3079. With her pitcher upon her shoulder. That this signifies receptions of truth, and endeavor, is evident from the signification of a “pitcher,” as being memory-knowledge, and thus a receptacle of truth (see n. 3068); and from the signification of the “shoulder,” as being all power, and thus endeavor (see n. 1085). That “pitchers” or “water-jars,” also vessels in general, signify in the internal sense things which are in the position of being a receptacle (as are memory-knowledges and knowledges in relation to truths, and as are truths themselves in relation to good), may be seen from many passages in the Word. The “vessels” of the temple and of the altar have no other signification, and because they signified such things they were also holy, their holiness being from no other source.

[2] And when Belshazzar, with his great men and his wives, was drinking wine out of the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had brought from the temple of Jerusalem, and they were praising the gods of gold, silver, brass, iron, wood, and stone, it was because of such signification of the vessels that the writing then appeared on the wall of his palace (Daniel 5:2, etc .). The “vessels of gold and of silver” denote the knowledges of good and truth, which were profaned; for the Chaldeans denote those who are in knowledges, but such as have been profaned by the falsities that are in them (n. 1368); so that the knowledges serve them to worship gods of gold and silver; for Belshazzar is called king of the Chaldeans in this same chapter (verse 30).

[3] That “vessels” signify the externals of spiritual things, is also plain from other passages in the Word, as in Isaiah:

As the sons of Israel bring their offering in a clean vessel into the house of Jehovah (Isaiah 66:20); where the Lord’s kingdom is treated of. The “offering in a clean vessel” is representative of the external man relatively to the internal; that which brings the gift is the internal man; the “clean vessel” is the external man that is in agreement, thus it denotes the things in the external man, which are memory-knowledges, knowledges, and doctrinal things.

[4] In Jeremiah:

The cry of Jerusalem is gone up, and their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters; they came to the pits, they found no waters, they returned with their vessels empty, they are ashamed (Jeremiah 14:2-3);

“empty vessels” denote knowledges wherein there is no truth, and also truths wherein there is no good. Again:

Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babel, hath devoured me, he hath troubled me, he hath made me an empty vessel (Jeremiah 51:34); where an “empty vessel” has a similar meaning. That it is Babel that lays waste, may be seen above (n. 1327, at the end).

In Moses:

As the valleys are they planted, as gardens by the river’s side; waters shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall be at many waters (Numbers 24:6-7).

This is Balaam’s parable concerning Jacob and Israel; “waters flowing from his buckets,” signify that truths flow from knowledges.

[5] In the parable of the ten virgins, five of whom took oil in their vessels with their lamps, while the foolish did not (Matthew 25:4), by the “virgins” are signified affections. That the wise “took oil in their vessels,” denotes that there was good in truths, and thus charity in faith. That “oil” denotes good, may be seen above (n. 886); “lamps” denote love.

1085. And laid it upon the shoulder. That this signifies that they did this—that is, interpreted for good and excused—with all their might, is evident from the signification of “shoulder” as being all power. “Hand” in the Word signifies power, as shown before; “arm” signifies still greater power; and “shoulder” signifies all power, as is evident from the following passages in the Word, in Ezekiel:

Ye thrust with side and with shoulder, and push all the diseased sheep with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad (Ezekiel 34:21).

“With side and with shoulder” means with all the soul and all the might, and “pushing with their horns” means with all the strength.

[2] Again:

That all the inhabitants of Egypt may know that I am Jehovah, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel; in their taking hold of thee in the hand thou shalt be broken, and shall rend for them every shoulder (Ezekiel 29:6-7).

This is said of those who desire to explore spiritual truths by means of memory-knowledges [scientifica]. The “staff of reed” denotes such power; “taking in the hand” means trusting therein; “rending every shoulder” means being deprived of all power so as to know nothing.

[3] In Zephaniah:

That they may all call upon the name of Jehovah, to serve Him with one shoulder (Zephaniah 3:9); meaning with one soul, thus with one might.

In Zechariah:

But they refused to hearken, and turned a stubborn shoulder (Zechariah 7:11); meaning that they resisted with all their might.

In Isaiah:

They hire a goldsmith, who maketh gold and silver into a god; they adore, yea, they bow down; they bear it upon the shoulder, they carry it (Isaiah 46:6-7); meaning that they adore their idol with all their might, which is “bearing it on the shoulder.”

[4] Again:

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, God, Hero, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).This is said of the Lord, and of His power and might; and therefore it is said, “upon His shoulder.”

Again:

The key of the house of David will I lay upon His shoulder; and He shall open, and none shall shut; and He shall shut and none shall open (Isaiah 22:22).

This likewise is said of the Lord, and “to lay upon His shoulder the key of the house of David” means His power and authority.