no God in their thought, and hence that they would have but little faith in the existence of a God, because the faith which is a faith of charity desires to comprehend in some way what is believed, for faith pertains to the thought, and to think what is incomprehensible is not to think, but only to know and thence to speak without any idea. The angels, even the wisest, do not think of God except as in the human form. To think otherwise is impossible to them, because their perceptions flow according to the form of heaven, which is the human form from the Lord's Divine Human (on which subject see the work concerning Heaven and Hell 59-86); also because the affections from which their thoughts come are from influx, and influx is from the Lord. These observations are made, in order that it may be known why it is that testimony signifies the Lord, namely, because the Lord testifies concerning Himself with all who receive His testification, and they are such as live a life of love to the Lord, and a life of charity towards the neighbour. The reason why these receive the testification and confess Him, is, that the life of love and charity opens the interior mind by the influx of light from heaven; for the life of love and charity is the Divine Life itself, for the Lord loves every one, and does good to every one from love; therefore, where that life is received, there the Lord is present, and is conjoined to him, consequently, He flows into his higher mind, which is called the spiritual mind, and by light from Himself opens it.

[5] That testimony signifies the Lord, and with man confession of the Lord from the heart, and specifically the acknowledgment of the Lord's Divine in His Human, is evident from this fact, that the law which was prescribed on Mount Sinai, and written upon two tables, and afterwards deposited in the ark, is called the Testimony; whence the ark also was called the ark of the testimony, and the tables also were called the tables of the testimony. And because this was most holy, therefore, the mercy-seat was placed over the ark, and over the mercy-seat were sculptured two cherubim, between which Jehovah, that is, the Lord, spoke with Moses and Aaron. Hence it is clear that the testimony signifies the Lord Himself; otherwise the mercy-seat would not have been placed over the ark, nor would the Lord have spoken with Moses and Aaron between the cherubim which was over the mercy-seat. When Aaron also entered within the veil, which he did once every year, he was first sanctified, and afterwards he burnt incense till the smoke of it covered the mercy-seat, which unless he had done, it is said that he would have died. From these things it plainly appears, that the testimony which was in the ark, and which was the law promulgated on Mount Sinai, and written on two tables of stone, signified the Lord Himself.

[6] That that law is called the testimony, is plain in Moses:

"Thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee" (Exodus 25:16).

"He put the testimony into the ark" (Exodus 40:20).

"The mercy-seat that is upon the testimony" (Leviticus 16:13).

"Leave the rods of the tribes before the testimony" (Num. 17:4).

That the tables and the ark were thence called the tables and the ark "of the testimony" (Exodus 25:22; 31:7, 18; 32:15). That the mercy-seat was placed over it, and over the mercy-seat two sculptured cherubim (Exodus 25:17-23; 26:34). That the Lord spoke with Moses and with Aaron between the two cherubim (Exodus 25:16, 21, 22; Numbers 17:4, and elsewhere). That they sanctified themselves before they entered thither, and that the smoke of the incense covered the mercy-seat lest they should die (Leviticus 16).

[7] That the testimony signifies the Lord, is also plain from this fact, that what was over the ark was called the mercy-seat; and the Lord is the Propitiator. The ark also, from the testimony in it, was the Holy of Holies, both in the tabernacle and in the temple, and hence the tabernacle was holy, and also the temple. The tabernacle and also the temple, represented heaven, and heaven is heaven from the Lord's Divine Human; whence it follows that by the testimony is signified the Lord as to His Divine Human. (That the tent of assembly represented heaven, may be seen, n. 9457, 9481, 9485, 10545. That the temple signified the same, may be seen above, n. 220; and that heaven is heaven from the Lord's Divine Human, in the work concerning Heaven and Hell 59-86.) The reason why the law promulgated from mount Sinai is called the testimony, is because that law, in a broad sense, signifies the whole Word, both historical and prophetical; and the Word is the Lord, according to these words in John:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God; and the Word was made flesh" (1:1, 14).

The reason why the Word is the Lord is, that the Word signifies Divine truth, and all Divine truth proceeds from the Lord, for it is the light which in heaven enlightens the minds of the angels and also the minds of men, and gives them wisdom; this light in its essence is the Divine truth proceeding from the Lord as a Sun concerning which light see the work on Heaven and Hell 126-140). Hence it is that, after it is said that the Word was with God, and the Word was God, it is also said in John:

"In him was life; and the life was the light of men. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (verses 4, 9, in that chapter).

[8] From these things it is also evident that the Lord is meant by the testimony; for the law written on two tables, which was called the testimony, signifies the Word in its whole extent, and the Lord is the Word. That the law, in a broad sense, signifies the Word in its whole extent, in a sense less broad the historical Word, and in a strict sense the ten precepts of the Decalogue, may be seen, n. 6762. This law was also called a covenant, and hence the tables on which it was written, were called the tables of the covenant, and the ark also was called the ark of the covenant (see Exodus 34:28; Num. 14:44; Deuteronomy 9:9, 15; Apoc. 11:19, and elsewhere); the reason of this was, that a covenant signifies conjunction, and the Word, or the Divine truth, is that which conjoins man with the Lord, otherwise no conjunction is possible. That a covenant signifies conjunction, may be seen, n. 665, 666, 1023, 1038, 1864, 1996, 2003, 2021, 6864, 8767, 8778, 9396, 10632. The reason why that law is called both a covenant and a testimony, is, because when it is called a covenant, the Word is meant, by means of which there is conjunction; and when it is called a testimony, the Lord Himself who conjoins is meant; also on the part of man, confession of the Lord, and acknowledgment of His Divine in His Human, which conjoin. From these things it can be seen why it is that, in the church, the Word is called a covenant; the Word which was before the Lord's Advent, the old covenant, and that which was after His Advent, the new covenant; it is called also the Old and New Testament, but it should be called Testimony.

[9] That by testimony is signified the Lord, and, on the part of man, confession of the Lord, and acknowledgment of His Divine in His Human, is plain also from these passages in the Word. In the Apocalypse:

"They overcame" the dragon "by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of the testimony. And the wrathful dragon went to make war with the remnant of her seed, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (12:11, 17).

And elsewhere:

"I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (19:10).

By the testimony of Jesus being the spirit of prophecy is signified, that confession of the Lord, and the acknowledgment of His Divine in His Human, are the life of all truth, both in the Word, and in doctrine from the Word.

[10] And in another place:

"The souls of them that were slain with the axe for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, have not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand" (20:4).

But this will be explained in what follows.

In David:

"Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together: and thither the tribes go up, the tribes of Jah, unto the testimony of Israel, to confess the name of Jehovah. For there the thrones for judgment are set" (Psalms 122:3-5).

By Jerusalem is signified the church as to doctrine, which is called builded, when established by the Lord; "as a city that is compact together," signifies doctrine in which all things are in order, a city denoting doctrine. Thither the tribes go up, the tribes of Jah, signifies that therein are all truths and goods in the aggregate. Unto the testimony of Israel, to confess the name of Jehovah, signifies confession and acknowledgment of the Lord there; for there the thrones for judgment are set, signifies that there is Divine truth according to which judgment is executed. That thrones signify this, see above, n. 253.

[11] In the same:

"Jehovah hath set up a testimony in Jacob, and a law in Israel" (Psalms 78:5).

By Jacob and Israel is signified the church; by Jacob the external church, and by Israel the internal church; and by the testimony and the law is signified the Word; by the testimony that which therein teaches the goods of life; and by the law that which therein teaches the truths of doctrine. Because those who are in the external church are in the good of life according to the truths of doctrine, and those who are in the internal church are in the truths of doctrine according to which the life [is formed], therefore, the testimony is said of Jacob; and the law, of Israel.

[12] In the same:

"If thy sons will keep my covenant, and the testimony that I shall teach them, thy sons shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore" (Psalms 132:12).

These things are said of David, but by David is there meant the Lord; by his sons are meant those who do the Lord's precepts; of them it is said: "If thy sons will keep my covenant" and My testimony; by covenant the same is meant as above by the law, namely, the truth of doctrine; and by testimony the same as above by testimony, namely, the good of life according to the truths of doctrine. Similar things are signified by covenant and testimonies in David (Psalms 25:10).

[13] Testimonies are mentioned in many passages in the Word and at the same time the law, precepts, commandments, statutes, and judgments; and by testimonies and commandments are there signified those things that teach life; by the law and precepts, those that teach doctrine; by statutes and judgments, those that teach rituals; as in the following passages in David:

"The law of Jehovah is perfect, recreating the soul; the testimony of Jehovah is sure, making wise the simple; the commandments of Jehovah are right, rejoicing the heart; the precept of Jehovah is pure, enlightening the eyes; the judgments of Jehovah are the truth, they are altogether just" (Psalms 14:7-9).

And in the same:

"Blessed are the sincere in the way, who walk in the law of Jehovah. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. Thou hast taught thy commandments to be strictly kept. O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy precepts. I will confess to thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned the judgments of thy justice" (119:1-7; similarly in verses 12-15, 88, 89, 151-156; and elsewhere).