9131. 'If he has nothing' means if nothing remains, nothing of the good or truth that has been taken away. This is clear from the meaning of 'his (the thief's) having nothing' as nothing remaining of the good or truth that has been taken away. For the meaning of 'the theft' as the good or truth that has been taken away, see 9125; and the fact that 'the thief' has the same meaning as 'the theft', 9125, 9126.

Like other descriptions of time in the Word, "a day" or a number of "days" describe a spiritual state rather than our natural concept of time. A spiritual "day" describes a state of mind or a state in our relationship with the Lord rather than a 12-hour or 24-hour span of natural time. "Day" describes a state in which we are turned toward the Lord, and are receiving light (which is truth) and heat (which is a desire for good) from the Lord.