THE EXPLANATION of Isaiah Chapter 23

(Note: Rev. Smithson's translation of the Isaiah text is appended below the explanation)

1. THE burden of Tyre. Howl, O you ships of Tarshish! for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no one entering in: from the land of Chittim it is made manifest unto them.

VERSES 1, 2. Tyre and Zidon were the ultimate borders of Philistia, and were near the sea; whence by "Tyre" are signified interior knowledges, and by "Zidon" exterior knowledges, and this of things spiritual, which also appears from the Word, as in Jeremiah:

"Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Zidon every helper that remains; for Jehovah will spoil the Philistines, the remains of the island of Caphtor"; (Jeremiah 47:4),

where by the "Philistines" are signified the sciences of the knowledges of faith and charity; by "Tyre" the interior knowledges, and by Zidon the exterior knowledges of things spiritual.

So in Joel:

"What have you to do with Me, O Tyre and Zidon, and all the borders of Philistia? Because you have taken My silver and gold, and have carried into your temples My desirable good things"; (Joel 3:4, 5),

where "Tyre and Zidon" manifestly denote knowledges, and are called the "borders of Philistia"; for "silver and gold, and desirable good things, are knowledges.

So in Ezekiel:

"The princes of the north, all of them, and all the Zidonians, who have gone down with the slain. He shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised, with the slain with the sword, Pharaoh and all his company"; (Ezekiel 32:30, 32),

where the "Zidonians ' signify exterior knowledges, which, without internal, are nothing but mere scientifics; wherefore they are mentioned together with "Pharaoh", or Egypt, by whom are signified scientifics.

So in Zechariah:

"Hamath also shall have its border thereby; Tyre and Zidon, for he was very wise"; (Zechariah 9:2) speaking of Damascus; "Tyre and Zidon" denote knowledges.

So in Ezekiel:

"The inhabitants of Zidon and of Arvad were your mariners: your wise ones, O Tyre, that were in you, were your pilots"; (Ezekiel 27:8),

where "Tyre" denotes interior knowledges, wherefore her wise ones are called "pilots"; and "Zidon" denotes exterior knowledges, wherefore her inhabitants are called "mariners " [rowers], for such is the relation of interior knowledges to exterior.

So in Isaiah:

"The inhabitants of the island are silent; the merchants of Zidon, they that pass over the sea, have replenished you. And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, was her revenue; and she was the mart of the nations. Be you ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea has spoken, even the fortress of the sea, saying, I have not travailed, nor brought forth children; neither have I nourished young men, nor brought up virgins"; (Isaiah 23:2-4),

where "Zidon" denotes exterior knowledges, which, having nothing internal in them, are called "the seed of Sihor", "the harvest of the river, her revenue", "a mart of the nations", and also "the sea", and "the fortress of the sea".

It is said that "she does not travail, nor bring forth"; which expressions, in the literal sense, seem without meaning, but in the internal sense they have a clear signification, as is the case with other passages in the Prophets.

Because "Zidon" signifies exterior knowledges, it is called "they that are round about Israel", or the spiritual church; (Ezekiel 28:24, 26) for exterior knowledges are like things that are around. Arcana Coelestia 1201.

As to the knowledges of Truth and Good, and their indispensable necessity to the regeneration and salvation of man, see above, Chapter 17:1, the Exposition.

Verses 1-3. Howl, O you ships of Tarshish! for it [TyreJ is laid waste, etc. - The holy things of the church, which are here described, no one can know except from the internal sense. Every one knows that the holy things of heaven and the church are everywhere in the Word, and that it is from this that the Word is holy. In the sense of the letter the subject treated of is concerning the merchandise of Tyre and Zidon, which are not holy, without a more interior sense, which is holy.

But what, in this sense, is signified by the "merchandise of Tyro", will be evident when explained. The "ships of Tarshish" are the doctrinals of Truth and Good. "Tyre and Zidon" are the knowledges of Good and Truth; "no house, and no one entering in", signifies that there is no longer any Good, into which Truth can be implanted. "The inhabitants of the island who are silent", are the more remote goods; "the seed of Sihor" is scientific truth"; the harvest of the river [or the Nile], her revenue", is the good which is hence out of the church. Arcana Coelestia 9295.

Ships of Tarshish. - As to the spiritual signification of the "ships of Tarshish" see also above, Chapter 2:12-17, the Exposition.

Verses 1-5. The burden of Tyre; - the inhabitants of the island are silent; the merchants of Zidon, they that pass over the sea, have replenished you etc. - By "Tyre" and "Zidon" are signified the knowledges of Good and Truth, wherefore it is said "The merchants of Zidon, they that pass over the sea"; a "merchant" denoting one who procures to himself those knowledges and communicates them. That they procured to themselves nothing of Good and Truth thereby, is signified by "The sea has spoken, saying, I have not travailed, nor brought forth children; neither have I nourished young men, nor brought up virgins"; for to "travail" and to "bring forth is to produce something from knowledges; "young men" are truths, and "virgins" goods. That thence the use of knowledges and of sciences would perish, is signified by these words, "As at the tidings out of Egypt, so shall they be seized with pain at the tidings of Tyre. Apocalypse Explained 275

Verses 1, 2, 4, 5, 6. Howl, O you ships of Tarshish! for it [Tyre] is laid waste, so that there is no house, no one entering in: from the land of Chittim it is made manifest unto them, etc. - The desolation of Truth in the church is described in these words; for by the "ships of Tarshish" are signified the knowledges of Good from the Word, and by "Tyre" the knowledges of Truth thence. That there is no good in consequence of there being no truths, is signified by "Howl, O you ships of Tarshish! for Tyre is laid waste, so that there is no house, no one entering in." That falsities then enter, until there are no more any goods of Truth and truths of Good in the natural man, is signified by "From the land of Chittim it is made manifest unto them, the inhabitants of the island are silent; the merchants of Zidon, they that pass over the sea, have replenished you." The "land of Chittim" signifies falsities; the "inhabitants of the island", the goods of Truth in the natural man, as was explained above; the "merchants of Zidon" signify knowledges from the Word; ''passing over the sea" means which are in the natural man; " who [that is, the merchants of Zidon] have replenished you", signifies those who have enriched you therewith. The devastation of Truth and of Good in the natural man is further described by "Be you ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea has spoken, even the fortress of the sea, saying, I have not travailed, nor brought forth children; neither have I nourished young men, nor brought up virgins." By "Zidon", as well as by "Tyre, are signified the knowledges of Good and Truth in the church; By. "the sea, and the fortress of the sea", is signified the whole natural man, by I have not travailed, nor brought forth", is signified that there is not anything of the church conceived or generated; by "young men. are signified the affections of Truth, and by "virgins" the affections of Good. That this was the case in consequence of knowledges from the Lord, and confirming scientifics being applied to falsities and evils, is signified by "As at the tidings out of Egypt, so shall they be seized with pain at the tidings of Tyre." "Egypt signifies scientifics; "Tyre", knowledges from the Word, - in the present case, devastated by falsities and evils to which they are applied; and inasmuch as there is lamentation on account thereof, it is therefore said that "they shall be seized with pain. That all Good and Truth in the natural man would thus perish, is signified by "Pass you over to Tarshish; howl, O you inhabitants of the Island!" "Tarshish" signifies the interior goods and truths in the natural man; the "inhabitants of the island", the exterior goods and truths in the same; and to "howl", signifies grief by reason of devastation. Apocalypse Explained 406.

2.The inhabitants of the island are silent; the merchants of Zidon, they that pass over the sea, have replenished you.

3. And by great waters the seed of Sichor, the harvest of the river [Nile], was her revenue; and she was the mart of the nations.

Verse 2. The merchants of Zidon, etc. - The Lord likened the kingdom of heaven to a "merchant man", (Matthew 13:45) to teach us that "merchants", when mentioned in the Word, are those who procure to themselves the knowledges of Truth and Good, and thence intelligence and wisdom. By "pearls" are signified knowledges, and also truths themselves; and by "the pearl exceedingly precious", is signified the acknowledgement of the Lord. And by "the man selling all that he had", is signified to alienate all things which are of self-love; and by "buying it" is signified to procure to himself that divine Truth. Apocalypse Explained 480. See also Arcana Coelestia 2967, 5886; Apocalypse Revealed 726, 916.

Verses 2, 14. They that pass over the sea have replenished you; - your stronghold is laid waste, etc. - By the "ships of Tarshish " are understood doctrinals from the Word, for those ships carried "gold" and "silver", by which are signified goods and truths, and the knowledges thereof from the Word; and because by "Tyre" is signified the church as to the knowledges of Truth and Good, - in this passage, devastated, hence it is said "Howl, O you ships of Tarshish! for Tyre is laid waste. By "the inhabitants of the island" are understood those who are in the goods of life, according to their doctrinal principles. By "the merchants of Zidon" are signified those who are in Truths from the Word, concerning which it is said, that", they have replenished you." By "your stronghold", or fortress, is signified doctrine from the Word, which guards or protects [like a fortress]; and by its being laid waste is signified that there is no perception of it, and hence no Truth, for truths are falsified by ideas not just concerning them: Apocalypse Explained 514.

4. Be you ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea has spoken; even the fortress of the sea, saying, I have not travailed, nor brought forth children; neither have I nourished young men, nor brought up virgins.

5. As at the tidings out of Egypt, so shall they be seized with pain at the tidings of Tyre.

6. Pass you over to Tarshish; howl, O you inhabitants of the island!

7. Is this your joyous [city], whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall bear her far away to sojourn.

Verse 4. The sea has spoken even the fortress of the sea, saying, I have travailed; etc. - By "the sea, and the fortress of the sea", is signified the natural principle, where the knowledges signified by Tyre and Zidon" are. That not any have been reformed by those knowledges, is signified by "I have not travailed, nor brought forth children"; and that there is consequently no understanding of Truth and no affectIon of Truth, is signified by "neither have I nourished young men, nor brought up virgins." Apocalypse Explained 865.

8. Who has counselled this against Tyre, the crowning [city], whose merchants were princes, whose traders were the honoured of the earth?

9. Jehovah of Hosts has counselled it; to pollute the pride of all [her] beauty; to make contemptible all the honoured of the earth.

10. Pass through your land, like a river, O daughter of Tarshish; the girdle is no more.

11. He has stretched out His hand over the sea; He has shaken the kingdoms: Jehovah has commanded concerning Canaan, that they should destroy her strong places.

Verse 8. Who has counselled this against Tyre, the crowning [city], whose merchants were princes, whose traders were the honoured of the earth!

Again in Ezekiel:

"All the ships in the sea were for the trading of your trading; Tarshish was your trader in silver, iron, tin and lead; they gave your markets. Javan, Tubal, and Meshch, these were your merchants, with the soul of man and vessels of brass they gave your trading. The sons of Dedan were your merchants; many islands, the merchants of your hand. Syria was your trader with chrysoprasus. But your wealth and your tradings, your markets, and they who trade your trading, shall fall into the heart of the seas in the day of your fall." (Ezekiel 27:1, to the end.)

Who cannot see that by the "tradings" and "merchandise" there mentioned are not understood tradings and merchandise, for what has the Word, which in itself is divine and celestial and teaches man concerning God, heaven, and the church, concerning eternal life, and the like, in common with such things?

Hence it may be evident to every one that all the particular things there mentioned signify things spiritual, which appertain to heaven and the church, not only the names of the places with which the tradings were transacted, but also the particular merchandise thereof. But to expound all the particulars in the spiritual sense would be too prolix in this place; it is sufficient for the present purpose that it be known that the "tradings" there mentioned signify the acquisitions and communications of the knowledges of Truth and Good, and that the "merchandise", or wares, signify those knowledges themselves which are multifarious. Apocalypse Explained 840.

The crowning city. - A "crown" signifies wisdom, intelligence, and eternal felicity, as may be seen from those passages in the Word where "crown" is mentioned. Apocalypse Explained 125, 152, 195.

[It hence follows that Tyre is called a "crowning city", because all intelligence and wisdom come from the knowledge of revealed Truth, or the Word, and from their right application.]

Verses 1, 10, 13, 17. Howl, O you ships of Tarshish! from the land of Chittim it is made manifest unto them, etc. - That neither the ships of Tarshish, nor Tyre, nor the land of Chittim, nor the land of the Chaldeans, nor the Assyrian, are here understood, may appear from every particular thing contained in this chapter. But by the "ships of Tarshish" are understood the knowledges of Truth and Good, and likewise by "Tyre", by the "land of Chittim", what is idolatrous; by the "land of the Chaldeans", the profanation and destruction of Truth; and by the "Assyrian", ratiocination from falsities.

Hence it is evident what is signified by the "ships of Tarshish howling because Tyre is devastated", namely, that there are no more any knowledges of Truth.

That "it shall be made manifest unto them from the land of Chittim", signifies that what is idolatrous is from thence.

"The girdle is no more" signifies that there is no more coherence of Truth with Good. "To the land of the Chaldeans", signifies that so there is profanation and destruction of Truth.

"The Assyrian has laid the foundation into heaps", signifies that ratiocination from falsities has destroyed. To "return to her meretricious gain", and to "commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the earth that are upon the face of the ground", signifies falsification of all the Truths of the church. Apocalypse Explained 304.

12. And He bath said, You shalt rejoice no more, O you oppressed virgin, the daughter of Zidon! Arise, pass over to Chittim; even there you shalt have no rest.

Verse 12. O you oppressed virgin, the daughter of Zidon! - As to the meaning of "daughter" and "virgin", see above, Chapter 16:2. Exposition.

The girdle is no more. - For the spiritual signification of a "girdle", see Chapter 3:18-25; 11:5, the Exposition.

13. Behold the land of the Chaldeans! this is not a people; the Assyrian has laid the foundation into heaps: they raised the watchtowers, they set up the palaces thereof; this people has reduced her to a ruin.

14. Howl, you ships of Tarshish: for your stronghold is laid waste.

Verse 13. Behold the land of the Chaldeans! this is not a people.

"The land of the Chaldeans: this is not a people", signifies falsities.

"The Assyrian has founded it [into heaps]" for reasonings; "watchtowers" here signify phantasies. Arcana Coelestia 1368.

15. And it shall be in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: at the end of seventy years it shall be to Tyre as the song of a harlot.

16. Take the harp, go about the city, O harlot forgotten; strike sweetly the harp; multiply the song, that you mayest be remembered.

Verses 15, 10. At the end of seventy years it shall be to Tyre as the song of a harlot, etc.

By "Tyre" is signified the church as to the knowledges of spiritual Truth and Good, as was said above - in this case, the church in which those knowledges are falsified. A "harlot" signifies the falsification of Truth, as may be seen above, Apocalypse Explained 141;. and by "taking the harp, going about the city, playing sweetly", etc., the exultation and boasting of the false over the destruction of Truth. Apocalypse Explained 323.

As to the spiritual signification of a "harlot" and of "fornication", so often mentioned in the Prophets, see above, Chapter 1:21, the Exposition.

Verses 15, 17. Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one King, etc. - That all numbers in the Word are significative, and that they signify things, see Arcana Coelestia 1963, 1988; and that numbers multiplied signify the same with the simple ones from which they are compounded, see Arcana Coelestia 5291, 5335.

Thus "seventy" the same as "seven" [only in greater fulness]. That "seventy" denotes an entire period, thus a full state, is evident from the following passages.

"Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one King: at the end of seventy years it shall be unto Tyre as the song of a harlot; and it shall be at the end of seventy years that Jehovah will visit Tyre." (Isaiah 24:15, 17)

"Seventy years" denote an entire period from beginning to end, [In this case, the entire period of the devastation of Tyre.]

"According to the days of one King" signifies the state of Truth within the church; for " days" are states, Arcana Coelestia 6505, and "King" is Truth, Arcana Coelestia 1672, 2015.

Everyone who well considers this passage, may see that by "Tyre" is not meant Tyre, and that without the internal sense it cannot be understood what it is for "Tyre to be forgotten, or to be given to oblivion seventy years", and what it is for this to be "according to the days of one King."

See also Jeremiah 25:11, 12; 29:10; and Daniel 9:24; where it is plain that "seventy years" and "seventy weeks" signify a full or complete state of the subject treated of, [and not seventy years or weeks in a literal sense.] Arcana Coelestia 6508.

As to the spiritual signification of the number "seven" see above Chapter 4:1, the Exposition.

["One King" does not signify any one given king, but the number "one", like the number "seventy", has its spiritual meaning, and signifies what is perfect, entire, and genuine. (Apocalypse Explained 374)

Thus "Tyre shall be forgotten, or given to oblivion seventy years according to the days of one King", implies that Tyre, or that state of the church which perverts the knowledges of what is True and Good from the Word, would be destroyed as to the states of all genuine Truth; "days": signifying states, "one" what is genuine and perfect, and "King" Truth.

That the number "one" does not signify numerically one, is evident from what is said in Psalm 27:4 :

"One [thing] have I desired", etc., which is a genuine or perfect state of worship, denoted by the things which follow, namely, - "That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple."

Again, when the Lord says, "One [thing] you lack", (Mark 10:21), He did not mean simply one thing, but a perfect state of love to God and of charity to his neighbour, denoted by the things which follow, namely, "That he should sell what he had", that is, renounce his proprium and deny himself; "give to the poor", a life of charity; and "come and follow Him", to acknowledge and worship the Lord; - by which his state would become one, that is, genuine and perfect.]

17. And it shall be at the end of seventy years, that Jehovah will visit Tyre: and she shall return to her meretricious gain; and she shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the earth that are upon the face of the ground.

Verses 17, 18. And it shall be at the end of seventy years, that Jehovah will visit Tyre, etc.

"Tyre", in the Word, is the church as to the knowledges of Truth and Good, the "meretricious gain" denotes the same knowledges applied to evils and falsities by perversion; her ''merchandise" is the selling thereof; to "commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the earth", denotes with all the truths of the church.

The reason why it is said that "her merchandise and her meretricious gain shall at length be holy to Jehovah", is because thereby are signified knowledges of Truth and Good by them applied to falsities and evils, and man, by the knowledges themselves, viewed in their true nature and quality; may become wise; for knowledges are the means of becoming wise, and they are also the means of becoming insane, when they are falsified by applications to evils and falsities.

Similar things are signified where it is said that "they should make to themselves friends of the unjust mammon"; (Luke 16:9) and by its being commanded that "the sons of Israel should borrow from the Egyptians gold, silver, and raiment, and take them away with them"; (Exodus 3:21, 22; 12:35, 36) for by the "Egyptians" are signified scientifics of every kind, which they applied to falsify truths. Apocalypse Explained 141.

The knowledges of what is True and Good from the Word, signified by "Tyre", are called "meretricious gain" when they are taught for for the sake of gain, honour and fame; for in this way they are, as it were, sold, and are not taught for the sake of Truth itself. This, in the Word, is called "meretriciousness and whoredom." To "commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the earth", is thus to act with all the truths of the church; "upon the faces of the ground", signifies wheresoever the church is." Arcana Coelestia 10570.

18. But her merchandise and her meretricious gain shall be holy to Jehovah: it shall not be treasured up, nor shall it be kept in store; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before Jehovah, for food sufficient, and for clothing [as of] old.

Verse 18. But her merchandise and her meretricious gain shall be holy to Jehovah, etc. - The "merchandise" and "meretricious gain" are the knowledges of what is Good and True from the Word applied to evil uses. That these knowledges should be given to the good who apply them to good uses, is meant by "her merchandise being for them that dwell before Jehovah, for food sufficient, and for clothing themselves as of old." The case is this: the knowledges of what is Good and True, with the evil, are applied to evil uses; and the same knowledges, with the good, are, applied to good uses. The knowledges are the same, but the application of them to uses makes their quality, whether good or bad, with each individual. These knowledges, as spiritual treasures, are like worldly riches, which by one person are applied to good uses, and by another to evil uses. Hence it is that riches, with each person, are of such a nature as the uses to which they are applied. From this it is clear that the same knowledges, like the same riches, which were in the possession of the evil, can be in the possession of the good, and be made subservient to good uses. Hence it may be seen what was represented by the command that "the sons of Israel should borrow of the Egyptians vessels of gold and of silver", etc., (Exodus 11:2, 3) and should thus spoil or rob them. Such robbing would never have been commanded by Jehovah, unless it had represented in the spiritual world such things, namely, the taking away, at the time of Judgment, of the treasures of knowledge from the evil, and transferring them to the good. Thus the Lord says, in respect to the wicked servant" Take therefore the talent from him, and give it to him that has ten talents; for unto everyone that has shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him that has not shall be taken away even that which he has." (Matthew 25:28, 29) Arcana Coelestia 7770.

The merchandise of Tyre shall before them that dwell before Jehovah, for food sufficient, etc. - By the "merchandise of Tyre" are signified the knowledges of Good and Truth of every kind; to "dwell before Jehovah" signifies to live from the Lord; to have "food sufficient" signifies to receive, perceive, and appropriate the knowledges of Good sufficiently for the nourishment of the soul; to "clothe himself as of old" [or, with what is ancient], signifies to imbibe the knowledges of genuine Truth; for to cover is predicated of truths, because "garments" signify truths, "clothing" good, and "old" [or ancient] is predicated of what is genuine, inasmuch as genuine Truths were with the ancients. Apocalypse Explained 617. See also above, in respect to "the kings of antiquity", Chapter 19:11, the Exposition.

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Isaiah Chapter 23.

1. THE burden of Tyre. Howl, O you ships of Tarshish! for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no one entering in: from the land of Chittim it is made manifest unto them.

2. The inhabitants of the island are silent; the merchants of Zidon, they that pass over the sea, have replenished you.

3. And by great waters the seed of Sichor, the harvest of the river [Nile], was her revenue; and she was the mart of the nations.

4. Be you ashamed, O Zidon: for the sea has spoken; even the fortress of the sea, saying, I have not travailed, nor brought forth children; neither have I nourished young men, nor brought up virgins.

5. As at the tidings out of Egypt, so shall they be seized with pain at the tidings of Tyre.

6. Pass you over to Tarshish; howl, O you inhabitants of the island!

7. Is this your joyous [city], whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall bear her far away to sojourn.

8. Who has counselled this against Tyre, the crowning [city], whose merchants were princes, whose traders were the honoured of the earth?

9. Jehovah of Hosts has counselled it; to pollute the pride of all [her] beauty; to make contemptible all the honoured of the earth.

10. Pass through your land, like a river, O daughter of Tarshish; the girdle is no more.

11. He has stretched out His hand over the sea; He has shaken the kingdoms: Jehovah has commanded concerning Canaan, that they should destroy her strong places.

12. And He bath said, You shalt rejoice no more, O you oppressed virgin, the daughter of Zidon! Arise, pass over to Chittim; even there you shalt have no rest.

13. Behold the land of the Chaldeans! this is not a people; the Assyrian has laid the foundation into heaps: they raised the watchtowers, they set up the palaces thereof; this people has reduced her to a ruin.

14. Howl, you ships of Tarshish: for your stronghold is laid waste.

15. And it shall be in that day, that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years, according to the days of one king: at the end of seventy years it shall be to Tyre as the song of a harlot.

16. Take the harp, go about the city, O harlot forgotten; strike sweetly the harp; multiply the song, that you mayest be remembered.

17. And it shall be at the end of seventy years, that Jehovah will visit Tyre: and she shall return to her meretricious gain; and she shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the earth that are upon the face of the ground.

18. But her merchandise and her meretricious gain shall be holy to Jehovah: it shall not be treasured up, nor shall it be kept in store; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before Jehovah, for food sufficient, and for clothing [as of] old.

195. Verse 4. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis that have not defiled their garments, signifies those who live a moral life from a spiritual origin, by applying the knowledges of truth and good from the Word to the uses of their life. This is evident from the signification of "name," as being the quality of the state of man's life (See above, n. 148); here, therefore, "names" signify men who are such. It is evident also from the signification of "the church in Sardis," as being those who live a moral life but not a spiritual life, because they have little regard for the knowledges of truth and good from the Word (See also above, n. 148, 182); but here those are meant who live a moral life from a spiritual origin, for it is said, "that have not defiled their garments." It is evident also from the signification of "garments," as being knowledges [scientifica] and cognitions in the natural man (of which presently). "Not defiling their garments," therefore, signifies living as a moral man not for the sake of self and the world, which is for the sake of the body and its life only, but for the sake of the Lord and of heaven, which is for the sake of the soul and its life. From this it is clear that "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis that have not defiled their garments," signifies such as live a moral life from a spiritual origin, by applying the knowledges of truth and good from the Word to their life.

[2] But as few know what it is to live a moral life from a spiritual origin, and what it is to apply the knowledges of truth and good from the Word to the uses of their life, it shall be told. Man lives a moral life from a spiritual origin when he lives it from religion; that is, when he thinks, when anything evil, insincere, or unjust presents itself: that this must not be done because it is contrary to the Divine laws. When one abstains from doing such things in deference to Divine laws he acquires for himself spiritual life, and his moral life is then from the spiritual; for by such thoughts and faith man communicates with the angels of heaven, and by communication with heaven his internal spiritual man is opened, the mind of which is a higher mind, such as the angels of heaven have, and he is thereby imbued with heavenly intelligence and wisdom. From this it can be seen that to live a moral life from a spiritual origin is to live from religion, and within the church, to live from the Word; for those who live a moral life from religion and from the Word are elevated above their natural man, thus above what is their own [proprium], and are led by the Lord through heaven; consequently they have faith, the fear of God, and conscience, and also the spiritual affection of truth, which is the affection of the knowledges of truth and good from the Word, for to such men these are Divine laws, according to which they live. Many of the heathen live such a moral life, for they think that evil must not be done because it is contrary to their religion; this is why so many of them are saved.

[3] But on the other hand, to live a moral life not from religion, but only from the fear of the law in the world, and of the loss of fame, honor, and gain, is to live a moral life not from a spiritual but from a natural origin; therefore to such there is no communication with heaven. And as they think insincerely and unjustly regarding the neighbor, although they speak and act otherwise, their internal spiritual man is closed, and the internal natural man only is opened; and when this is open they are in the light of the world, but not in the light of heaven. For this reason such persons have in them little regard for Divine and heavenly things, and some deny them, believing nature and the world to be everything. (From this it can now be seen what it is to live a moral life from a spiritual origin, and what it is to live it from a natural origin; but these things may be seen set forth in clearer light in the work on Heaven and Hell 528-535.) Of those who live a moral life from a natural origin only, it may be said that they "defile their garments," for "garments" mean that which is outside the man himself and which clothes him, thus his natural man with the things that are in it, which are knowledges [scientifica] and cognitions; and when these are from the Word they are defiled by the fact that he learns and holds them only for the sake of reputation, that he may be thought learned or well informed, or that he may thereby acquire honors and gain wealth; and except for such ends he has no regard for them. Thus it is that the knowledges from the Word are polluted and defiled by the loves of self and the world, for these knowledges dwell in the same place with the evils and falsities that gush out from those loves as from their fountains.

[4] It was said above, that man becomes spiritual by means of the knowledges of truth and good from the Word applied to the uses of life. Why men become spiritual by means of knowledges from the Word, and not by means of other knowledges, shall now be told. All things that are in the Word are Divine, and they are Divine for the reason that they have in them a spiritual sense, and by that sense communicate with heaven and with the angels there. When, therefore, man has knowledges from the Word and applies them to life, then through these he has communication with heaven and by that communication becomes spiritual; for man becomes spiritual by his being in like or in corresponding truths with the angels of heaven. It is said in "corresponding" truths, because each and all things in the sense of the letter of the Word are correspondences, for they correspond to the truths that angels have. But the knowledges derived from other books, which set forth and by various means establish the doctrines of the church, do not effect communication with heaven except by the knowledges from the Word they contain; such knowledges do give communication if they are rightly understood and are applied to life, and not to faith alone. Everyone can see that this is so from this, that the Word in itself is Divine, and what is Divine in itself can become Divine with man by his applying it to life. "Becoming Divine with man" means that the Lord can have His abode with man (John 14:23), thus dwelling with him in what is His own (that the Lord dwells in His own with man and angel, and not in what is their own [proprio illorum], see in the work on Heaven and Hell 12). The Lord dwells in His own when He dwells in those things with man that are from the Word, for the Lord is the Word (John 1:1, 2, 14); and the words that He spoke, that is, that are in the Word:

Are spirit and life (John 6:63, 68; 12:50).

[5] That "garments" signify the things that are in the natural man, which are knowledges [scientifica], ¹ true or false, or cognitions, is from the spiritual world; for in the spiritual world all, however many, appear clothed according to their moral life; consequently those who have lived a moral life from a spiritual origin appear clothed in shining white garments, like fine linen; but those who have lived a moral life from a natural origin only, appear according to the nature of that life, those who have polluted their life by evils and falsities appearing in dark garments, mean, torn, and hideous to behold (See the work on Heaven and Hell 177-182). From this now it is that "garments" in the Word signify truths from good, and in the contrary sense falsities from evil, both of them in the natural man; truths and falsities in the natural man are called knowledges [scientifica] and cognitions.

[6] That "garments" in the Word signify truths or falsities can be clearly seen from the following passages. In Isaiah:

Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion, put on the garments of thy splendor, O Jerusalem; for henceforth there shall no more come to thee the uncircumcised and the unclean (Isaiah 52:1).

"Zion" in the Word signifies the Lord's celestial kingdom, thus also the celestial church, and "Jerusalem" the spiritual kingdom and the spiritual church (what the celestial kingdom is, and the spiritual kingdom, see in the work on Heaven and Hell 20-28). The "garments of splendor that Jerusalem must put on" are Divine truths; the "uncircumcised and the unclean that shall not come to them" are those who are in evils and falsities.

[7] In Ezekiel:

Jerusalem, I clothed thee with broidered work, I shod thee with badger's skin, I girded thee about with fine linen. I adorned thee with ornament, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy throat, and a jewel upon thy nose, and earrings upon thine ears, yea, a crown of ornament upon thy head. Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver, and thy garments were fine linen, silk, and broidered work, whence thou becamest exceeding beautiful, and didst prosper even unto the kingdom. But thou didst take of thy garments, and didst make to thee high places with divers colors, that thou mightest commit whoredom upon them; thou also didst take garments of thy broidered work, and didst cover the images of a male, with which thou didst commit whoredom (Ezekiel 16:10-13, 16-18).

Here what the church was when it was first established by the Lord is described; the "garments" that are mentioned are truths from good; "broidered work" is true knowledge [scientificum]; "fine linen and silk" are truths from a celestial source; the "bracelets," "chain," "jewel," "earrings," and "crown," are decorations signifying things spiritual of various kinds; the "gold and silver" with which she was decked are the good of love and its truth. Then the same church when perverted is described, by this, that "she took of the garments, and did make to herself high places with divers colors," signifying truths falsified; and that "she took the garments of broidered work, and covered the images of a male," signifies that they applied the truths of the sense of the letter of the Word to so confirm falsities even so as to make them appear like truths; "committing whoredom with them" and "under them" signifies making doctrine and worship out of falsities (that this is to "commit whoredom," see above, n. 141, 161).

(That "Jerusalem" is the church where there is true doctrine, see Arcana Coelestia 402, 3654, 9166. That "broidered work" is knowledges [scientificum], n. Arcana Coelestia 9688. That "fine linen" is truth from a celestial origin, n. 5319, 9469. That "bracelets" are truths and goods of the church, n. 3103, 3105. That "a chain [for the neck]" is representative of the conjunction of interior and exterior things, n . 5320; that "jewels [for the nose]" and "earrings" are representatives of perception and obedience, n. Arcana Coelestia 4551. That "a crown" means wisdom, see above, n. 126. That "gold" is the good of love, see Arcana Coelestia 1551, 1552, 5658, 6914, 6917, 9510, 9874, 9881; that "silver" is truth from that good, n. 1551, 1552, 2954, 5658. That "high places with divers colors" are truths falsified, n. 796, 4005. That the "male" or "masculine" is truth, n. 749, 2046, 4005, 7838; therefore "images of a male" are appearances of truth.)

[8] In the same:

Fine linen in broidered work from Egypt was thy spreading forth, blue and purple from the isles of Elishah was thy covering. Syria was thy merchant in purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, with chrysoprasus. Dedan was thy merchant with garments of liberty for the chariot; Asshur and Chilmad with bales of blue and of broidered work, and with treasures of precious garments (Ezekiel 27:7, 16, 20, 23-24).

Here Tyre and her wares are treated of, and "Tyre" signifies the knowledges of truth and good, and "trading" and "trafficking," signify acquiring for oneself and communicating such knowledges; "purple and blue" signify the celestial love of good and truth; "Egypt," the knowledge belonging to the natural man; by "broidered work from Egypt" the like; "Syria" the church in respect to the knowledges of truth and good; "Asshur" the rational of that church; "Dedan" those who are in the knowledges of celestial things. From this it can be seen that the "wares of Tyre," treated of in the whole of that chapter, do not mean wares, but each and all these things mean spiritual things, which man ought to acquire, be imbued with, and communicate. (That "Tyre" signifies the knowledges of good and truth, see Arcana Coelestia 1201. That "Egypt" signifies the knowledges [scientificum] belonging to the natural man, n. 1164, 1165, 1186, 1462, 5700, 5702, 6015, 6651, 6679, 6682, 6683, 6692, 7296, 9340, 9391. That "Syria" is the church in respect to the knowledges of truth and good, n. 1232, 1234, 3664, 3680, 4112. That "Dedan" signifies those who are in the knowledges of celestial things, n. 3240, 3241. That "Asshur" is the rational therefrom, n. 119, 1186. That "purple" is the celestial love of good, n. Arcana Coelestia 9467. That "blue" is the celestial love of truth, n. 9466, 9687, 9833; likewise "chrysoprasus," n. Arcana Coelestia 9868. What "fine linen" and "broidered work" signify, see just above.)

[9] In David:

The king's daughter is all glorious within, her clothing is inwrought with gold. She shall be brought unto the king in broidered work (Psalms 45:13-14).

The "king's daughter" signifies the spiritual affection of truth, and therefore the church consisting of those who are in that affection; "king" signifies the Lord in respect to Divine truth; "clothing inwrought with gold," intelligence and wisdom from that truth; the "broidered work" in which she should "be brought to the king" signifies the knowledges of truth. (That "daughter" signifies the affection of truth, and the church therefrom, see Arcana Coelestia 2362, 2623, 3373, 3963, 4257, 6729, 6775, 6779, 8649, 9055, 9807. That "king" signifies the Lord in respect to Divine truth, see above, n. 31.)

[10] In the second book of Samuel:

Daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet with dainty things, and who put an ornament of gold upon your apparel (2 Samuel 1:24).

This is in the lamentation of David over Saul, which he wrote:

To teach the sons of Judah the bow (2 Samuel 1:18);

by "bow" is signified truth combating against falsities (See Arcana Coelestia 2686[1-8] Arcana Coelestia 2686[1-8], 2709); "Saul" here, as a king, signifies such truth; the "sons of Judah" signify those who are in truths from good; "to clothe the daughters of Israel in scarlet," and "to put ornaments of gold upon the apparel," is to impart intelligence and wisdom to those who are in the spiritual affection of truth.

[11] In Matthew:

When the king came in to behold those reclining to eat, he saw there a man that had not on a wedding garment; and he said unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? He was speechless. Then said the king, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into outer darkness (Matthew 22:11-13).

A "wedding garment" signifies the intelligence of the spiritual man, which is from the knowledges of truth and good; but "he that had not on a wedding garment" signifies a hypocrite, who by a moral life counterfeits the spiritual life when yet he is merely natural; "to bind him hand and foot" signifies the deprivation of the knowledges from the Word, by which he has put on the likeness of a spiritual man; "to be cast out into outer darkness" signifies among those who are in falsities from evil (for "outer darkness" signifies falsities from evil).

[12] In Zephaniah :

I will visit upon the princes, and upon the king's sons, and upon all that are clothed with the garments of the alien (Zephaniah 1:8). "Princes" and "king's sons" signify those who are in truths, and in a contrary sense, as here, those who are in falsities; these are said to be "clothed with the garment of the alien," because "garment" signifies falsity, and "alien" those who are out of the church and do not acknowledge the truths of the church.

[13] In Matthew:

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing; inwardly they are ravening wolves (Mat. Matthew 7:15).

"False prophets in sheep's clothing, who inwardly are ravening wolves," are those who teach falsities as if they were truths, and who in appearance live a moral life, but who by themselves, when they think from their spirit, think of nothing but themselves and the world, and are eager to deprive all others of truths.

[14] In John:

Jesus said to Peter, When thou wast younger thou girdedst thyself and walkedst whither thou wouldest; but when thou shalt be old thou shalt stretch forth thy hands and another shall gird thee, and lead thee whither thou wouldest not (John 21:18).

What these words signify in the spiritual sense may be seen above n. 9; namely, that by "Peter" is meant the faith of the church; when he "was younger and girded himself and walked whither he would" means the faith of the church at the beginning, when men are in the good of charity, that they then think about the truths of the church from the spiritual man, which is to think from their spirit, thus from the spiritual affection of truth, that is, from freedom. But by "Peter when old, that he should stretch forth his hands and another should gird him," is meant the faith of the church at its end, when faith would be without charity, that they then would think nothing about the truths of the church from themselves, but from others, thus from doctrine only and not from the Word, which is relatively a servile state. For to believe what another says is servile, but to believe what one himself thinks from the Word is freedom; according to the Lord's words in John:

If ye abide in My Word, ye are truly My disciples; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:31-32).

[15] In Luke:

No man putteth a piece of a new garment on an old garment; else the new will rend the old, and the piece from the new agreeth not with the old. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and itself be spilt, and the bottles be destroyed (Luke 5:36-37; Matthew 9:16-17; Mark 2:21-22).

Because a "garment" signifies truth, the Lord compared the truths of the former church, which was a church representative of spiritual things, to a piece of an old garment, and the truths of the new church, which were spiritual truths themselves, to a piece of a new garment; He compared them likewise to bottles of wine, because "wine" in like manner signifies truth, and "bottles" mean the knowledges that contain truth. (That "wine" in the Word signifies truth, see The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 219.)

[16] From this it can now be seen what is signified in the Word elsewhere by "garments," which are often mentioned there, as in the following passages. In Revelation:

And upon the thrones four and twenty elders sitting, arrayed in white garments (Revelation 4:4).

Again:

The armies of the One sitting upon the white horse followed Him, clothed in fine linen, white and clean (Revelation 19:14).

And:

They who stood before the throne in sight of the Lamb, were clothed in white robes (Revelation 7:9).

Again:

The seven angels from the temple were clothed in linen, clean and shining (Revelation 15:6).

Again:

White robes were given to everyone of those under the altar (Revelation 6:11).

Again:

Buy gold and white garments (Revelation 3:18).

In Ezekiel:

If he giveth his bread to the hungry, and covereth the naked with a garment (Ezekiel 18:16).

"To give bread to the hungry" signifies in the spiritual sense to instruct from the good of charity those who long for truths; "to cover the naked with a garment" signifies to instruct, in like manner, those who are not in truths.

[17] In the same:

The enemies shall strip thee of thy garments, and shall take away the jewels of thine adorning (Ezekiel 23:26).

In Zechariah:

Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and thus stood before the angel. And he said to those that stood before him, Take away the filthy garments from off him. And he said, I have made thine iniquity to pass from off thee, in clothing thee with changed garments (Zechariah 3:3-5).

In Lamentations :

They have wandered blind in the streets, they have been polluted with blood; what they cannot pollute they touch with their clothes (Lamentations 4:14).

From the signification of "garments" it can be known what is meant by many statutes with the sons of Israel:

That they should not put on mixed garments (Leviticus 19:19; Deuteronomy 22:11);

That a woman should not wear the vessels of a man, nor a man be clothed with the garments of a woman (Deuteronomy 22:5);

That they should wash their garments that they might be purified, and thus sanctified (Exodus 19:14; Leviticus 11:25, 11:28, 11:40; 14:8; (Leviticus 14:8); Numbers 19:11-22);

and elsewhere:

That in mourning for transgression against Divine truths they should put off their garments and put on sackcloth (Isaiah 15:3; 22:12; 37:1-2; Jeremiah 4:8; 6:26; 48:37; 49:3; Lamentations 2:10; Ezekiel 27:31; Amos 8:10; Jonah 3:5-6, 3:8);

And that they should rend their garments (Isaiah 37:1 and elsewhere).

Also what this signifies:

That the disciples laid their garments upon the ass and the colt when the Lord was going to Jerusalem, and that the people then strewed their garments in the way (Matthew 21:7-9; Mark 11:7-8; Luke 19:35-36);

can be seen above n. 31.

[18] That "garments" signify truths has its origin in this, that the light of heaven is Divine truth proceeding from the Lord as a sun there, and all things that have existence in the heavens have existence from the light there, and this is true in like manner of the garments in which the angels appear clothed. It is from this:

That the angels who sat at the Lord's sepulchre had raiment white as snow (Matthew 28:3);

And that their garments were shining (Luke 24:4).

(That the garments in which the angels appear clothed correspond to their intelligence, and that they have intelligence according to their reception of Divine truth from the Lord, see in the work on Heaven and Hell 177-182;and that Divine truth proceeding from the Lord is light in heaven, n. 126-135.) From this it can be seen what "garments" signify in reference to the Lord, namely, Divine truth proceeding from Him; and as Divine truth is signified, the Word also is signified, for the Word is Divine truth from the Lord on earth and in the heavens. This was represented by the Lord's "garments" when He was transfigured before Peter, James, and John, which are thus described in the Evangelists:

When Jesus was transfigured, His face did shine as the sun, and His garments became white as the light (Matthew 17:2);

And white, dazzling (Luke 9:29);

And glistering white as snow, so as no fuller on earth can whiten them (Mark 9:3).

The like is said of the Ancient of Days in Daniel:

The Ancient of Days did sit, and His garment was like white snow (Daniel 7:9).

"The Ancient of Days" is the Lord from eternity. As "light" is Divine truth, and this in reference to the Lord is signified by "garments," therefore it is said in David:

Jehovah covereth Himself with light as with a garment (Psalms 104:2).

[19] From this it can be seen what the Lord's garments mentioned elsewhere in the Word signify. As in David:

He hath anointed all Thy garments with myrrh and aloes and cassia (Psalms 45:7-8);

where the Lord is treated of. In Moses:

He will wash His vesture in wine, and His covering in the blood of grapes (Genesis 49:11).

This is also said of the Lord. "Wine" and "the blood of grapes" signify Divine truth. Because the Lord's garments signified Divine truth, therefore also:

Those who touched the border of His garment were healed (Matthew 9:20-21; Mark 5:27-28, 30; 6:56; Luke 8:44).

In Isaiah:

Who is this that cometh from Edom, His garments bespattered from Bozrah; this that is honorable in His apparel? Wherefore art Thou red in Thine apparel, and Thy garments as of one treading in the wine-press? Their victory is sprinkled upon My garments, and I have stained all Mine apparel (Isaiah 63:1-3).

This also is said of the Lord; "garments" here signify the Word, which, as has been said, is Divine truth from the Lord on earth and in the heavens; the violence offered to Divine truth or to the Word by those who were then of the church, is described by this, that "He was red in apparel as one treading in the wine-press," and that "victory was sprinkled upon His garments," and that "He had stained all his raiment."

[20] In Revelation:

He that sat on the white horse was arrayed with a garment dipped in blood; and His name is called the Word of God (Revelation 19:13).

Here it is plainly declared that He who sat on the white horse was called "the Word of God;" and it is clear that this is the Lord, for it is immediately said of Him:

He hath on His garment and on His thigh a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16).

It is therefore the Word in the letter that is signified by the "garment dipped in blood," since violence was done to it, but not to the Word in the spiritual sense; violence could not be done to this, because they knew nothing about it.

[21] That violence was done to the Word in the sense of the letter, but not to the Word in the spiritual sense, is signified also by the soldiers dividing the Lord's garments, but not His tunic, of which it is said in John:

The soldiers took His garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part, also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said therefore one to another, Let us not divide it, but let us cast lots for it, whose it shall be. These things therefore the soldiers did (John 19:23-24).

And in David:

They parted My garments, and cast the lot upon My vesture (Psalms 22:18).

"The garments of the Lord which they parted" signify the Word in the letter; His "tunic" the Word in the spiritual sense; "soldiers" signify those of the church who should fight in behalf of Divine truth; therefore it is said, "These things therefore the soldiers did." (That "tunic" signifies Divine truth, or the Word in the spiritual sense, see Arcan (Arcana Coelestia 9826, 9942) a Coelestia, n. 9826, 9942; that "soldiers" signify those who are of the church, and who should fight in behalf of Divine truth, see above, n. 64, at the end, where these things are more fully explained.) It should be known that each particular related in the Evangelists respecting the Lord's passion, involves and signifies how the church at that time, which was among the Jews, had treated Divine truth, thus the Word, for this was Divine truth with them; the Lord also was the Word, because He was Divine truth (John 1:1, 2, 14). But what each particular involves and signifies cannot be known except from the internal sense. Here it will be told only what "the Lord's garments" signified, because the meaning of "garments" is here treated of, namely, that they signify truths, and in reference to the Lord, Divine truths.

[22] "The garments of Aaron and of his sons" have a like signification, because Aaron with his sons represented the Lord in respect to Divine good, and their garments the Lord in respect to Divine truth. (But these things may be seen explained and shown in the Arcana Coelestia; as that Aaron represented the Lord in respect to Divine good, n.9806, 9946, 10017; also what each of their garments signified, the breastplate, the ephod, the cloak, the tunic wrought with checker work, the miter, and the belt, n. 9814, 9823-9828)

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