In Genesis 11:4, this signifies the worship of self, which consists of a person exalting himself above others, even to the point of worship. This is why self-love, which is arrogance and pride, is called 'height,' 'loftiness,' and 'lifting up,' and is described with anything high. Self-love in worship, or the worship of self is called 'a tower,' because 'a city' signifies doctrine, and ancient cities were fortified with towers with guards. Towers were also built on the borders of a country. This is why they were called guard towers, or watchmen in 2 Kings 9:17, 17:9, 18:8, and watch-towers, in Isaiah 23:13.

In Matthew 21:33; Isaiah 5:2, this signifies interior truths into which there is influx, and communication with heaven. (Arcana Coelestia 918[4])

In Psalm 48:12, this signifies to consider the higher or interior things of that church. (Arcana Coelestia 453[10])

'To build a tower,' as in Luke 14:27, signifies acquiring interior truths.

(Odkazy: Arcana Coelestia 4599; Isaiah 25, 30, 30:25)

1182. “巴别, 以力, 亚甲, 甲尼, 都在示拿地” 表那个地区有这类敬拜; 同时这些民族还表敬拜本身, 其外在显得圣洁, 但内在是不洁的. 这从 “巴别” 和 “示拿地” 的含义清楚可知. 圣言对于 “巴别” 有大量论述, “巴别” 处处表示这类敬拜, 也就是说外在显得圣洁, 而内在是不洁的. 不过, 巴别是下一章的主题, 届时将说明, 巴别表示这类事物, 这类敬拜一开始不象后来那样不洁. 因为外在敬拜的品质完全取决于内在: 内在越圣洁, 外在敬拜就越圣洁; 但内在越污秽, 外在敬拜就越污秽; 内在越不洁, 外在敬拜也越不洁. 总之, 具有这种外在敬拜的人越有物欲和我欲, 他的敬拜就越没有生命和圣洁; 他的我欲和物欲中越有对邻人的仇恨, 他的敬拜越不洁; 其仇恨中的恶意越多, 他的敬拜越不洁; 其恶意越具有欺骗性, 他的敬拜越不洁. 这些爱和这些恶就是外在敬拜的内在, 也就是下一章所论述的 “巴别” 所指的.