3186. Our sister, be thou for thousands of ten thousands. That this signifies the fructification of the affection of truth to infinitude, appears from the signification of “sister,” who is Rebekah, as being the affection of truth (see n. 3077, 3179, 3182); and from the signification of “being for thousands of ten thousands,” as being fructification to infinitude; “thousands of ten thousands” here denote what is infinite, because the subject treated of is the Lord, in whom all things both in general and in particular are infinite. With man the case is this: Goods are not fructified and truths are not multiplied with him, until the conjunction of truth and of good has been effected in his rational, that is, until he is regenerate; for then the fruits or offspring come forth from legitimate or heavenly marriage, which is that of good and truth. It is true that previously to this time the goods which he does appear as if they were goods and the truths appear as if they were truths; but they are not genuine, for the very soul, which is good wherein is innocence from the Lord, is not in them; thus neither do they affect the man and make him happy. The affection of love and of charity, together with the happiness thereof, which affection is the soul, is given of the Lord when man is being regenerated.

[2] That by “thousands” is signified much, and also what is infinite, may be seen above (n. 2575); and still more by “ten thousands,” and still more by “thousands of ten thousands,” as also in other passages. Thus in Moses:

When the ark rested, he said, Return Jehovah, the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel (Numbers 10:36); where by “the ten thousands of the thousands” is also signified what is infinite, because it is predicated of the Lord, who is here “Jehovah.” Again:

Jehovah rose from Seir unto them; He shone forth from Mount Paran, and came from the ten thousands of holiness (Deuteronomy 33:2); where “ten thousands” also denote what is infinite.

In David:

The chariots of God are ten thousands of thousands of peaceable ones (Psalms 68:17); where the “chariots of God” denote those things which are of the Word and of the doctrine thence derived; “ten thousands of thousands” denote the infinite things which are therein.

In John:

I saw, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne; their number was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands (Revelation 5:11);

denoting that they were innumerable.