Arcana Coelestia # 8764
8764. 'And [how] I bore you on eagles' wings' means and that as a result they were raised by means of truths to heavenly light. This is clear from the meaning of 'bearing someone on eagles' wings' as being raised on high, even to heavenly light; for 'bearing' means being raised, 'wings' spiritual truths, and 'an eagle' the rational in respect of truth (regarding this meaning of 'eagle', see 3901); for eagles fly on high. By the visible heaven or sky the ancients understood the angelic heaven. The simple also believed that angels had their home up there, and in addition that since places on high were nearer the sun and stars, heavenly light itself shone there. So it is that 'being borne on eagles' wings' means being taken on high into that light. The reason why one is raised into it by means of the truths of faith is that the truth of faith is what raises a person right up to heaven, where the good of faith is. The rational in respect of truth is meant by 'an eagle' because the rational level of a person is his heaven or sky, and in relation to it the natural level is so to speak the earth. For the rational constitutes the internal man and the natural the external.
[2] The reason why 'wings' are spiritual truths is that birds in general mean intellectual concepts and thoughts, 40, 745, 776, 3219, 5149, 7441, and therefore 'wings' are spiritual truths since all real understanding is formed from them. An understanding formed from falsities, no matter how clear and sharp-sighted it may seem to be, is no real understanding. Real understanding sees in the light of heaven, and the light of heaven is spiritual truth, that is, the truth of faith. Consequently where the truth of faith does not exist there is no light, only thick darkness; and an understanding set in thick darkness is no understanding at all. 'Wings' are also power, which spiritual truth possesses, derived from its good; for the wings on birds are like the hands and arms on a human being, and 'arms' and 'hands' mean power, 878, 3387, 4931-4937, 5327, 5328, 5544, 6292, 6947, 7538, 7673, 8050, 8153, 8281, 8305. Regarding the power which spiritual truth possesses, derived from good, see 3563, 4931, 5623, 6344, 6423.
[3] The fact that 'wings' are spiritual truths or the truths of faith, possessing power derived from good, is evident from places elsewhere in the Word. Consequently when wings are attributed to the Divine, Divine Truth possessing almighty power is meant by them, for example where they are attributed to cherubs, by whom the Lord's providence is meant, as in Ezekiel,
Each cherub had four faces, and each one had four wings. Their wings were straight up, [the wing] of one towards [that of I the other; each had wings covering their bodies. I heard the sound of [their] wings, like the sound of great waters, like the voice of Shaddai, when they were coming, the sound 1 of tumult, like the sound 1 of a camp. When they stood they let down their wings. I heard the sound 1 of their wings, brushing together 2 , [the wing] of one towards [that of] the other, and the noise 1 of the wheels beside them. The sound 1 of the wings of the cherubs was heard even in the outer court, like the voice of God Shaddai. The likeness of the hands of a human being was under their wings. Ezekiel 1:4, 6, 23-24; 3:13; 10:5, 21.
[4] 'Wings' here are God's truth. This is clear from the details contained in the description, both from the detail that the wings were straight up, one towards the other, and that they covered their bodies, as well as the details that the sound of them when it was heard was like the sound of great waters, like the noise of the wheels, and like the voice of Shaddai, and also the detail that the likeness of the hands of a human being was under their wings. The wings going straight up, one towards the other, represented the fellowship of all in the Divine. Their covering the cherubs' bodies was a sign that Divine Truth clothed Divine Good from which it comes forth; for Divine Good is the flame, and Divine Truth is the light emanating from it. This light encircles and so clothes that flame all round. The actual flame is not visible in heaven, only the light containing the flame, which is thereby felt as heat, which is love. The sound heard 'like the sound of many waters' means the nature of Divine Truth as it exists in heaven; and the like is meant by the sound of it being like the noise of the wheels and like the voice of Shaddai. For 'sound' and 'voice' are attributed to Divine Truth. This explains why the words 'the sound of great waters' are used, for 'waters' are truths, 2702, 3058, 3424, 4976, 5668, 8137, 8138, 8568; also the words 'the noise of the wheels', for 'wheels' are truths belonging to religious teachings, since 'chariots' are teachings that uphold truth, 5321, 5945, 8146, 8148, 8215; as well as 'the voice of God Shaddai', for 'God Shaddai' is truth rebuking in temptations and subsequently bringing comfort, 1992, 4572, 5628. 'The likeness of the hands of a human being under their wings' was a sign of the almighty power that Divine Truth possesses, for 'hands' are power, and in the highest sense almighty power when they are attributed to the Lord.
[5] From all this one may see what was represented by the wings of the cherubs who were over the mercy seat which was over the ark of the covenant, and by their being spread out upwards and covering the mercy seat, Exodus 25:20; also what the cherubs on the curtains of the tabernacle and on the veil represented, and in Solomon's temple too. In a similar way one may see what those all around within the new house represented, as described in Ezekiel 41:18-20; likewise what is meant by the four living creatures around the throne, each one of which had for itself six wings round about, Revelation 4:8, and what by the seraphim standing above the throne, each of which had six wings, Isaiah 6:1-2.
[6] The fact that 'wings' in the internal sense are spiritual truths or the truths of faith is clear in Ezekiel,
Thus said the Lord Jehovih, A great eagle with great wings with long pinions full of feathers, 3 in its embroidery, came on Lebanon and took a twig of the cedar. He carried it into a land of commerce. After that he took some of the seed of the land and planted it in a seed field; he took it to great waters. It sprouted and became a spreading vine. And there was another eagle with great wings and full of feathers, 4 and behold, the vine directed its roots towards it, and sent out its branches to it, in a good field, by many waters. It was planted to produce branches, and to bear fruit, in order that it might become a magnificent vine. Ezekiel 17:1-8.
This prophecy describes the establishment of the spiritual Church by the Lord. 'The eagle' referred to here is faith, 'its great wings and long pinions' are the truths of faith, and 'its embroidery' is factual knowledge. Growth out of all this is described by 'a twig of the cedar from Lebanon, by 'a land of commerce', and 'the seed of the land in a seed field, [taken] to great waters', the actual Church arising from this being 'a vine'. For the meaning of 'a vine' as the spiritual Church, see 1069, 5113, and as the external Church, 6375. But 'a magnificent vine' planted by another eagle is the internal Church, 6376; for the external aspect of the Church is described by the one eagle, and the internal aspect of it by the other. The prophet describes later on in the same chapter how this Church established among the Ancients was perverted among the Jews.
[7] The truth of faith is in like manner meant by 'wings' in David,
If you lie between the rows, 5 [you will be like] the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her pinions with the yellow of gold. Psalms 68:13.
'The wings of a dove' are the truths of faith, 'dove' meaning faith, see 870. They are said to be 'covered with silver' because 'silver' is truth derived from good, 1551, 2954, 5658, 6914, 6917, 7999.
[8] The meaning of 'wings' as God's truth is in addition clear from the following places: In Isaiah,
Those who await Jehovah are renewed with strength; they mount up with wings like eagles. Isaiah 40:31.
In David,
God rode on a cherub, and flew; He was borne on the wings of the wind. Psalms 18:10; 104:3.
This refers to Divine Truth and its power. In the same author,
Jehovah will cover you under His wing, and under His wings will you put your trust. Truth is a shield and buckler. Psalms 91:4.
'Being covered by Jehovah's wing, and putting one's trust under His wings' stands for protection and trust that belong to faith. The like is meant by being hidden under the shadow of God's wings, Psalms 17:8; trusting in the shadow of His wings, Psalms 36:7; 57:1; 61:4; singing in the shadow of His wings, Psalms 63:7.
[9] Most things also have a contrary meaning, and this is no less so with 'wings'. In that contrary sense 'wings' means falsities, as in John,
From the smoke of the pit of the abyss there went out locusts, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of many chariot horses running to war. Revelation 9:3, 9..
Here 'wings' are falsities fighting against truth, for 'locusts' are falsities in the things that are outermost, 7643.
Poznámky pod čarou:
1. literally, voice
2. literally, kissing
3. literally, A great eagle, great with wings, long with pinions, and full with feathers
4. literally, another eagle, great with wings, and full with feathers
5. What Swedenborg, following the Latin version of Sebastian Schmidt, understands the Hebrew to mean here is uncertain.
Psalms 18
1
I love you, Yahweh, my strength.
2
Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower.
3
I call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised; and I am saved from my enemies.
4
The cords of death surrounded me. The floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
5
The cords of Sheol were around me. The snares of death came on me.
6
In my distress I called on Yahweh, and cried to my God. He heard my voice out of his temple. My cry before him came into his ears.
7
Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations also of the mountains quaked and were shaken, because he was angry.
8
Smoke went out of his nostrils. Consuming fire came out of his mouth. Coals were kindled by it.
9
He bowed the heavens also, and came down. Thick darkness was under his feet.
10
He rode on a cherub, and flew. Yes, he soared on the wings of the wind.
11
He made darkness his hiding place, his pavilion around him, darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
12
At the brightness before him his thick clouds passed, hailstones and coals of fire.
13
Yahweh also thundered in the sky. The Most High uttered his voice: hailstones and coals of fire.
14
He sent out his arrows, and scattered them; Yes, great lightning bolts, and routed them.
15
Then the channels of waters appeared. The foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, Yahweh, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
16
He sent from on high. He took me. He drew me out of many waters.
17
He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me.
18
They came on me in the day of my calamity, but Yahweh was my support.
19
He brought me forth also into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me.
20
Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness. According to the cleanness of my hands has he recompensed me.
21
For I have kept the ways of Yahweh, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
22
For all his ordinances were before me. I didn't put away his statutes from me.
23
I was also blameless with him. I kept myself from my iniquity.
24
Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
25
With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man, you will show yourself perfect.
26
With the pure, you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.
27
For you will save the afflicted people, but the haughty eyes you will bring down.
28
For you will light my lamp, Yahweh. My God will light up my darkness.
29
For by you, I advance through a troop. By my God, I leap over a wall.
30
As for God, his way is perfect. The word of Yahweh is tried. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.
31
For who is God, except Yahweh? Who is a rock, besides our God,
32
the God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect?
33
He makes my feet like deer's feet, and sets me on my high places.
34
He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of bronze.
35
You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your right hand sustains me. Your gentleness has made me great.
36
You have enlarged my steps under me, My feet have not slipped.
37
I will pursue my enemies, and overtake them. Neither will I turn again until they are consumed.
38
I will strike them through, so that they will not be able to rise. They shall fall under my feet.
39
For you have armed me with strength to the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
40
You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me.
41
They cried, but there was none to save; even to Yahweh, but he didn't answer them.
42
Then I beat them small as the dust before the wind. I cast them out as the mire of the streets.
43
You have delivered me from the strivings of the people. You have made me the head of the nations. A people whom I have not known shall serve me.
44
As soon as they hear of me they shall obey me. The foreigners shall submit themselves to me.
45
The foreigners shall fade away, and shall come trembling out of their close places.
46
Yahweh lives; and blessed be my rock. Exalted be the God of my salvation,
47
even the God who executes vengeance for me, and subdues peoples under me.
48
He rescues me from my enemies. Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me. You deliver me from the violent man.
49
Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations, and will sing praises to your name.
50
He gives great deliverance to his king, and shows loving kindness to his anointed, to David and to his seed, forevermore. For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
