Arcana Coelestia # 1069
1069. And he planted a vineyard. That this signifies a church therefrom, and that a “vineyard” is the spiritual church, is evident from the signification of a “vineyard.” In the Word churches are frequently described as “gardens” and also as the “trees of a garden” and are even so named. This is from their fruits, which signify the things belonging to love and charity; and therefore it is said that a man is “known by his fruit.” The comparing of churches to “gardens” “trees” and “fruits” originates from representations in heaven, where gardens of inexpressible beauty are sometimes presented to view, in accordance with the spheres of the faith. From the same origin the celestial church was described by the Paradisal Garden, in which were trees of every kind; and by the “trees” of that garden were signified the perceptions of that church, and by the “fruits” the goods of love of every kind. But the Ancient Church, being spiritual, is described by a “vineyard” from its fruits, which are grapes, and which represent and signify the works of charity.
[2] This is clearly evident from many passages of the Word, as in Isaiah:
I will sing for My beloved a song of My beloved touching his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard in a horn of the son of oil; and he made a hedge about it, and fenced it with stones, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also hewed out a wine-press therein and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes; and now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt Me and My vineyard: the vineyard of Jehovah of armies is the house of Israel (Isaiah 5:1-3, 7).
Here the “vineyard” signifies the Ancient Church, thus the spiritual church, and it is plainly said to be the house of Israel; for by “Israel” in the Word is signified the spiritual church, and by “Judah” the celestial church.
In Jeremiah:
Again will I build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: again shalt thou deck thy timbrels, and shalt go forth in the dance of them that make merry; again shalt thou plant vineyards upon the mountains of Samaria (Jeremiah 31:4-5), where “vineyards” denote the spiritual church; and the subject is Israel, by whom is signified the spiritual church, as just said.
[3] In Ezekiel:
When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the peoples, they shall dwell upon the land in confidence, and they shall build houses, and plant vineyards (Ezekiel 28:25-26).
Here a “vineyard” is the spiritual church, or “Israel;” and “to plant vineyards” is to be instructed in the truths and goods of faith.
In Amos:
I have smitten you with blasting and mildew; the multitude of your gardens, and your vineyards and your fig-trees and your olive-yards hath the palmer-worm devoured; thus will I do unto thee, O Israel (Amos 4:9, 12).
“Gardens” here denote the things of the church, “vineyards” the spiritual things of the church, “fig-trees” the natural things, “olive-yards” the celestial things; thus “vineyards” denote the things of the spiritual church, or Israel.
Again:
I will bring again the captivity of My people Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof, they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them (Amos 9:14).
“Planting vineyards” denotes the planting of the spiritual church; thus a “vineyard” means the spiritual church, or Israel.
[4] As a “vineyard” signifies the spiritual church, so also does a “vine;” for a vine is a part of a vineyard; so that they are as the church and a man of the church, and the signification is the same.
In Jeremiah:
Is Israel a servant? if he was born of the house, why is he become a prey? I had planted thee a wholly noble vine, a seed of truth; how then art thou turned into the averted branches of a strange vine unto Me? (Jeremiah 2:14, 21),
where a “vine” denotes the spiritual church, or “Israel.”
In Ezekiel:
Take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel; thy mother was like a vine, in thy likeness, planted by the waters, fruitful and full of leaves by reason of many waters (Ezekiel 19:1, 10).
A “vine” here denotes the Ancient Spiritual Church, which is the “mother;” thus “Israel” which is therefore said to be “in thy likeness.”
In Hosea:
Israel is an empty vine, which putteth forth fruit like himself (Hosea 10:1).”
A “vine” denotes the spiritual church, or “Israel” here desolated. Again:
O Israel, return unto Jehovah thy God; I will be as the dew unto Israel; they that dwell in his shadow shall return; they shall revive the corn, and blossom as the vine; his memory shall be as the wine of Lebanon (Hosea 14:1, 5, 7), where the “vine” denotes the spiritual church, or “Israel.”
In Moses:
Until Shiloh come; binding His young ass to the vine, and His ass’s colt unto the choice vine (Genesis 49:10-11).
This is a prophecy of the Lord; the “vine” and the “choice vine” denote spiritual churches.
[5] The Lord’s parables of the laborers in the vineyards in like manner signified spiritual churches (Matthew 20:1-16; 21:33-44; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-16). Since the “vine” signifies the spiritual church, and the primary thing of the spiritual church is charity, in which the Lord is present, and by means of which He conjoins Himself with man, and Himself alone works every good, therefore the Lord compares Himself to a vine, and describes the man of the church, or the spiritual church, in these words, in John:
I am the true vine and My Father is the husbandman; every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, He will prune it, that it may bear more fruit; abide in Me, and I in you; as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, so neither can ye, except ye abide in Me; I am the vine, ye are the branches; he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit; for without Me ye can do nothing; this is My commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you (John 15:1-5, 12); from these words it is evident what the spiritual church is.
Jeremiah 2
1
The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
"Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says Yahweh, "I remember for you the kindness of your youth, the love of your weddings; how you went after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
3
Israel [was] holiness to Yahweh, the first fruits of his increase. All who devour him shall be held guilty. Evil shall come on them,"' says Yahweh."
4
Hear the word of Yahweh, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel!
5
Thus says Yahweh, "What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they have gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
6
Neither did they say, 'Where is Yahweh who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought and of the shadow of death, through a land that none passed through, and Where no man lived?'
7
I brought you into a plentiful land, to eat its fruit and its goodness; but when you entered, you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.
8
The priests didn't say, 'Where is Yahweh?' and those who handle the law didn't know me. The rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
9
"Therefore I will yet contend with you," says Yahweh, "and I will contend with your children's children.
10
For pass over to the islands of Kittim, and see; and send to Kedar, and consider diligently; and see if there has been such a thing.
11
Has a nation changed [its] gods, which really are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.
12
"Be astonished, you heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid. Be very desolate," says Yahweh.
13
"For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the spring of living waters, and cut them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
14
Is Israel a servant? Is he a native-born [slave]? Why has he become a prey?
15
The young lions have roared at him, and yelled. They have made his land waste. His cities are burned up, without inhabitant.
16
The children also of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of your head.
17
"Haven't you procured this to yourself, in that you have forsaken Yahweh your God, when he led you by the way?
18
Now what have you to do in the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? Or what have you to do in the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?
19
"Your own wickedness shall correct you, and your backsliding shall reprove you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and a bitter, that you have forsaken Yahweh your God, and that my fear is not in you," says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies.
20
"For of old time I have broken your yoke, and burst your bonds; and you said, 'I will not serve;' for on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed yourself, playing the prostitute.
21
Yet I had planted you a noble vine, wholly a right seed. How then have you turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine to me?
22
For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before me," says the Lord Yahweh.
23
"How can you say, 'I am not defiled. I have not gone after the Baals'? See your way in the valley. Know what you have done. [You are] a swift dromedary traversing her ways;
24
a wild donkey used to the wilderness, that snuffs up the wind in her desire. When she is in heat, who can turn her away? All those who seek her will not weary themselves. In her month, they will find her.
25
"Withhold your foot from being unshod, and your throat from thirst. But you said, 'It is in vain. No, for I have loved strangers, and I will go after them.'
26
As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets;
27
who tell wood, 'You are my father;' and a stone, 'You have brought me out:' for they have turned their back to me, and not their face; but in the time of their trouble they will say, 'Arise, and save us.'
28
"But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble: for according to the number of your cities are your gods, Judah.
29
"Why will you contend with me? You all have transgressed against me," says Yahweh.
30
"I have struck your children in vain. They received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
31
Generation, consider the word of Yahweh. Have I been a wilderness to Israel? Or a land of thick darkness? Why do my people say, 'We have broken loose. We will come to you no more?'
32
"Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me for days without number.
33
How well you prepare your way to seek love! Therefore you have taught even the wicked women your ways.
34
Also the blood of the souls of the innocent poor is found in your skirts. You did not find them breaking in; but it is because of all these things.
35
"Yet you said, 'I am innocent. Surely his anger has turned away from me.' "Behold, I will judge you, because you say, 'I have not sinned.'
36
Why do you go about so much to change your way? You will be ashamed of Egypt also, as you were ashamed of Assyria.
37
From there also you shall go forth, with your hands on your head; for Yahweh has rejected those in whom you trust, and you shall not prosper with them.
