'The dried up root,' as in Hosea 9:16, 17, signifies charity which could not bear fruit.

(Odkazy: Arcana Coelestia 1801; Malachi 4:1)

In Nahum 3:16, 'merchants' signify people who falsify the Word, and communicate, and sell. They also signify people who have knowledge of good and truth.

(Odkazy: Arcana Coelestia 2967 [1-9]; Nahum 3)