77. And I fell at His feet, signifies adoration from humiliation of heart in presence of the Divine. This is evident from the signification of "falling at the feet," as being adoration from humiliation. Humiliation of heart is meant, because humiliation that springs from the heart in presence of the Divine produces that prostration. All affections, whatsoever they are, have corresponding gestures in the body. Into these gestures the body is borne and falls as of itself, when man is interiorly in the affection. Humiliation before a man produces a bowing down, according to the estimation of him; but in presence of the Divine it produces total prostration, especially when man thinks that the Divine in respect to power and wisdom is everything, and man in comparison is nothing, or that from the Divine is all good and from man nothing but evil.

When man is in this acknowledgment from the heart he comes as it were out of himself, and thence falls upon his face, and when he is thus out of himself he also is removed from the proprium [what is his own], which in itself is wholly evil; when this is removed, the Divine fills him and raises him up; not that the Divine desires such humiliation on its account, but because evil is then removed, and so far as evil is removed with man so far the Divine flows in; for evil alone stands in the way. (An example of such humiliation may be seen in the little work on the Earths in the Universe 91 .) Man's state when the Divine presence with him removes proprium [what is his own], and afterwards infills him, is thus described in this verse: "When I saw Him I fell at His feet as dead; and He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not." This state is more fully described in Daniel:

I lifted up mine eyes and looked, and behold a Man clothed in linen, His face as the appearance of lightning, and His eyes as lamps of fire, and His feet like the splendor of burnished brass. I alone saw the vision; but the men that were with me saw it not; but great fear fell upon them, and they fled. And there remained no strength in me; and I came into a deep sleep, and my face upon the ground. But lo, a hand touched me, and set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands, and He said, Fear not (Daniel 10:5-12).

This state is also described in Ezekiel, when he saw the cherubs, by which is signified the Lord in respect to Providence:

When I saw the glory of Jehovah, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of One that spoke. And He said unto me, son of man, stand upon thy feet, that I may speak to thee. And the spirit entered into me when He spoke unto me, and set me upon my feet, and I heard Him that spake unto me (Ezekiel 1:28; 2:1-2; 3:24).

Likewise also, when Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John, of which it is thus written in Matthew:

While Peter was yet speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and behold, a voice out of the cloud saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him. And when the disciples heard these things they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, be not afraid. And when they had lifted up their eyes they saw no one save Jesus only (Matthew 17:5-8).

From this it is apparent of what nature is the presence of the Divine Human of the Lord with man, when man is in a state of humiliation of heart, namely, that he falls upon his face, and by the touch of the Lord's hand is raised upon his feet. It was plainly the presence of the Lord in respect to the Divine Human; since it was the "Son of man" who was in the midst of the lampstands that appeared in this way before John; and the "Son of man" is the Lord as to the Divine Human, see above n. 63. It was similar with the disciples when the Lord was transfigured; it is therefore also said that "when they lifted up their eyes they saw no one save Jesus only." That it was also the Lord as to the Divine Human who was seen by Daniel and Ezekiel, is evident from the words of the Lord himself, that:

No one hath heard the Father's voice at any time, nor seen His form (John 5:37; see also John 1:18).

Moreover, that men worshiped the Lord when He was in the world, by falling upon the face at His feet, may be seen in Matthew 28:9; and in Mark 7:25-26; Luke 8:41; 17:15-16, 18; and in John 11:32.

4933. The reason why the hands, arms, and shoulders correspond to power in the Grand Man is that the strength and powers of the whole body and of all its internal organs are linked to them, in that the body employs the arms and hands to exercise its strength and powers. This also is the reason why in the Word powers are meant by 'the hands', 'the arms', and 'the shoulders'. As regards 'the hands' having this meaning, see 878, 3387, and as regards 'the arms' meaning the same, this is evident from many places, such as the following,

Be their arm every morning. Isaiah 33:2.

The Lord Jehovih is coming with might, and His arm will exercise dominion for Him. Isaiah 40:10.

He works it by means of His arm of strength. Isaiah 44:12.

My arms will judge the peoples. Isaiah 51:5.

Put on strength, O arm of Jehovah. Isaiah 51:9.

I looked around, and there was no helper, therefore My own arm brought salvation to Me. Isaiah 63:5.

Cursed is he who trusts in man (homo) and makes flesh his arm. Jeremiah 17:5.

I have made the earth, man, and beast, by My great strength and by My outstretched arm. Jeremiah 27:5; 32:17.

The horn of Moab has been cut off and his arm broken. Jeremiah 48:25.

I am breaking the arms of the king of Egypt, but I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babel. Ezekiel 30:22, 24-25.

O Jehovah, break the arm of the wicked. Psalms 10:15.

According to the greatness of Your arm preserve those who are appointed to die. ¹ Psalms 79:11.

They were brought out of Egypt by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Deuteronomy 7:19; 11:2-3; 26:8; Jeremiah 32:21; Psalms 136:12.

From these places it may also be recognized that by the right hand in the Word superior power is meant, and by 'sitting on the right hand of Jehovah' almighty power, Matthew 26:63-64; Luke 22:69; Mark 14:61-62; 16:19.

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