Genesi 24:3
To many Protestant and Evangelical Italians, the Bibles translated by Giovanni Diodati are an important part of their history. Diodati’s first Italian Bible edition was printed in 1607, and his second in 1641. He died in 1649. Throughout the 1800s two editions of Diodati’s text were printed by the British Foreign Bible Society. This is the more recent 1894 edition, translated by Claudiana.
Arcana Coelestia # 3149
3149. And there was set before him to eat. That this signifies that it was the will of the affection of good in the natural man that these things should be appropriated, is evident from the representation of Laban, by whom it was set, as being the affection of good in the natural man (see n. 3129, 3130); and from the signification of “eating,” as being to be communicated and appropriated (see n. 2187, 2343), namely, the Divine things treated of above (n. 3140, 3141).
Arcana Coelestia # 1420
1420. And thou shalt be a blessing. That this signifies that all things both in general and in particular are from the Lord, is evident from the signification of “a blessing.” A “blessing” is predicated of all goods; in the external sense, of corporeal, worldly, and natural goods; in the internal sense, of spiritual and celestial goods. “To be a blessing,” is to be the source of all goods, and the giver of all goods. This can by no means be said of Abram, and hence it is evident that by Abram is represented the Lord, who alone is “a blessing.” In like manner in regard to what is said of Abraham hereafter:
Abraham shall surely become a great and numerous nation, and in him shall all the nations of the earth be blessed (Genesis 18:18);
of Isaac:
In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed (Genesis 26:4),
and of Jacob:
In thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed (Genesis 28:14).
That nations cannot be blessed, and are not blessed, in Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and in their seed, but in the Lord, may be seen by everyone. This is clearly said in David:
His name shall endure forever; before the sun shall the name of his son endure; and all nations shall be blessed in him (Psalms 72:17); where the Lord is treated of. Again:
Thou shalt set him for blessings forever (Psalms 21:6); where also the Lord is treated of.
In Jeremiah:
The nations shall be blessed in Him, and in Him shall they glory (Jeremiah 4:2).
From these passages it is now evident that “a blessing” signifies the Lord, and that when He is called “a blessing,” it signifies that from Him are all celestial and spiritual things, which alone are goods; and because they alone are goods, they alone are truths; and therefore in proportion as there are celestial and spiritual goods in natural, worldly, and corporeal ones, in the same proportion these are goods, and are “blessed.”
