10075. And the right hind quarter. That this signifies inmost good, is evident from the signification of “the right hind quarter,” as being inmost good. That “the right hind quarter” denotes inmost good is because the hind quarters of animals signify the same as the loins and thighs with man, and the loins and thighs with man signify conjugial love, and from this the good of celestial love, which good is the good of the inmost heaven (see n. 3021, 4277, 4280, 4575, 5050-5062, 9961), and the right loin and thigh signify the inmost good there; for the things which are on man’s right signify by correspondence the good from which is truth, and those which are on his left the truth through which is good; and consequently those which are in the middle signify the conjunction of both, that is, of good and truth. From this it can also be seen that the hind quarters are the hinder parts of the animal, where its genitals are, and not the fore parts, for these are called the “breast.” As the right hind quarter signifies inmost or celestial good, therefore when it was taken from the sacrifice and given to Aaron, it was called his “anointing.”

In Moses:

The right hind quarter shall ye give an uplifting to the priest from your eucharistic sacrifices. The breast of waving and the hind quarter of uplifting have I taken from among the sons of Israel of their eucharistic sacrifices, and I have given them to Aaron the priest and his sons for a statute forever. This is the anointing of Aaron and the anointing of his sons from the fire-offerings of Jehovah (Leviticus 7:32, 34-35).

The breast and the hind quarter are called the “anointing” by reason of the representation of spiritual and celestial good; for from correspondence the “breast” signifies spiritual good, which is the good of the middle or second heaven; and the “right hind quarter,” celestial good, which is the good of the inmost or third heaven; and the “anointing” denotes the representation of the Lord as to Divine good (n. 9954, 10019). Moreover, the breast and right hind quarter were given to Aaron from the sacrifices of the firstborn of an ox, a sheep, and a goat. That the “right hind quarter” signifies inmost good, is evident also from the fact that it is mentioned last; for the tail and the intestines are mentioned first, afterward the caul of the liver and the kidneys, and lastly the right hind quarter. The things which are mentioned first are the most external, those mentioned second are interior, and that which is mentioned last is inmost.

4280. That in the internal historical sense, by his “touching the hollow of Jacob’s thigh,” is signified where conjugial love is conjoined with natural good, is evident from the signification of the “hollow of the thigh,” as being where there is the conjunction of conjugial love (see above, n. 4277). That conjunction there with natural good is signified, is because the thigh is there conjoined to the feet. In the internal sense the “feet” signify natural good, as may be seen above (n. 2162, 3147, 3761, 3986).

[2] That the “thigh” denotes conjugial love, and the “feet” natural good, is among the things that are now obsolete and lost. The Ancient Church, which was in representatives and significatives, knew these things very well. The knowledge of such things was their intelligence and wisdom, and this not only of those who were of the church, but also of those who were out of the church, as is evident from the oldest books of the Gentiles, and from the things which at this day are called fables; for significatives and representatives were derived to them from the Ancient Church. With them also the thighs and the loins signified what is conjugial, and the feet what is natural. The thighs and the feet have this signification from the correspondences of all man’s members, organs, and viscera with the Grand Man, which correspondences are now being treated of at the end of the chapters. Of the correspondences with the thigh and the feet more will be said in what follows, where it will be confirmed by living experience that such is their signification.

[3] At the present day these things cannot but appear paradoxical, because, as before said, this knowledge is altogether obsolete and lost. And yet how much this knowledge surpasses other knowledges, may be seen from the fact that without it the Word cannot possibly be known as to its internal sense; and because the angels who are with man perceive the Word according to this sense; and also because by means of this knowledge communication is given to man with heaven. And (what is incredible) the internal man itself thinks in no other way; for when the external man apprehends the Word according to the letter, the internal man apprehends it at the same time according to the internal sense, although the man while living in the body is not aware of this. Especially may this be seen from the fact that when a man comes into the other life and becomes an angel, he knows the internal sense as of himself without instruction.

[4] What conjugial love is, which is signified by the thighs and also by the loins, may be seen above (n. 995, 1123, 2727-2759); and that conjugial love is the fundamental of all loves (n. 686, 3021); and hence it is that those who are in genuine conjugial love are also in celestial love (that is, in love to the Lord), and in spiritual love (that is, in charity toward the neighbor); and therefore by conjugial love not only is this love itself meant, but also all celestial and spiritual love. These loves are said to be conjoined with natural good when the internal man is conjoined with the external, or the spiritual man with the natural. This conjunction is that which is signified by the “hollow of the thigh.” That with Jacob and his posterity in general there was no such conjunction, will appear from what follows; for this is the subject here treated of in the internal historical sense.