The phrase “it came to pass,” often also translated as “it happened,” generally indicates the end of one spiritual state and the beginning of a new one. To some degree, the phrase is used in the place of punctuation in the original language, marking the transition from one set of circumstances to another.

(Odkazy: Arcana Coelestia 4979, 4987, 5031, 5220, 5578)

924. Verse 21 And Jehovah smelled the odour of rest, and Jehovah said in His heart, I will curse the ground no more on account of man, for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his childhood. And I will no more strike every living thing, as I have done.

'Jehovah smelled the odour of rest' means that worship stemming from these was pleasing to the Lord. 'And Jehovah said in His heart' means that it would never happen again. 'I will curse the ground no more' means that never again would man thus turn himself away. 'On account of man' means as the people who belonged to the descendants of the Most Ancient Church had done. 'For the imagination of man's heart is evil from his childhood' means that the will part of man's mind is totally evil. 'I will no more strike every living thing, as I have done' means that man would never again be able to destroy himself in that way.