258. In the Word there is a spiritual sense, which is called the internal sense.

No one can know what the internal sense of the Word is, unless he knows what correspondence is (n. 2895, 4322). The whole and every part, even to the most minute, of the natural world, corresponds to spiritual things, and thence is significative of them (n. 1886-1889, 2987-3003, 3213-3227). The spiritual things to which natural things correspond assume another appearance in the natural, so that they are not distinguished (n. 1887, 2395, 8920). Scarcely anyone knows at this day, where, or in what part is the Divine of the Word, when nevertheless it is in its internal or spiritual sense, which at this day is not known (n. 2899, 4989). The mystic things of the Word are nothing else than what its internal or spiritual sense contains, which treats of the Lord, of His kingdom, and of the church, and not of the natural things which are in the world (n. 4923). The prophetic parts of the Word are in many places unintelligible, and therefore of no use without the internal sense; illustrated by examples (n. 2608, 8020, 8398). As what is signified by "the white horse," mentioned in Revelation (n. 2760[1-2].). By "the keys of the kingdom of the heavens" that were given to Peter, see the Preface to the 22 nd (Arcana Coelestia 9410) chapter of Genesis (n. 9410). By "the flesh," "blood," "bread," and "wine," in the Holy Supper, and thus why it was instituted by the Lord (n. 8682). By the prophecies of Jacob concerning his sons in the 49th chapter of Genesis (n. 6306, 6333-6465). By many prophecies concerning Judah and Israel, which by no means tally with that people, nor in the literal sense have any coincidence with their history (n. 6333, 6361, 6415, 6438, 6444). Besides innumerable other instances (n. 2608).

Of the spiritual or internal sense of the Word in a summary (n. 1767-1777, 1869-1879). There is an internal sense in the whole and in every particular part of the Word (n. 1143, 1984, 2135, 2333, 2395, 2495, 2619). Such things do not appear in the sense of the letter, but nevertheless they are contained within it (n. 4442).

2608. The same holds true for very many of the names and words used in the Prophets, such as those introduced in 1888, and also the following in Isaiah,

Moab will howl, the whole of Moab will howl; for the foundations of Kir Hareseth you will mourn, despite your having been stricken; for the fields of Heshbon have languished, the vine of Sibmah. The lords of the nations break down its branches, they reached even to Jazer, they wandered in the wilderness. Its shoots have been torn away; they have passed over the sea. Therefore I shall weep with weeping over Jazer, the vine of Sibmah. I will soak you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh, for on the vintage and on your harvest the hedad ¹ has fallen. Isaiah 16:7-9.

And in Jeremiah,

The sound of a cry in Horonaim, devastation and great destruction! Moab has been destroyed, her little ones have caused a cry to be heard, for at the ascent of Luhith weeping goes up with weeping; for in the descent of Horonaim their enemies have heard the shout of destruction. Judgement has come to the land of the plain, to Holon, and to Jahzah, and to Mephaath, and on Dibon, and on Nebo, and on Bethdiblathaim, and on Kiriathaim, and on Bethgamul, and on Bethmeon, and on Kerioth, and on Bozrah. Jeremiah 48:3-5, 21-24.

Such in very many places is the nature of the prophetical parts of the Word, which would have no use if they did not possess an internal sense. It is imperative however that the Word, being Divine, should contain within it the laws of the heavenly kingdom into which man is to come.

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