Arcana Coelestia # 3575
3575. And he smelled the smell of his garments. That this signifies that which was grateful from the truth of good which he perceived, is evident from the signification of the “smell,” as being that which is grateful (n. 925), and of “smelling,” as being to perceive that which is grateful; and from the signification of “garments,” as being truth (n. 297, 1073, 2576); and because they were Esau’s, who is here meant by “his,” and by Esau is represented the good of the natural, therefore it is the truth of good which is signified. The truth of good is that which is produced in the natural by means of the immediate and mediate influx of the rational (see above n. 3573); this truth was that which was desired; but because it could not be produced by immediate influx from the good of the rational, unless at the same time by mediate influx (that is, through the truth of the rational), and as this could not be produced except by means of a number of means, which are what are here described by “Esau” and “Jacob” in the internal sense, therefore by “smelling the smell of his garments” is signified the truth of good which was perceived.
Arcana Coelestia # 297
297. Celestial good is not clothed, because it is inmost, and is innocent; but celestial spiritual good is that which is first clothed, and then natural good, for these are more external, and on that account are compared to and are called “garments;” as in Ezekiel, speaking of the Ancient Church:
I clothed thee with broidered work, and shod thee with badger, I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk (Ezekiel 16:10).
In Isaiah:
Put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the city of holiness (Isaiah 52:1).
In Revelation:
Who have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy (Revelation 3:4-5),
where it is likewise said of the four and twenty elders that they were “clothed in white raiment” (Revelation 4:4). Thus the more external goods, which are celestial spiritual, and natural, are “garments;” wherefore also those who are endowed with the goods of charity appear in heaven clothed in shining garments; but here, because still in the body, with a “coat of skin.”
