איש
The relationship between men and women is deep and nuanced, and one entire book of the Writings – Conjugial Love or Love in Marriage –...
לוי
'Levi' signifies truth in practice, which is the good of life. 'Levi,' in the highest sense, signifies love and mercy, in a spiritual sense, he...
בת
Marriages among people – both in the Bible and in life – represent spiritual marriage. Women represent the desire to be good and to do...
בן
'A son,' as in Genesis 5:28, signifies the rise of a new church. 'Son,' as in Genesis 24:3, signifies the Lord’s rationality regarding good. 'A...
טוב
It seems rather circular to say that “good” in the Bible represents good, but in a general sense it’s true! The case is this: The...
פרעה
'Pharaoh' signifies scientific ideas, or the natural principle in general. 'Pharaoh' signifies false ideas infesting the truth of the church. Pharaoh,' in Genesis 40, represents...
יד
Scientists believe that one of the most crucial developments in the evolution of humans was bipedalism – walking on two legs. That left our hands...
בתוך
The "midst" of something in the Bible represents the thing that is most central and most important to the spiritual state being described, the motivation...
אשה
The Hebrew of the Old Testament has six different common words which are generally translated as "wife," which largely overlap but have different nuances. Swedenborg...
מכה
To strike or smite, when used in the Bible, means to attack, harm or destroy, and is usually in reference to an attack on someone’s...
עברי
The term 'Hebrew' is used in the Word to signify anything relating to service, whatever its nature may be. Hence Abraham, in one passage only...
אמר
As with many common verbs, the meaning of “to say” in the Bible is highly dependent on context. Who is speaking? Who is hearing? What...
מדין
'Midianites' signify people who are in the truth of simple good.
שבע
The number 'seven' was considered holy, as is well known, because of the six days of creation, and the seventh, which is the celestial self,...
בנות
"Behold I have two daughters,” etc. (Gen. 19:8), signifies the affections of good and truth, and the blessedness perceivable from the enjoyment thereof, by those...
צאן
A flock, as in Genesis 26, denotes interior or rational good. A flock signifies those who are in spiritual good. A flock signifies natural interior...
בא
As with common verbs in general, the meaning of “come” in the Bible is highly dependent on context – its meaning is determined largely by...
היום
The expression 'even to this day' or 'today' sometimes appears in the Word, as in Genesis 19:37-38, 22:14, 26:33, 32:32, 35:20, and 47:26. In a...
לנו
Angels do give us guidance, but they are mere helpers; the Lord alone governs us, through angels and spirits. Since angels have their assisting role,...
לחם
The word “bread” is used two ways in the Bible. In some cases it means actual bread; in others it stands for food in general....
מלך
The human mind is composed of two parts, a will and an understanding, a seat of loves and affections, and a seat of wisdom and...
מצרים
In the Bible, Egypt means knowledge and the love of knowledge. In a good sense that means knowledge of truth from the Lord through the...
ישראל
'Israel,' in Jeremiah 23:8, signifies the spiritual natural church. The children of Israel dispersed all the literal sense of the Word by falsities. 'The children...
אברהם
Abraham (or Abram, as he is named in the beginning of his story) was the ancestor of all the Children of Israel, through his son...
יצחק
'Isaac' represents spiritual love. 'Isaac,' in Genesis 17:19, signifies the rational divine. 'Isaac' signifies the Lord's divine rational in reference to divine good. Isaac' signifies...
יעקב
Jacob is told twice that his name will now be Israel. The first time is when he wrestles with an angel on his journey to...
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