THE EXPLANATION of Isaiah Chapter Isaiah 32

(Note: Rev. Smithson's translation of the Isaiah text is appended below the explanation)

1. BEHOLD, a King shall reign in justice, and Princes shall rule in judgment.

VERSE 1. That the Lord, as to Divine Truth, is represented in the Word by a " King", and as to Good by a " Priest", see above, Chapter 1:1, the Exposition.

2. And a man shall be as a hiding-place from the wind, as a covert from the inundation; as rivers of waters in a dry place; as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land:

Verse 2. [lt does not appear that Swedenborg has quoted this verse, but its spiritual meaning is clear from the correspondences. That Divine Truth from the Lord, in His Word, signified by "man", is the cause of all protection in temptations, and against all assaults from hell, is declared in these words, see above, Chapter 4:6, the Exposition.]

3. And the eyes of those that see shall not be dim; and the ears of those that hear shall hearken.

Verse 3. The eyes, the ears, etc. - See Chap, Isaiah 29:18; 35:4-6, the Exposition.

4. And the heart of the rash shall understand knowledge; and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak elegant things.

5. The fool shall no longer be called liberal; and the covetous shall no more be called noble:

Verse 4. By the "rash" or "precipitate" are understood those who easily catch at, and believe the things that are said, and consequently falsities also; concerning such it is said that "they shall understand knowledge", which means to receive truths. By the "stammerers" are understood those who with difficulty can apprehend the Truths of the church; that they shall confess them from affection is understood by "their tongue shall be ready or swift to speak"; "swiftness" being predicated of affection. Apocalypse Explained 455.

6. For the fool will speak folly; and his heart will work iniquity: to practise hypocrisy, and to speak error against Jehovah; to make empty the soul of the hungry, and to cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.

7. As for the covetous, his instruments are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaks judgment.

8. But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he be established.

Verse 6. He is called a " fool" who is in falsities and evils from the love of self thus from his own intelligence; thefalses are understood by "the folly which he speaks", and evils by "the iniquity which his heart worketh." The evils which he speaks against Goods are understood by "the hypocrisy which he practises", and the falsities which he speaks against Truths by "the error which he speaks against Jehovah." That it is for the purpose of persuading and thus of destroying those who desire Goods and Truths, is understood by "making empty the soul of the hungry", and by "causing the drink of the thirsty to fail"; the "hungry soul" are such as desire Goods, and the "thirsty desiring drink" are such as desire Truths. A" Apocalypse Explained 386.

Here by the "soul" is signified man as to the understanding of Good and Truth; by "the soul of the hungry" the understanding of Good, and by "the drink of the thirsty" the understanding of Truth. That the man who is in falsities of evil will endeavour to deprive thereof him who is in Truth from Good, is signified by "the fool speaking folly", by "making empty the soul of the hungry", and by "causing the drink of the thirsty to fail." Apocalypse Explained 750.

Verses 6, 7. In this passage by the "poor" and "needy" are understood those who are destitute of the knowledges of Truth and Good, wherefore it is said that "the covetous deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaks judgment"; the "lying words" denote falsities, and to "speak judgment" denotes what is right. Inasmuch as such are treated of it is also said that "they practise hypocrisy, and speak error against Jehovah, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and to cause the drink of the thirsty to fail"; to "practise hypocrisy" and to "speak error" denotes to commit evil from the false, and to speak what is false from evil; to "make empty the soul of the hungry" denotes to deprive those of the knowledges of Good who desire them and to "cause the drink of the thirsty to fail" is to deprive of the knowledges of Truth those who desire them. Apocalypse Explained 238.

9. O you women that are at ease, stand up, hear My voice! O you confident daughters, give ear unto My speeeh!

10. Year upon year shall you be disquieted, O you confident ones: for the vintage has failed, the gathering shall not come in.

11. Tremble, O you women that are at ease; be you troubled, O you confident ones! strip you, make yourselves bare; and gird [sackcloth] upon your loins.

12. They shall smite upon the breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine.

Verses 9, 10. By "the women who are at ease" are signified the cupidities of those who have no concern for the devastation of the church; by "confident daughters" are signified the cupidities of those who have confidence in self-derived intelligence; by "women " and "daughters" are signified all who are such in the church, whether they be men or women. By "the vintage which shall fail", and by "the gathering which shall not come", is signified that the Truth of the church shall be no more; for the same is denoted by "vintage" as by "vine"; namely, the Truth of the church, whence it is evident what is signified by the "gathering" thereof. Apocalypse Explained 555.

By "confident daughters" are signified those in the church who love falsities more than Truths. That with such persons Truths ate successively and in every state diminished, is signified by "their being disquieted year upon year." The entire devastation of Truth, even until nothing remains, is understood by "the vintage failing", or being consumed; and by "the gathering not coming in." Apocalypse Explained 919.

Verses 9, 11, 12. "Daughters" are affections, as shown in Arcana Coelestia 2362, 3024. To "make bare or naked", is to be deprived of Truth, see Arcana Coelestia 1073, 4958. To "gird themselves upon the loins", is to be in grief on account of Good which is lost. To "smite upon the breast"; is to be in grief on account of the Good of Truth being destroyed; and because these things are understood, it is further said, "for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine"; for a " field." is the church as to Good, thus the Good of the church, as may be seen, Arcana Coelestia 2971; 3196; and the "vine" is the spiritual church, thus the Good of Truth, see Arcana Coelestia 5113, 6375. Arcana Coelestia 6432.

13. Over the land of My people the thorn and the brier shall come up; yea, over all houses of joy, over the exulting city.

14. For the palace is deserted, the multitude of the city is forsaken; the cliff and the watch-tower shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture for flocks:

Verses 13, 14. "The thorn and the brier which shall come up over the land" signify the false and the evil. "The palace 'which shall be deserted" signifies where Good dwells; and "the multitude of the city which shall be forsaken" signifies where there are Truths, for a "city" signifies the doctrine of Truth. Apocalypse Explained 804.

Verse 14. By these words is described the total devastation of the church, where there is no more any Good of life or Truth of doctrine; no one, however, can know what is involved therein except from the internal sense, and from the state of things in the spiritual world. The devastation of the whole church is understood by "The palace is deserted, the multitude of the city is forsaken"; a " palace" signifies the whole church as to Truths from Good; and a "desert" signifies where there is no Good in consequence of there being no Truth; whence the "palace" being deserted or a "desert", signifies the church devastated. The "multitude of the city" signifies all the Truths of doctrine; for a "city" denotes doctrine, and "multitude" is predicated of Truths, which are said to be "forsaken" when they are not. That "the cliff and the watch-tower shall be for dens for ever", signifies that the church shall no more exist with them, because there is nothing but evil of life and the false of doctrine, which are signified by "dens", because such persons dwell in dens, as was said above; (see Chap Isaiah 2:10, the Exposition.) and inasmuch as such persons dwell in deep places in the spiritual world, and they are covered above by eminences or cliffs and beacons, so as to be hid from those who dwell upon the earths there, therefore it is, not only said that "the cliff and the watch-tower shall be for dens", but also that they should be "a joy of wild asses, and a pasture for flocks." In that world also there are many hells in deep places, altogether hid by earths, rocks, and hills above, or by eminences and beacons, where there is grass, as it were "a pasture for flocks"; whence it is that the hells are unknown to those who dwell there upon the earth. "A joy of wild asses" also signifies the affection or love of falsities; and "the pasture for flocks", in this place, the nourishment of evils from falsities; and by both is signified the devastation of Truth by falsities. From these considerations it may be seen what is the nature of the arcana contained in this and similar passages. Apocalypse Explained 410.

15. Till the spirit from on high be poured out upon us; and the wilderness, become a fruitful field; and the fruitful field be esteemed a forest.

16. And judgment shall dwell in the wilderness; and justice shall reside in the fruitful field.

Verses 15, 16. Treating of those who are in natural Good, and are being reformed, The influx out of heaven into them, is signified by "The spirit from on high shall be poured out upon you." That then Truth from a spiritual origin shall be implanted in them, is signified by "the wilderness shall become a fruitful field"; a "wilderness" denoting the natural man destitute of Truths, and the "fruitful field", or "land of corn", denoting the natural man fructified with Truths. That he has thence the science of the knowledges of Truth and Good, is signified by, "the fruitful field shall be esteemed a forest" "forest" being predicated of the natural man, as a "garden" is of the spiritual; wherefore by a "forest" is signified science, and by a "garden" intelligence. That what is right and just is thence in him, is signified by "Judgment shall dwell, in the wilderness, and justice shall reside in the fruitful field"; "judment" and "justice", in the spiritual sense, signify Truth and Good, but, in the natural sense, what is right and just. Apocalypse Explained 730.

17. And the work of justice shall be peace; and the labour of justice quietness and security for ever:

18. And My people shall dwell in a habitation of peace, and in tents of securities, and in quiet resting places.

Verses 17, 18. Peace is said to be "the work of Jehovah", because it is from the Lord only, and everything which exists by virtue of peace from the Lord, with those who are in conjunction with Him, is called "the Work of Jehovah"; whence it is said- "The work of Jehovah is peace." "The labour of justice" signifies Good conjoined with Truth, wherein peace consists; for "labour", in the Word, is predicated of Truth, "justice" of Good, and "rest" of the peace derived from their conjunction; "security for ever" signifies that thus there will be no infestation or fear from evils and falsities. Hence it is evident what is signified by its being said that "My people shall dwell in a habitation of peace, and in tents of securities, and in quiet resting places", namely, that they may be in heaven where the Lord is, and thence in the Good of love and of worship, without infestation from the hells, and thus in the delights of Good and pleasantnesses of Truth. The "habitation of peace" denotes heaven where the Lord is; "tents of securities", the Goods of love and of worship, not infested by evils and falsities, which are from hell; and "quiet resting places", the delights of Good and pleasantnesses of Truths. That "tents" signify the Goods of love and of worship, may be seen in the Arcana Coelestia n. 414, 1102, 2145. "Peace" is the happiness of the heart and the soul, arising from the conjunction of the Lord with heaven and the church, and this from the conjunction of what is Good and True with those who are there; hence there is no longer any combat of what is evil and false against what is Good and True, or no dissension or war in a spiritual sense. Hence it is peace in which all fructification of Good and all multiplication of Truth takes place, consequently all wisdom and intelligence. And because that peace is from the Lord alone, and from Him with the angels in heaven and with men in the church, therefore by "Peace", in the supreme sense, is understood the Lord, and, in a respective sense, Heaven and the Church, consequently Good conjoined with Truth in those who are there. Apocalypse Explained 365.

In respect to "Peace" and the Lord as being "the Prince of Peace", see Chapter 9:6, the Exposition.

19. But the hail shall fall, and the forest be brought down; and the city shall be laid utterly low.

20. Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, who send forth [thither] the foot of the ox and of the ass.

Verse 19. The hail shall fall. - See Chapter 28:2, 22, the Exposition.

Verse 20. Here by those "who sow beside all waters" are meant they who allow themselves to be instructed in spiritual things. That "waters" are spiritual things, thus the Intellectual things of Truth, may be seen in Arcana Coelestia 680. "Who send forth the foot of the ox and of the ass", signifies natural things which are serviceable thereto. That the "ox" is the natural principle as to Good, see Arcana Coelestia 2180, 2566; the "ass", is the natural principle as to Truth. Arcana Coelestia 2781.

To "sow beside all waters", is to be instructed in whatsoever truths may be of use [to the spiritual life]. To "send forth the foot of the ox and of the ass", is to be instructed in external goods and truths. Arcana Coelestia 9272.

That "waters" signify Truths, see above, Chapter 11:9, the Exposition.

The signification of the "horse", as denoting the understanding, is derived from no other source than from the representatives which exist in the spiritual world. In that world are frequently seen horses, and persons sitting upon horses, and also chariots: and there every one knows that they signify things intellectual and doctrinal. I myself have often observed, when any were thinking from their understanding, that at such times they appeared as if riding on horses; their meditation represented itself in this manner before others, although they themselves were ignorant of it. There is also a place in the spiritual world where many assemble who think and speak from understanding concerning the truths of doctrine; and when others approach, they see the whole plain covered with chariots and horses. Novitiate spirits who are astonished at the sight, and wonder whence it proceeds, are Instructed that it is an appearance resulting Irorn their intellectual thought. That place is called the assembly of the intelligent and the wise. I have likewise seen bright horses and chariots of fire when certain spirits were taken up into heaven, which was a sign that they were then Instructed in the truths of heavenly doctrine; and become intelligent, and thus were taken up. On seeing which, it occurred to mymind what is signified by the "chariots of fire" and the "horses of fire" which carried Elijah up into heaven, and what is signified by the "horses and chariots of fire" that were seen by the lad of Elisha when his eyes were opened.

That such is the signification of "chariots" and "horses" was perfectly well known in the ancient churches; for those churches were representative churches, and tbe science of correspondences and representations was esteemed, among the members of those churches the chief of all sciences. From those churcbes the signification of the "horse" as expressive of understanding, was derived to the wise men round about, even into Greece. Hence it was, when they would describe the sun, in which they placed their God of wisdom and intelligence, that they attributed to it a chariot and four horses of fire; and when they would describe the God of the sea, since by the "sea" were signified sciences derived from understanding; that they also attributed horses to him; and when they would describe the rise of the sciences from understanding, that they also feigned a winged horse, which, with its hoof, broke open a fountain, at which sat nine virgins called the sciences. For from the ancient churches they received this knowledge, that by tbe "horse" is signified understanding, by "wings" spiritual truth, by the "hoof" what is scientific derived from understanding, and by a "fountain" doctrine from which sciences are derived. Nor is anything else signified by the "Trojan horse" than an artificial contrivance devised by their understanding for the purpose of destroying the walls, Even at this day, when the understanding is described after the manner received from those ancients, it is usual to figure it by a "flying horse" or Pegasus; so, likewise, doctrine is described by a "fountain", and the sciences by "virgins"; but scarcely anyone knows that by the "horse", in the mystic sense, is signified understanding, still less that those signiflcatives were derived to the Gentiles from the ancient representative churches. Wliite Horse, 2-4.

Verses 1-3. Man's own intelligence is thus described. "Egypt" denotes science; a "horse", understanding thence derived; a "chariot" denotes doctrine thence derived; a "horseman", intelligence from the same origin; of all which it is said "Woe unto them who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, and do not seek Jehovah." Their destruction by evils is meant by "His arising against the house of the wicked, and against the help of those that work iniquity." That the above things originate in man's proprium, and consequently have no life in them, is meant by "Egypt being man, and not God", and' by "the horses thereof being flesh, and not spirit"; "man" and "flesh" denote man's proprium; "God" and "spirit" are life from the Lord; the "horses of Egypt" are man's own intelligence. There are several other passages in the Word, which thus describe intelligence derived from rnan's self, and derived from the Lord, which passages are to be understood only by menus of the spiritual sense. Doct. of Life, 30.

By "Egypt", in the Word, is signified the scientific [principle] which is in the natural man, and hence it also signifies the natural man; And because the natural man, with the scientific [principle] which is therein, has not any understanding, but only thought from the memory, which is a species of imagination from the objects of the sight and of hearing, and inasmuch as it is below the spiritual man, in which reside all the Good and the Truths of heaven and the church, hence by "Egypt" in most passages is signified the false scientific [principle]; for when the spiritual man does not flow in, the scientifics of the natural man are turned into mere falsities, and the thoughts of the natural man into confirmations of the false, and into ratiocinations from them against Truths. Hence it may appear what is signified by "the horses of Egypt, and by the chariots thereof", namely, by the "horses" false scientifics, and by the "chariots" doctrinals from which are ratiocinations against Truths. They, therefore, who are of such a quality do not seek Truth from any other source than from themselves, for the proprium of everyone resides in the natural man, and not in the spiritual man: wherefore instead of truths they seize falsities, and instead of goods, evils; and the latter they call Goods, and the former Truths, and trust in themselvee, because in their own proprium. These things are signified by these words "Woe unto them that go down to Egypt for help, who stay on horses; who trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong." The "horses" here denote false scientifics, the "chariots" doctrinals thence derived, and the "horsemen" ratiocinations thence against Truths; wherefore also it is said, "The Egyptians are man, and not God; and their horses are flesh, and not spirit"; whereby is signified that only what is merely natural is in them, and not anything spiritual, nor consequently anything of life, - "man" signifying the natural man, and "flesh" the proprium thereof, and "God" and "spirit" signifying the divine-spiritual man, and life thence derived; and inasmuch as they confide in themselves, and not in the Lord, it is said, "They look not unto the Holy One of Israel, and seek not Jehovah! " Apocalypse Explained 355.

3. For the Egyptians are man, and not God; and their horses are flesh, and not spirit: and Jehovah shall stretch forth His hand, and the helper shall stumble, and the helped shall fall; and together shall all of them be consumed.

Verse 3. And in John:

"It is the spirit which vivifieth; the flesh profits nothing." (John 63)

Again,

"that which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is generated of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:6)

And in David:

"God remembered that they were flesh; a breath that passes away, and returns not again." (Psalm 78:39)

The evil of man's will, which is his proprium from nativity, is signified in these passages by "flesh"; likewise by "the flesh which the sons of Israel lusted after in the wilderness", and on account of which "they were smitten with a great plague", and from which the place was called "a sepulchre of coucupiscences." (Numbers 11:4-34). Apocalypse Explained 1082.

4. For thus has Jehovah said unto me, Like as the lion roars, even the young lion, over his prey, though a multitude of shepherds be called together against him, at their voice he will not be terrified, nor at their tumult will he be humbled so shall Jehovah of Hosts descend to fight for the mountain of Zion, and for the hill thereof.

Verse 4: In this passage Jehovah is compared to a "roaring lion", because by a "lion" is signified the power of leading out from hell or from evils, and by "roaring" is signified the defending against evils and falsities; wherefore it is said, "So shall Jehovah of Hosts descend to fight for the mountain of Zion, and for the hill thereof." The "mountain of Zion" and the "hill" thereof denoting the celestial church and the spiritual church.

The "prey" upon which the lion and the young lion roar, signifies deliverance from evils which are from hell. Apocalypse Explained 278.

5. As birds hovering [over their young], so shall Jehovah of Hosts protect Jerusalem; protecting, He will deliver; and passing over, He will rescue her.

6. Return unto Him, from whom you have deeply revolted, O you sons of Israel!

Verse 5. Jehovah is said to "protect Jerusalem, as birds flying [or hovering]", for by "protecting" is signified the Divine Providence as to defence; by "Jerusalem" is signified the church; and by "birds hovering", with which the comparison is made, is signified circumspection and presence, in this case as being predicated of the Lord's Omnipresence. Apocalypse Explained 282.

Verse 6. Return unto Him, etc. - See Chapter 30:15, note.

7. For in that day shall they reject every man the idols of his silver, and the idols of his gold, which their own hands have made for sin.

Verses 7, 8. By "the idols of silver and the idols of gold which they shall on that day reject", are signified the falsities and evils of religion and of worship, which they call Truths and Goods; and inasmuch as the falsities and evils of religion and of worship are from self-derived intelligence, therefore it is said, "Which their own hands have made for sin."

That there shall then be no reasonings from such things, is signified by "The Assyrian shall fall", etc. Apocalypse Explained 582.

Verses 7-9. For in that day shall they reject every man the idols of his silver, etc. - Treating concerning judgment upon those who, from self-derived intelligence, fancy themselves wise in things divine, such as are those who are in the love of self and of the world, and seek after the fame of erudition for the sake of themselves; such persons, inasmuch as they cannot see truths, seize upon falsities, and vaunt them for truths. The falsities favouring their principles and loves are signified by the "idols of silver" and the "idols of gold."

That they are from self-derived intelligence, is signified by "Their own hands have made them for sin."

That they should perish by their own falsities, is signified by "The Assyrian shall fall by a sword, not of man [vir]; yea, a sword, not of man [hominis], shall devour him"; the "Assyrian" denoting the rational principle perverted, and, consequently, those who are in falsities from self-derived intelligence; and to "fall" and to be "devoured by the sword" denoting to perish.

This was also represented by "the king of Assyria being slain by his sons"; (Isaiah 37:38). His "sons" there signify his own falsities by which he perished. "His rock shall pass away for fear", signifies all the falsities, in general, in which such persons confide; and "his princes shall be terrified at the standard", signifies primary falsities.

It is said, "at the standard", because it is not by any combat with Truths that they are dissipated, but solely by the sign of combat, which is a "standard." Such also have been seen by mle cast down from the rocks [in the world of spirits], upon which they were, by the waving of a standard. Apocalypse Explained 411.

8. And the Assyrian shall fall by a sword, not of man; yea, a sword, not of man, shall devour him: and he shall betake himself to flight from the face of the sword; and his young men shall be tributary.

Verse 8. His young men shall be trributary.

- "Young men", in a good sense, denote those who are intelligent; thus intelligence, and thence Truth confirmed; but by the "young men of Assyria", in a bad sense, as in this verse, is signified false intelligence, confirmed by fallacious and negative reasonings, which, at the time of judgment, are made tributary, or entirely subjugated. See Arcana Coelestia 7668.

9. His rock shall pass away for fear; and his princes shall be terrified at the standard, says Jehovah, whose fire is in Zion, and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

Verse 9. Thus says Jehovah, whose fire is in Zion, and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

- Where by "fire" is signified the Good of Love; and by "furnace", Truth from that Good, thus the Truth of Doctrine. Similar things are also signified by "Zion" and "Jerusalem"; by "Zion" the church as to the Good of Love, and by "Jerusalem" the church as to the Truth of Doctrine. Apocalypse Explained 540.

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Isaiah Chapter 32

1. BEHOLD, a King shall reign in justice, and Princes shall rule in judgment.

2. And a man shall be as a hiding-place from the wind, as a covert from the inundation; as rivers of waters in a dry place; as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land:

3. And the eyes of those that see shall not be dim; and the ears of those that hear shall hearken.

4. And the heart of the rash shall understand knowledge; and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak elegant things.

5. The fool shall no longer be called liberal; and the covetous shall no more be called noble:

6. For the fool will speak folly; and his heart will work iniquity: to practise hypocrisy, and to speak error against Jehovah; to make empty the soul of the hungry, and to cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.

7. As for the covetous, his instruments are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaks judgment.

8. But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he be established.

9. O you women that are at ease, stand up, hear My voice! O you confident daughters, give ear unto My speeeh!

10. Year upon year shall you be disquieted, O you confident ones: for the vintage has failed, the gathering shall not come in.

11. Tremble, O you women that are at ease; be you troubled, O you confident ones! strip you, make yourselves bare; and gird [sackcloth] upon your loins.

12. They shall smite upon the breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine.

13. Over the land of My people the thorn and the brier shall come up; yea, over all houses of joy, over the exulting city.

14. For the palace is deserted, the multitude of the city is forsaken; the cliff and the watch-tower shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture for flocks:

15. Till the spirit from on high be poured out upon us; and the wilderness, become a fruitful field; and the fruitful field be esteemed a forest.

16. And judgment shall dwell in the wilderness; and justice shall reside in the fruitful field.

17. And the work of justice shall be peace; and the labour of justice quietness and security for ever:

18. And My people shall dwell in a habitation of peace, and in tents of securities, and in quiet resting places.

19. But the hail shall fall, and the forest be brought down; and the city shall be laid utterly low.

20. Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, who send forth [thither] the foot of the ox and of the ass.

278. Verse 7. And the first animal was like a lion, signifies the appearance, in ultimates, of Divine truth proceeding from the Lord in respect to power and effect. This is evident from the signification of "lion," as being Divine truth proceeding from the Lord in respect to power and effect (of which in what follows). It means appearance in ultimates, because the cherubim were seen as animals, and this first one like a lion. It is said in ultimates, because that appearance was before John when he was in the spirit, and he saw all things in ultimates, in which Divine celestial and Divine spiritual things are variously represented, now by gardens and paradises, now by palaces and temples, now by rivers and waters, now by living creatures of various kinds, such as lions, camels, horses, oxen, bullocks, sheep, lambs, doves, eagles, and many others. Like things were seen by the prophets through whom the Word was written, in order that the Word in its ultimates, which are the things contained in the sense of the letter, might consist of such things as exist in the world, which might be representations and correspondences of celestial and spiritual things, and thus might serve as a basis and foundation to the spiritual sense. For this reason also the cherubim (which signify the guard and providence of the Lord that the higher heavens be not approached except from the good of love and charity) were seen by John and also by Ezekiel, in respect to their faces, as animals.

Since it is the Lord who guards and provides, and this through Divine truth and Divine good, thus through His Divine wisdom and intelligence, four animals were seen, which were like a lion, a calf, a man, and an eagle; for thus by "lion" Divine truth in respect to power was represented, by "calf" Divine good in respect to protection, by "man" the Divine wisdom, and by "eagle" the Divine intelligence; which four things are included in the Lord's Divine Providence in its guarding the higher heavens, that they be not approached except from the good of love and charity.

[2] That a "lion" signifies Divine truth proceeding from the Lord in respect to power is evident from the passages in the Word in which "lion" is mentioned; as from the following, in Moses:

Judah is a lion's whelp; from the prey, my son, thou are gone up; he couched, he lay down as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? (Genesis 49:9).

"Judah" here signifies the Lord's celestial kingdom, where all are in power from the Lord through Divine truth; this power is meant by a "lion's whelp," and by an "old lion;" "the prey from which he goeth up" signifies the dispersion of falsities and evils; "to couch" signifies to put oneself into power; "lying down" signifies to be in security from every falsity and evil; therefore it is said, "Who shall rouse him up?" (That "Judah" in the Word signifies the celestial kingdom of the Lord, see Arcana Coelestia, n. 3654, 3881, 5603, 5782, 6363; that "prey," in reference to that kingdom and to the Lord, signifies the dispersion of falsities and evils, and the rescue and deliverance from hell, n. 6368, 6442; that "couching" in reference to a lion, signifies to put oneself into power, n. 6369; and that "lying down" signifies a state of security and tranquillity, n. Arcana Coelestia 3696[1-5])

[3] In the same:

At this time it shall be said to Jacob and to Israel, What hath God wrought? Behold the people riseth up as an old lion, and as a young lion doth he lift himself up; he shall not lie down until he eat of what is torn (Numbers 23:23, 24).

In the same:

He coucheth, he lieth down as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee (Numbers 24:9).

This is said of "Jacob and Israel," who signify the Lord's spiritual kingdom; their power is described by an "old lion" and a "young lion" rising, lifting himself up, and couching; the dispersion of falsities and evils is signified by "eating of what is torn," and a state of security and tranquillity by "he lieth down, who shall rouse him up?" (That "Jacob" and "Israel" in the Word signify the Lord's spiritual kingdom, see Arcana Coelestia 4286, 4570, 5973, 6426, 8805, 9340; what the Lord's celestial kingdom is, and what His spiritual kingdom is, see in the work on Heaven and Hell 20-28). That "to couch" is to put oneself into power; that "prey" and "spoil" mean the dispersion of falsities and evils; and that "lying down" means a state of security and tranquillity, when these things are said of a lion, see just above.

[4] In Nahum:

Where is the abode of the lions, and the feeding place of the young lions? where walked the lion, the old lion, the lion's whelp, and none maketh them afraid? (Nahum 2:11).

Here also "lions" signify those who are in power through Divine truth; "their abode" signifies where there are such in the church; their "feeding place" signifies the knowledges of truth and good; their "walking and none making them afraid" signifies their state of security from evils and falsities.

[5] In Micah:

The remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples, as dew from Jehovah, as the drops upon the herb. As a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who if he go through shall tread down and tear in pieces so that none delivereth, thine hand shall be lifted up above thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off (Micah 5:7-9).

The "remnant of Jacob" signifies the truths and goods of the church; "dew from Jehovah" signifies spiritual truth; "drops upon the herb" natural truth; "a lion among the beasts of the forest," and "a young lion among the flocks of sheep," and "treading down and tearing, and none delivering," signify power over evils and falsities; because of this signification it is said, "thine hand shall be lifted up above thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off;" for "adversaries" signify evils, and "enemies" falsities (See Arcana Coelestia 2851[1-15], 8289, 9314, 10481).

[6] In Isaiah:

The Lord said, Go set a watchman, who may look and announce. And he saw a chariot, a pair of horsemen, an ass chariot, a camel chariot; and he harkened a hearkening; a lion upon a watch-tower called out, O lord, I stand continually in the daytime, and I am set upon my watch all the nights: Babylon is fallen, is fallen (Isaiah 21:6-9).

This treats of the coming of the Lord and a new church at that time. "A lion upon a watch-tower" signifies the Lord's guard and providence; therefore it is said, "I stand continually in the daytime, and I am set upon my watch all the nights." A "chariot" and a "pair of horsemen" signify the doctrine of truth from the Word; "harkening a harkening" signifies a life according to that doctrine. (That "chariot" signifies the doctrine of truth, see Arcana Coelestia 2761, 2762, 5321, 8029, 8215; that "horseman" signifies the Word in respect to the understanding, see n. 2761, 6401, 6534, 7024, 8146, 8148.)

[7] In the same:

Like as the lion and the young lion roareth over what he hath torn which ¹ a multitude of shepherds meeteth, so shall Jehovah come down to fight upon Mount Zion and upon the hill thereof (Isaiah 31:4).

Here Jehovah is compared to "a roaring lion," because a "lion" signifies power to lead forth from hell or from evils, and to "roar" signifies defense against evils and falsities; therefore it is said, "so shall Jehovah Zebaoth come down to fight upon Mount Zion and upon the hill thereof," "Mount Zion and the hill thereof" meaning the celestial church and the spiritual church; and "that which is torn over which the lion and the young lion roar" signifying deliverance from evils, which are from hell.

[8] To "roar" when attributed to a lion, has the same signification in Hosea:

I will not return to destroy Ephraim. They shall go after Jehovah as a lion roareth (Hosea 11:9-10).

In Amos:

The lion hath roared, who does not fear? The Lord Jehovih hath spoken, who will not prophesy (Amos 3:8).

In Revelation:

The angel cried with a great voice, as a lion roared (Revelation 10:3).

In David:

The lions roaring after their prey and seeking their food from God. The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together and lie down in their abodes (Psalms 104:21-22).

These words in David describe the state of the angels of heaven when they are not in a state of intense love and of wisdom therefrom, and when they return into that state; the former state is described by "lions roaring after their prey, and seeking their food from God;" the latter state by "the sun ariseth, they gather themselves together and lie down in their abodes." By the "lions" the angels of heaven are meant; their "roaring," means desire; "prey" and "food" mean the good which is of love and the truth which is of wisdom; "the sun arising" means the Lord in respect to love and wisdom therefrom; "gathering themselves together" means returning into a celestial state; and "lying down in their abodes," a state of tranquility and peace. (Of these two states of the angels in heaven see in the work on Heaven and Hell 154-161.)

[9] Because Jehovah is compared to a lion from Divine truth in respect to power, therefore the Lord is called a "lion" in Revelation:

Behold the lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath overcome (Revelation 5:5).

And because all power is from the Lord through Divine truth, this also is signified by a "lion," as in Moses:

Of Gad he said, Blessed is he who hath given the breadth to Gad; as a lion he dwelleth, he teareth the arm, yea, the crown of the head (Deuteronomy 33:20).

"Gad" in the highest sense signifies omnipotence, and therefore in the representative sense the power that is of truth (See Arcana Coelestia 3934[1-8], 3935); therefore it is said, "Blessed is he who hath given breadth to Gad," for "breadth" signifies truth (Arcana Coelestia 1613, 34 33, 3434, 4482, 9487, 10179; that all power is from Divine truth, see in the work on Heaven and Hell, in the chapter on The Power of the Angels in Heaven, n. 228-233).

[10] Because a "lion" signifies power, therefore in the lamentations of David over Saul and Jonathan it is said:

Saul and Jonathan were lovely, they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions (2 Samuel 1:23). "Saul" here as king, and "Jonathan" as the son of a king, mean truth protecting the church, since the doctrine of truth and good is here treated of, for that lamentation was written "to teach the sons of Judah the bow" (verse 18); and "bow" signifies that doctrine (See Arcana Coelestia, 2686, 2709, 6422).

[11] Because "the kings of Judah and Israel" represented the Lord in respect to Divine truth, and because a "throne" represented the judgment, which is effected according to Divine truth, and because "lions" represented power, guard, and protection against falsities and evils, therefore near the two stays of the throne built by Solomon there were two lions, and twelve lions on the six steps on the one side and on the other (1 Kings 10:18-20). From this it can be seen what "lions" in the Word signify when the Lord, heaven, and the church are treated of. "Lions" in the Word signify also the power of falsity from evil by which the church is destroyed and devastated. As in Jeremiah:

The young lions roar against her, ² they give forth their voice, they reduce the land to wasteness (Jeremiah 2:15).

In Isaiah:

A nation whose arrows are sharp, and all his bows bent, the hoofs of his horses are accounted as rock, his roaring like that of a lion, he roareth like a young lion, and he growleth and seizeth the prey (Isaiah 5:28-29).

Besides many other places (as in Isaiah 11:6; 35:9; Jeremiah 4:7; 5:6; 12:8; 50:17; 51:38; Ezekiel 19:3, 5-6; Hosea 13:7, 8; Joel 1:6-7; Psalms 17:12; 22:13; 57:4; 58:6; 91:13).

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