7426. And the magicians did so with their enchantments, to bring forth lice. That this signifies an endeavor to pervert Divine order, and to portray the like in these things also, is evident from the signification of “they did,” as being an endeavor to do the same thing, for it follows that “they could not;” from the signification of “magicians” and “enchantments,” as being to pervert Divine order and to portray the like in the external form (see n. 7296, 7297, 7337); and from the signification of “bringing forth lice,” as being to produce the evils signified by the “lice” (n. 7419).

7419. And it shall become lice. That this signifies that evils will rise up therefrom, is evident from the signification of “lice,” as being evils; but what evils they are, and from what origin, can be seen from the correspondence of evils with such vermin, in that they are especially the evils which are in the sensuous, that is, in the wholly external man. The correspondence is from this, that lice are in the outermost skin, and within dirt there, and beneath a scab. Such also is the sensuous of those who have been in the knowledge of faith, but in a life of evil. When this knowledge is taken away from them, as is done with such in the other life, they are then of a gross and stupid mind; they have sometimes appeared; they are foul and loathsome. Infestations by evils are signified by their biting. That such is the signification of “lice” cannot be confirmed by other passages from the Word, for they are mentioned elsewhere only in David when speaking of Egypt (Psalms 105:31).