9926. And the voice thereof shall be heard. That this signifies the influx of truth with those who are in the heavens and who are on earth, is evident from the signification of “being heard,” as being reception and perception (see n. 5017, 5471, 5475, 7216, 8361, 9311), consequently also influx, because the things which are received and perceived must flow in; and from the signification of “the voice,” when said of Aaron, by whom is represented the Lord, as being Divine truth (see n. 8813); for “the voice” denotes the annunciation of this truth, and because it denotes its annunciation, it exists with those who are in the heavens and on earth. For Divine truth fills all things of heaven, and makes all things of the church. Such an annunciation was represented by the voice from the bells of gold, when Aaron went in unto the holiness before Jehovah, and when he came out, as is said in what now follows in this verse.
[2] That in the Word a “voice” signifies the Divine truth which is heard and perceived in the heavens and on earth, is evident from the following passages.
In David:
The voice of Jehovah is upon the waters; the voice of Jehovah is in power; the voice of Jehovah is with honor; the voice of Jehovah breaketh the cedars; the voice of Jehovah cleaveth as a flame of fire; the voice of Jehovah maketh the wilderness to tremble; the voice of Jehovah maketh the hinds to calve; but in His temple everyone saith, Glory (Psalms 29:3-9).
In this psalm Divine truth is treated of, in that it destroys falsities and evils; this Divine truth is “the voice of Jehovah;” but the “glory” which is spoken of denotes the Divine truth in heaven and in the church. (That “glory” denotes the Divine truth, see n. 9429; and that the “temple” denotes heaven and the church, n. 3720)
[3] In John:
To Him who is the Shepherd of the sheep the doorkeeper openeth; and the sheep hear His voice. The sheep follow Him, because they know His voice. A stranger they follow not, because they know not the voice of strangers. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice. But ye are not of My sheep, for My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me (John 10:2-5, 16, 26-27).
That the “voice” here denotes the Divine truth proceeding from the Lord, thus the Word, is very evident; “the voice of strangers” denotes falsity.
[4] In Isaiah:
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of Jehovah, for the glory of Jehovah shall be revealed. The voice saith, Cry. O Zion, that tellest good tidings, get thee up upon the high mountain! O Jerusalem, that tellest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength! lift it up. Behold the Lord Jehovih cometh in strength (Isaiah 40:3, 5, 40:5-6, 9-10; also John 1:23).
“The voice” here denotes annunciation from the Word about the coming of the Lord, thus it also denotes the Divine truth which the Word announces; “the wilderness” denotes the state of the church at that time, which was as it were in the wilderness because the Word was no longer understood; “the glory which shall be revealed” denotes the Word as to its interiors. (That this is meant by “glory,” may be seen above, n. 9429 .) That “Jehovah, for whom a way was to be prepared,” and “the Lord Jehovih, who should come in strength,” denote the Lord, is plain, for this is clearly stated.
[5] In Isaiah:
The voice of thy watchmen; they shall lift up the voice when they shall see eye to eye that Jehovah will return to Zion (Isaiah 52:8);
“the watchmen” denote those who search the Scriptures concerning the coming of the Lord, their “voice” denotes the Word, which is the Divine truth that is the source.
In Jeremiah:
The Maker of the earth by His understanding hath stretched out the heavens. At the voice which He uttereth there is a multitude of waters in the heavens (Jeremiah 5:12-13; 51:16).
“The voice” here denotes Divine truth; “waters” denote truths which are in the heavens and from the heavens. (That “waters” in the Word denote truths, see n. 2702, 3058, 3424, 4976, 5668, 9323)
[6] So also in the Apocalypse:
The voice of the Son of man was like the sound of many waters (Revelation 1:15).
I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters (Revelation 14:2).
The voice of Jehovah is upon the waters, Jehovah is upon great waters (Psalms 29:3).
Jehovah hath uttered His voice before His army, for without number is he that doeth His word (Joel 2:11).
In this passage also “voice” denotes Divine truth, and likewise the Word which they do. Again:
Jehovah shall utter His voice from Jerusalem, so that the heavens and the earth shall shake (Joel 3:16).
Sing psalms unto the Lord, ye kingdoms of the earth, to Him that rideth upon the heaven of heaven of old; lo, He shall utter in a voice a voice of strength (Psalms 68:32-33).
I say unto you, The hour cometh when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live (John 5:25).
That “the voice” in this passage denotes Divine truth, consequently the Word of the Lord, is manifest.
[7] In Ezekiel:
The spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great earthquake, saying, Blessed be the glory of Jehovah. And I heard the voice of the wings of the living creatures, and the voice of the wheels, even the voice of a great earthquake (Ezekiel 3:12-13).
The voice of the wings of the cherubs was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of God Shaddai when He speaketh (Ezekiel 10:5).
Here also “the voice” denotes Divine truth; for “the cherubs” signify the providence and guard of the Lord that there be no approach to Himself and to heaven except through the good of love (n. 9277, 9509); “the voice of the wings,” and “the voice of the wheels,” denote spiritual truths.
[8] In the present verse, in which Aaron is treated of, it is the sound or ringing from the bells which is called a “voice.” In other passages of the Word also sounds and blarings from trumpets, and sounds and peals from thunders, are called “voices;” and thereby in like manner are signified Divine truths (se e n. 7573). Moreover, the sounds of musical instruments of various kinds have also a like signification; but those which give out a stridulous and a discrete sound signify Divine spiritual truths; while those which give out a continuous sound signify Divine celestial truths (n. 418-420, 4138, 8337). From this it is evident that by the sounds or “voices” of the bells are signified Divine spiritual truths; for the garments of Aaron, and specifically the robe, in the skirts of which were the bells, round about, represented the Lord’s spiritual kingdom or heaven (n. 9814, 9825).
