THE EXPLANATION of Isaiah Chapter Isaiah 32

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

1. BEHOLD, a King shall reign in justice, and Princes shall rule in judgment.

VERSE 1. That the Lord, as to Divine Truth, is represented in the Word by a " King", and as to Good by a " Priest", see above, Chapter 1:1, the Exposition.

2. And a man shall be as a hiding-place from the wind, as a covert from the inundation; as rivers of waters in a dry place; as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land:

Verse 2. [lt does not appear that Swedenborg has quoted this verse, but its spiritual meaning is clear from the correspondences. That Divine Truth from the Lord, in His Word, signified by "man", is the cause of all protection in temptations, and against all assaults from hell, is declared in these words, see above, Chapter 4:6, the Exposition.]

3. And the eyes of those that see shall not be dim; and the ears of those that hear shall hearken.

Verse 3. The eyes, the ears, etc. - See Chap, Isaiah 29:18; 35:4-6, the Exposition.

4. And the heart of the rash shall understand knowledge; and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak elegant things.

5. The fool shall no longer be called liberal; and the covetous shall no more be called noble:

Verse 4. By the "rash" or "precipitate" are understood those who easily catch at, and believe the things that are said, and consequently falsities also; concerning such it is said that "they shall understand knowledge", which means to receive truths. By the "stammerers" are understood those who with difficulty can apprehend the Truths of the church; that they shall confess them from affection is understood by "their tongue shall be ready or swift to speak"; "swiftness" being predicated of affection. Apocalypse Explained 455.

6. For the fool will speak folly; and his heart will work iniquity: to practise hypocrisy, and to speak error against Jehovah; to make empty the soul of the hungry, and to cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.

7. As for the covetous, his instruments are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaks judgment.

8. But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he be established.

Verse 6. He is called a " fool" who is in falsities and evils from the love of self thus from his own intelligence; thefalses are understood by "the folly which he speaks", and evils by "the iniquity which his heart worketh." The evils which he speaks against Goods are understood by "the hypocrisy which he practises", and the falsities which he speaks against Truths by "the error which he speaks against Jehovah." That it is for the purpose of persuading and thus of destroying those who desire Goods and Truths, is understood by "making empty the soul of the hungry", and by "causing the drink of the thirsty to fail"; the "hungry soul" are such as desire Goods, and the "thirsty desiring drink" are such as desire Truths. A" Apocalypse Explained 386.

Here by the "soul" is signified man as to the understanding of Good and Truth; by "the soul of the hungry" the understanding of Good, and by "the drink of the thirsty" the understanding of Truth. That the man who is in falsities of evil will endeavour to deprive thereof him who is in Truth from Good, is signified by "the fool speaking folly", by "making empty the soul of the hungry", and by "causing the drink of the thirsty to fail." Apocalypse Explained 750.

Verses 6, 7. In this passage by the "poor" and "needy" are understood those who are destitute of the knowledges of Truth and Good, wherefore it is said that "the covetous deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaks judgment"; the "lying words" denote falsities, and to "speak judgment" denotes what is right. Inasmuch as such are treated of it is also said that "they practise hypocrisy, and speak error against Jehovah, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and to cause the drink of the thirsty to fail"; to "practise hypocrisy" and to "speak error" denotes to commit evil from the false, and to speak what is false from evil; to "make empty the soul of the hungry" denotes to deprive those of the knowledges of Good who desire them and to "cause the drink of the thirsty to fail" is to deprive of the knowledges of Truth those who desire them. Apocalypse Explained 238.

9. O you women that are at ease, stand up, hear My voice! O you confident daughters, give ear unto My speeeh!

10. Year upon year shall you be disquieted, O you confident ones: for the vintage has failed, the gathering shall not come in.

11. Tremble, O you women that are at ease; be you troubled, O you confident ones! strip you, make yourselves bare; and gird [sackcloth] upon your loins.

12. They shall smite upon the breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine.

Verses 9, 10. By "the women who are at ease" are signified the cupidities of those who have no concern for the devastation of the church; by "confident daughters" are signified the cupidities of those who have confidence in self-derived intelligence; by "women " and "daughters" are signified all who are such in the church, whether they be men or women. By "the vintage which shall fail", and by "the gathering which shall not come", is signified that the Truth of the church shall be no more; for the same is denoted by "vintage" as by "vine"; namely, the Truth of the church, whence it is evident what is signified by the "gathering" thereof. Apocalypse Explained 555.

By "confident daughters" are signified those in the church who love falsities more than Truths. That with such persons Truths ate successively and in every state diminished, is signified by "their being disquieted year upon year." The entire devastation of Truth, even until nothing remains, is understood by "the vintage failing", or being consumed; and by "the gathering not coming in." Apocalypse Explained 919.

Verses 9, 11, 12. "Daughters" are affections, as shown in Arcana Coelestia 2362, 3024. To "make bare or naked", is to be deprived of Truth, see Arcana Coelestia 1073, 4958. To "gird themselves upon the loins", is to be in grief on account of Good which is lost. To "smite upon the breast"; is to be in grief on account of the Good of Truth being destroyed; and because these things are understood, it is further said, "for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine"; for a " field." is the church as to Good, thus the Good of the church, as may be seen, Arcana Coelestia 2971; 3196; and the "vine" is the spiritual church, thus the Good of Truth, see Arcana Coelestia 5113, 6375. Arcana Coelestia 6432.

13. Over the land of My people the thorn and the brier shall come up; yea, over all houses of joy, over the exulting city.

14. For the palace is deserted, the multitude of the city is forsaken; the cliff and the watch-tower shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture for flocks:

Verses 13, 14. "The thorn and the brier which shall come up over the land" signify the false and the evil. "The palace 'which shall be deserted" signifies where Good dwells; and "the multitude of the city which shall be forsaken" signifies where there are Truths, for a "city" signifies the doctrine of Truth. Apocalypse Explained 804.

Verse 14. By these words is described the total devastation of the church, where there is no more any Good of life or Truth of doctrine; no one, however, can know what is involved therein except from the internal sense, and from the state of things in the spiritual world. The devastation of the whole church is understood by "The palace is deserted, the multitude of the city is forsaken"; a " palace" signifies the whole church as to Truths from Good; and a "desert" signifies where there is no Good in consequence of there being no Truth; whence the "palace" being deserted or a "desert", signifies the church devastated. The "multitude of the city" signifies all the Truths of doctrine; for a "city" denotes doctrine, and "multitude" is predicated of Truths, which are said to be "forsaken" when they are not. That "the cliff and the watch-tower shall be for dens for ever", signifies that the church shall no more exist with them, because there is nothing but evil of life and the false of doctrine, which are signified by "dens", because such persons dwell in dens, as was said above; (see Chap Isaiah 2:10, the Exposition.) and inasmuch as such persons dwell in deep places in the spiritual world, and they are covered above by eminences or cliffs and beacons, so as to be hid from those who dwell upon the earths there, therefore it is, not only said that "the cliff and the watch-tower shall be for dens", but also that they should be "a joy of wild asses, and a pasture for flocks." In that world also there are many hells in deep places, altogether hid by earths, rocks, and hills above, or by eminences and beacons, where there is grass, as it were "a pasture for flocks"; whence it is that the hells are unknown to those who dwell there upon the earth. "A joy of wild asses" also signifies the affection or love of falsities; and "the pasture for flocks", in this place, the nourishment of evils from falsities; and by both is signified the devastation of Truth by falsities. From these considerations it may be seen what is the nature of the arcana contained in this and similar passages. Apocalypse Explained 410.

15. Till the spirit from on high be poured out upon us; and the wilderness, become a fruitful field; and the fruitful field be esteemed a forest.

16. And judgment shall dwell in the wilderness; and justice shall reside in the fruitful field.

Verses 15, 16. Treating of those who are in natural Good, and are being reformed, The influx out of heaven into them, is signified by "The spirit from on high shall be poured out upon you." That then Truth from a spiritual origin shall be implanted in them, is signified by "the wilderness shall become a fruitful field"; a "wilderness" denoting the natural man destitute of Truths, and the "fruitful field", or "land of corn", denoting the natural man fructified with Truths. That he has thence the science of the knowledges of Truth and Good, is signified by, "the fruitful field shall be esteemed a forest" "forest" being predicated of the natural man, as a "garden" is of the spiritual; wherefore by a "forest" is signified science, and by a "garden" intelligence. That what is right and just is thence in him, is signified by "Judgment shall dwell, in the wilderness, and justice shall reside in the fruitful field"; "judment" and "justice", in the spiritual sense, signify Truth and Good, but, in the natural sense, what is right and just. Apocalypse Explained 730.

17. And the work of justice shall be peace; and the labour of justice quietness and security for ever:

18. And My people shall dwell in a habitation of peace, and in tents of securities, and in quiet resting places.

Verses 17, 18. Peace is said to be "the work of Jehovah", because it is from the Lord only, and everything which exists by virtue of peace from the Lord, with those who are in conjunction with Him, is called "the Work of Jehovah"; whence it is said- "The work of Jehovah is peace." "The labour of justice" signifies Good conjoined with Truth, wherein peace consists; for "labour", in the Word, is predicated of Truth, "justice" of Good, and "rest" of the peace derived from their conjunction; "security for ever" signifies that thus there will be no infestation or fear from evils and falsities. Hence it is evident what is signified by its being said that "My people shall dwell in a habitation of peace, and in tents of securities, and in quiet resting places", namely, that they may be in heaven where the Lord is, and thence in the Good of love and of worship, without infestation from the hells, and thus in the delights of Good and pleasantnesses of Truth. The "habitation of peace" denotes heaven where the Lord is; "tents of securities", the Goods of love and of worship, not infested by evils and falsities, which are from hell; and "quiet resting places", the delights of Good and pleasantnesses of Truths. That "tents" signify the Goods of love and of worship, may be seen in the Arcana Coelestia n. 414, 1102, 2145. "Peace" is the happiness of the heart and the soul, arising from the conjunction of the Lord with heaven and the church, and this from the conjunction of what is Good and True with those who are there; hence there is no longer any combat of what is evil and false against what is Good and True, or no dissension or war in a spiritual sense. Hence it is peace in which all fructification of Good and all multiplication of Truth takes place, consequently all wisdom and intelligence. And because that peace is from the Lord alone, and from Him with the angels in heaven and with men in the church, therefore by "Peace", in the supreme sense, is understood the Lord, and, in a respective sense, Heaven and the Church, consequently Good conjoined with Truth in those who are there. Apocalypse Explained 365.

In respect to "Peace" and the Lord as being "the Prince of Peace", see Chapter 9:6, the Exposition.

19. But the hail shall fall, and the forest be brought down; and the city shall be laid utterly low.

20. Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, who send forth [thither] the foot of the ox and of the ass.

Verse 19. The hail shall fall. - See Chapter 28:2, 22, the Exposition.

Verse 20. Here by those "who sow beside all waters" are meant they who allow themselves to be instructed in spiritual things. That "waters" are spiritual things, thus the Intellectual things of Truth, may be seen in Arcana Coelestia 680. "Who send forth the foot of the ox and of the ass", signifies natural things which are serviceable thereto. That the "ox" is the natural principle as to Good, see Arcana Coelestia 2180, 2566; the "ass", is the natural principle as to Truth. Arcana Coelestia 2781.

To "sow beside all waters", is to be instructed in whatsoever truths may be of use [to the spiritual life]. To "send forth the foot of the ox and of the ass", is to be instructed in external goods and truths. Arcana Coelestia 9272.

That "waters" signify Truths, see above, Chapter 11:9, the Exposition.

The signification of the "horse", as denoting the understanding, is derived from no other source than from the representatives which exist in the spiritual world. In that world are frequently seen horses, and persons sitting upon horses, and also chariots: and there every one knows that they signify things intellectual and doctrinal. I myself have often observed, when any were thinking from their understanding, that at such times they appeared as if riding on horses; their meditation represented itself in this manner before others, although they themselves were ignorant of it. There is also a place in the spiritual world where many assemble who think and speak from understanding concerning the truths of doctrine; and when others approach, they see the whole plain covered with chariots and horses. Novitiate spirits who are astonished at the sight, and wonder whence it proceeds, are Instructed that it is an appearance resulting Irorn their intellectual thought. That place is called the assembly of the intelligent and the wise. I have likewise seen bright horses and chariots of fire when certain spirits were taken up into heaven, which was a sign that they were then Instructed in the truths of heavenly doctrine; and become intelligent, and thus were taken up. On seeing which, it occurred to mymind what is signified by the "chariots of fire" and the "horses of fire" which carried Elijah up into heaven, and what is signified by the "horses and chariots of fire" that were seen by the lad of Elisha when his eyes were opened.

That such is the signification of "chariots" and "horses" was perfectly well known in the ancient churches; for those churches were representative churches, and tbe science of correspondences and representations was esteemed, among the members of those churches the chief of all sciences. From those churcbes the signification of the "horse" as expressive of understanding, was derived to the wise men round about, even into Greece. Hence it was, when they would describe the sun, in which they placed their God of wisdom and intelligence, that they attributed to it a chariot and four horses of fire; and when they would describe the God of the sea, since by the "sea" were signified sciences derived from understanding; that they also attributed horses to him; and when they would describe the rise of the sciences from understanding, that they also feigned a winged horse, which, with its hoof, broke open a fountain, at which sat nine virgins called the sciences. For from the ancient churches they received this knowledge, that by tbe "horse" is signified understanding, by "wings" spiritual truth, by the "hoof" what is scientific derived from understanding, and by a "fountain" doctrine from which sciences are derived. Nor is anything else signified by the "Trojan horse" than an artificial contrivance devised by their understanding for the purpose of destroying the walls, Even at this day, when the understanding is described after the manner received from those ancients, it is usual to figure it by a "flying horse" or Pegasus; so, likewise, doctrine is described by a "fountain", and the sciences by "virgins"; but scarcely anyone knows that by the "horse", in the mystic sense, is signified understanding, still less that those signiflcatives were derived to the Gentiles from the ancient representative churches. Wliite Horse, 2-4.

Verses 1-3. Man's own intelligence is thus described. "Egypt" denotes science; a "horse", understanding thence derived; a "chariot" denotes doctrine thence derived; a "horseman", intelligence from the same origin; of all which it is said "Woe unto them who do not look to the Holy One of Israel, and do not seek Jehovah." Their destruction by evils is meant by "His arising against the house of the wicked, and against the help of those that work iniquity." That the above things originate in man's proprium, and consequently have no life in them, is meant by "Egypt being man, and not God", and' by "the horses thereof being flesh, and not spirit"; "man" and "flesh" denote man's proprium; "God" and "spirit" are life from the Lord; the "horses of Egypt" are man's own intelligence. There are several other passages in the Word, which thus describe intelligence derived from rnan's self, and derived from the Lord, which passages are to be understood only by menus of the spiritual sense. Doct. of Life, 30.

By "Egypt", in the Word, is signified the scientific [principle] which is in the natural man, and hence it also signifies the natural man; And because the natural man, with the scientific [principle] which is therein, has not any understanding, but only thought from the memory, which is a species of imagination from the objects of the sight and of hearing, and inasmuch as it is below the spiritual man, in which reside all the Good and the Truths of heaven and the church, hence by "Egypt" in most passages is signified the false scientific [principle]; for when the spiritual man does not flow in, the scientifics of the natural man are turned into mere falsities, and the thoughts of the natural man into confirmations of the false, and into ratiocinations from them against Truths. Hence it may appear what is signified by "the horses of Egypt, and by the chariots thereof", namely, by the "horses" false scientifics, and by the "chariots" doctrinals from which are ratiocinations against Truths. They, therefore, who are of such a quality do not seek Truth from any other source than from themselves, for the proprium of everyone resides in the natural man, and not in the spiritual man: wherefore instead of truths they seize falsities, and instead of goods, evils; and the latter they call Goods, and the former Truths, and trust in themselvee, because in their own proprium. These things are signified by these words "Woe unto them that go down to Egypt for help, who stay on horses; who trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong." The "horses" here denote false scientifics, the "chariots" doctrinals thence derived, and the "horsemen" ratiocinations thence against Truths; wherefore also it is said, "The Egyptians are man, and not God; and their horses are flesh, and not spirit"; whereby is signified that only what is merely natural is in them, and not anything spiritual, nor consequently anything of life, - "man" signifying the natural man, and "flesh" the proprium thereof, and "God" and "spirit" signifying the divine-spiritual man, and life thence derived; and inasmuch as they confide in themselves, and not in the Lord, it is said, "They look not unto the Holy One of Israel, and seek not Jehovah! " Apocalypse Explained 355.

3. For the Egyptians are man, and not God; and their horses are flesh, and not spirit: and Jehovah shall stretch forth His hand, and the helper shall stumble, and the helped shall fall; and together shall all of them be consumed.

Verse 3. And in John:

"It is the spirit which vivifieth; the flesh profits nothing." (John 63)

Again,

"that which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is generated of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:6)

And in David:

"God remembered that they were flesh; a breath that passes away, and returns not again." (Psalm 78:39)

The evil of man's will, which is his proprium from nativity, is signified in these passages by "flesh"; likewise by "the flesh which the sons of Israel lusted after in the wilderness", and on account of which "they were smitten with a great plague", and from which the place was called "a sepulchre of coucupiscences." (Numbers 11:4-34). Apocalypse Explained 1082.

4. For thus has Jehovah said unto me, Like as the lion roars, even the young lion, over his prey, though a multitude of shepherds be called together against him, at their voice he will not be terrified, nor at their tumult will he be humbled so shall Jehovah of Hosts descend to fight for the mountain of Zion, and for the hill thereof.

Verse 4: In this passage Jehovah is compared to a "roaring lion", because by a "lion" is signified the power of leading out from hell or from evils, and by "roaring" is signified the defending against evils and falsities; wherefore it is said, "So shall Jehovah of Hosts descend to fight for the mountain of Zion, and for the hill thereof." The "mountain of Zion" and the "hill" thereof denoting the celestial church and the spiritual church.

The "prey" upon which the lion and the young lion roar, signifies deliverance from evils which are from hell. Apocalypse Explained 278.

5. As birds hovering [over their young], so shall Jehovah of Hosts protect Jerusalem; protecting, He will deliver; and passing over, He will rescue her.

6. Return unto Him, from whom you have deeply revolted, O you sons of Israel!

Verse 5. Jehovah is said to "protect Jerusalem, as birds flying [or hovering]", for by "protecting" is signified the Divine Providence as to defence; by "Jerusalem" is signified the church; and by "birds hovering", with which the comparison is made, is signified circumspection and presence, in this case as being predicated of the Lord's Omnipresence. Apocalypse Explained 282.

Verse 6. Return unto Him, etc. - See Chapter 30:15, note.

7. For in that day shall they reject every man the idols of his silver, and the idols of his gold, which their own hands have made for sin.

Verses 7, 8. By "the idols of silver and the idols of gold which they shall on that day reject", are signified the falsities and evils of religion and of worship, which they call Truths and Goods; and inasmuch as the falsities and evils of religion and of worship are from self-derived intelligence, therefore it is said, "Which their own hands have made for sin."

That there shall then be no reasonings from such things, is signified by "The Assyrian shall fall", etc. Apocalypse Explained 582.

Verses 7-9. For in that day shall they reject every man the idols of his silver, etc. - Treating concerning judgment upon those who, from self-derived intelligence, fancy themselves wise in things divine, such as are those who are in the love of self and of the world, and seek after the fame of erudition for the sake of themselves; such persons, inasmuch as they cannot see truths, seize upon falsities, and vaunt them for truths. The falsities favouring their principles and loves are signified by the "idols of silver" and the "idols of gold."

That they are from self-derived intelligence, is signified by "Their own hands have made them for sin."

That they should perish by their own falsities, is signified by "The Assyrian shall fall by a sword, not of man [vir]; yea, a sword, not of man [hominis], shall devour him"; the "Assyrian" denoting the rational principle perverted, and, consequently, those who are in falsities from self-derived intelligence; and to "fall" and to be "devoured by the sword" denoting to perish.

This was also represented by "the king of Assyria being slain by his sons"; (Isaiah 37:38). His "sons" there signify his own falsities by which he perished. "His rock shall pass away for fear", signifies all the falsities, in general, in which such persons confide; and "his princes shall be terrified at the standard", signifies primary falsities.

It is said, "at the standard", because it is not by any combat with Truths that they are dissipated, but solely by the sign of combat, which is a "standard." Such also have been seen by mle cast down from the rocks [in the world of spirits], upon which they were, by the waving of a standard. Apocalypse Explained 411.

8. And the Assyrian shall fall by a sword, not of man; yea, a sword, not of man, shall devour him: and he shall betake himself to flight from the face of the sword; and his young men shall be tributary.

Verse 8. His young men shall be trributary.

- "Young men", in a good sense, denote those who are intelligent; thus intelligence, and thence Truth confirmed; but by the "young men of Assyria", in a bad sense, as in this verse, is signified false intelligence, confirmed by fallacious and negative reasonings, which, at the time of judgment, are made tributary, or entirely subjugated. See Arcana Coelestia 7668.

9. His rock shall pass away for fear; and his princes shall be terrified at the standard, says Jehovah, whose fire is in Zion, and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

Verse 9. Thus says Jehovah, whose fire is in Zion, and whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

- Where by "fire" is signified the Good of Love; and by "furnace", Truth from that Good, thus the Truth of Doctrine. Similar things are also signified by "Zion" and "Jerusalem"; by "Zion" the church as to the Good of Love, and by "Jerusalem" the church as to the Truth of Doctrine. Apocalypse Explained 540.

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Isaiah Chapter 32

1. BEHOLD, a King shall reign in justice, and Princes shall rule in judgment.

2. And a man shall be as a hiding-place from the wind, as a covert from the inundation; as rivers of waters in a dry place; as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land:

3. And the eyes of those that see shall not be dim; and the ears of those that hear shall hearken.

4. And the heart of the rash shall understand knowledge; and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak elegant things.

5. The fool shall no longer be called liberal; and the covetous shall no more be called noble:

6. For the fool will speak folly; and his heart will work iniquity: to practise hypocrisy, and to speak error against Jehovah; to make empty the soul of the hungry, and to cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.

7. As for the covetous, his instruments are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaks judgment.

8. But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he be established.

9. O you women that are at ease, stand up, hear My voice! O you confident daughters, give ear unto My speeeh!

10. Year upon year shall you be disquieted, O you confident ones: for the vintage has failed, the gathering shall not come in.

11. Tremble, O you women that are at ease; be you troubled, O you confident ones! strip you, make yourselves bare; and gird [sackcloth] upon your loins.

12. They shall smite upon the breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine.

13. Over the land of My people the thorn and the brier shall come up; yea, over all houses of joy, over the exulting city.

14. For the palace is deserted, the multitude of the city is forsaken; the cliff and the watch-tower shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture for flocks:

15. Till the spirit from on high be poured out upon us; and the wilderness, become a fruitful field; and the fruitful field be esteemed a forest.

16. And judgment shall dwell in the wilderness; and justice shall reside in the fruitful field.

17. And the work of justice shall be peace; and the labour of justice quietness and security for ever:

18. And My people shall dwell in a habitation of peace, and in tents of securities, and in quiet resting places.

19. But the hail shall fall, and the forest be brought down; and the city shall be laid utterly low.

20. Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, who send forth [thither] the foot of the ox and of the ass.

5113. 'And behold, a vine before me' means the understanding part. This is clear from the meaning of 'a vine' as the understanding part of the mind as it exists in the spiritual Church, dealt with below. Because 'the cupbearer' means the sensory powers that are subject to the understanding part, and because the subject here is the flow of the understanding into the sensory powers subordinate to it, there appeared in the dream therefore a vine with shoots, blossom, clusters, and grapes, which are used to describe its flow into those powers and the rebirth of them. With regard to the understanding part as it exists in the spiritual Church, it should be recognized that when that Church is the subject in the Word, its understanding is in many instances dealt with too, for the reason that it is the understanding part which is regenerated and made the Church in the case of one belonging to that Church.

[2] There are in general two Churches - the celestial and the spiritual. The celestial Church exists with the person in whom the will part of the mind can be regenerated or made the Church, whereas the spiritual Church exists with one in whom, as stated, solely the understanding part can be regenerated. The Most Ancient Church before the Flood was a celestial one because there existed with those who belonged to it some degree of wholeness in the will part, whereas the Ancient Church after the Flood was a spiritual one because among those who belonged to it no degree of wholeness existed in the will part, only in the understanding part. This explains why, when the spiritual Church is dealt with in the Word, its understanding is dealt with in many instances too. Regarding these Churches, see 640, 641, 765, 863, 875, 895, 927, 928, 1023, 1043, 1044, 1555, 2124, 2256, 2669, 4328, 4493. As regards its being the understanding part that is regenerated in the case of those who belong to the spiritual Church, this may also be recognized from the fact that the member of that Church does not have any good from which he may perceive truth, as those who belonged to the celestial Church had. Rather, he must first learn the truth of faith and absorb it into his understanding, and so come to recognize with the aid of truth what good is. Once truth enables him to recognize what good is, he can think about it, then desire it, and at length put it into practice, in which case he now has a new will formed by the Lord in the understanding part of his mind. The Lord then uses this to raise the spiritual man up to heaven, though evil still remains in the will that is properly his own, which at this point is miraculously set aside. This is accomplished by a higher power which withholds him from evil and maintains him in good.

[3] In the case of the member of the celestial Church however the will part was regenerated. From earliest childhood he was absorbing the good of charity, and once he could see with perception what that good was, he was led on to perceive what love to the Lord was. Consequently all the truths of faith were seen by him in his understanding as if in a mirror. His understanding and will formed one complete mind; for those truths enabled him to perceive in his understanding that which existed as a desire in his will. This is what the wholeness of that first human being consisted in, by whom the celestial Church is meant.

[4] As regards 'the vine' meaning the understanding part in the case of the spiritual Church, this is clear from many other places in the Word, as in Jeremiah,

What have you to do with the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of Shihor? Or what have you to do with the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River? Yet I have planted you as a wholly choice vine, a seed of truth. How therefore have you turned from Me into the degenerate branches of a strange vine? Jeremiah 2:18, 21.

This refers to Israel, which means the spiritual Church, 3654, 4286. 'Egypt' and 'the waters of Shihor' stand for factual knowledge which leads to perversion, 1164, 1165, 1186, 1462; 'Assyria' and 'the waters of the River' stand for reasoning based on this, that is, on factual knowledge, against the good of life and the truth of faith, 119, 1186. 'A choice vine' stands for the member of the spiritual Church, who is called 'a vine' because of his understanding, while 'the degenerate branches of a strange vine' stands for someone belonging to the perverted Church.

[5] In Ezekiel,

A riddle and a parable about the house of Israel. A great eagle took some of the seed of the land and planted it in a seed field. It sprouted and became a spreading vine, low in height, so that its branches turned towards him and its roots were under him. So it became a vine which brought forth branches and sent out shoots towards the eagle. This vine directed its roots and sent its branches towards him in a good field by many waters. It was planted to produce a branch, that it might be a magnificent vine. Ezekiel 17:1, 3, 5-8.

An eagle' stands for rational thought, 3901,'the seed of the land' for truth known to the Church, 1025, 1447, 1610, 1940, 2848, 3038, 3310, 3373. Its becoming 'a spreading vine' and 'a magnificent vine' stands for becoming a spiritual Church, which is called 'a vine' because wine is obtained from it - 'wine' meaning spiritual good or the good of charity, the source of the truth of faith implanted in the understanding part.

[6] In the same prophet,

Your mother was like a vine in your likeness, planted beside the waters, fruitful, and made full of branches by reason of many waters. Consequently it had strong rods as sceptres for those who had dominion, and its stature rose up among entangled boughs, so that it was seen in its height amid the multitude of its branches. Ezekiel 19:10-11.

This too refers to Israel, by whom the spiritual Church is meant, which Church is compared to 'a vine' for a similar reason to that mentioned immediately above. It is a description of its derivatives even to the final ones in the natural man, that is to say, even to factual knowledge based on sensory impressions, meant by 'entangled boughs', 2831.

[7] In Hosea,

I will be as the dew of Israel. His branches will go out, and his beauty will be like the olive's, and his odour like that of Lebanon. Those dwelling in its shadow will turn back, they will quicken the grain and will blossom as the vine; the memory of it will be as the wine of Lebanon. O Ephraim, what have I to do any more with idols? Hosea 14:5-8.

'Israel' stands for the spiritual Church, the blossoming of which is compared to 'the vine', and the memory of it to 'the wine of Lebanon', because of the good of faith when that good has been implanted in the understanding part. 'Ephraim' means the understanding part as it exists in the spiritual Church, 3969.

[8] In Zechariah,

The remnant of the people will be the seed of peace; the vine will give its fruit, and the land will give its increase, and the heavens will give their dew. Zechariah 8:11-12.

'The remnant of the people' stands for truths stored away by the Lord within the interior man, 468, 530, 560, 561, 660, 798, 1050, 1738, 1906, 2284. 'The seed of peace' stands for good there, 'the vine' for the understanding part.

[9] In Malachi,

I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that he does not ruin for you the fruit of the land, nor will the vine in the field fail you. Malachi 3:11-12.

'The vine' stands for the understanding part. The expression 'a vine that does not fail' is used when the understanding part is not left bereft of the truths and goods of faith; on the other hand 'an empty vine' is used when falsities exist there together with derivative evils, as in Hosea,

Israel is an empty vine, it bears fruit like itself. Hosea 10:1.

[10] In Moses,

He will bind his ass's colt to the vine, and the foal of his she-ass to a choice vine, after he has washed his clothing in wine, and his garment in the blood of grapes. Genesis 49:11.

This is the prophecy of Jacob, who by then was Israel, regarding his twelve sons, in this case regarding 'Judah', who represents the Lord, 7881. 'The vine' here stands for the understanding part as it exists in the spiritual Church, and 'a choice vine' for the understanding part as it exists in the celestial Church.

[11] In David,

O Jehovah, You caused a vine to journey out of Egypt. You cast out the nations, and You planted it. You cleared the way in front of it and caused its roots to be rooted, so that it might fill the land. The mountains were covered with the shadow of it, and the cedars of God with its branches. You sent out its shoots even to the sea, and its little branches to the Euphrates. The boar out of the forest tramples on it, and the wild animal of the fields feeds on it. Psalms 80:8-11, 13.

'A vine out of Egypt' stands in the highest sense for the Lord, the glorification of His Human being described by it and its shoots. In the internal sense 'a vine' here means the spiritual Church and the member of that Church - what he is like when the understanding and will parts of him have been made new or regenerated by the Lord. 'The boar in the forest' means falsity, and 'the wild animal of the fields' evil, which destroy the Church and faith in the Lord.

[12] In John,

The angel sent his sickle into the earth and harvested the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. The winepress was trodden outside the city, and the blood went out of the winepress up to the horses' bridles. Revelation 14:19-20.

'Harvesting the vine of the earth' stands for destroying the understanding part in the Church. And since 'the vine' means that understanding part it is also said that 'the blood went out of the winepress up to the horses' bridles'; for the powers of understanding are meant by 'horses', 2761, 2762, 3217. In Isaiah,

It will happen on that day, that every place in which there have been a thousand vines, worth a thousand [shekels] of silver, will be briers and brambles. Isaiah 7:23.

In the same prophet,

The inhabitants of the land will be scorched and hardly any men (homo) left. The new wine will mourn, and the vine will languish. Isaiah 14:6-7.

In the same prophet,

They beat themselves on their breasts for the fields of unmixed wine, for the fruitful vine; for over the land of My people the them, the prickle is coming up. Isaiah 32:12-14.

In these places the subject is the spiritual Church when laid waste as regards the good and truth of faith, and so as regards the understanding part, since, as stated above, the truth and the good of faith exist in the understanding part of the mind of the member of that Church. Anyone may see that in these places 'the vine' is not used to mean the vine, nor 'the land' to mean the land, but some feature of the Church.

[13] In the genuine sense 'the vine' means good present in the understanding part, and 'the fig' good present in the natural part; or what amounts to the same, 'the vine' means good present in the interior man, and 'the fig' good present in the exterior man. This being so, when the vine is mentioned in the Word, so also on many occasions is the fig, as in the following places: In Jeremiah,

I will completely devour them. There will be no grapes on the vine or figs on the fig tree; and its leaf has come down. Jeremiah 8:13.

In the same prophet,

I will bring upon you a nation from afar, O house of Israel, which will devour your vine and your fig tree. Jeremiah 5:17.

In Hosea,

I will lay waste her vine and her fig tree. Hosea 2:12.

In Joel,

A nation has come up over the land. It has turned My vine into a waste, and My fig tree into froth. It has stripped it completely bare and cast it aside; its branches have been made white. The vine has withered and the fig tree languishes. Joel 1:6-7, 12.

In the same prophet,

Fear not, you beasts of My fields, for the dwelling places of the wilderness have been made green; for the tree will bear its fruit, and the fig tree and the vine will give their full yield. Joel 2:12, 23.

In David,

He smote their vines and their fig trees, and broke to pieces the trees of their borders. Psalms 105:33.

In Habakkuk,

The fig tree will not blossom; neither will there be any yield on the vines. Habakkuk 3:17.

In Micah,

Out of Zion will go forth teaching, and the Word of Jehovah from Jerusalem. They will sit every one under his vine and under his fig tree, unafraid. Micah 4:1, 4.

In Zechariah,

On that day you will shout, each to his companion, under his vine and under his fig tree. Zechariah 3:10.

In the first Book of Kings,

In Solomon's time there was peace from all the border-crossings round about, and Judah and Israel dwelt with confidence, every one under his vine and under his fig tree. 1 Kings 4:24-25.

The fig tree' means the good of the natural or exterior man, see 217.

[14] 'The vine' may also mean an understanding part that has been made new or regenerated by means of good obtained from truth and of truth obtained from good. This is clear from the Lord's words addressed to the disciples after He instituted the Holy Supper, in Matthew,

I tell you that I shall not drink from now on of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom. Matthew 26:29.

The good obtained from truth and the truth obtained from good, by means of which the understanding is made new, that is, by which a person is made spiritual, is meant by 'the fruit of the vine', while making such one's own is meant by 'drinking'. For 'drinking' means making one's own, and is used in reference to truth, see 3168. The fact that this is fully accomplished only in the next life is meant by 'until that day when I drink it new with you. In My Father's kingdom'; for 'the fruit of the vine', it is quite plain, is not used to mean new wine or matured wine but something of a heavenly nature belonging to the Lord's kingdom.

[15] Because the understanding part of the spiritual man's mind is made new and regenerated by means of truth which comes solely from the Lord, the Lord therefore compares Himself to 'the vine'. He then compares those who are secure in the truth which comes from Him and consequently is His to 'the branches', and the good produced by them to 'the fruit', in John,

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, but every one that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I him, he it is that bears much fruit; for apart from Me you cannot do anything. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:1-5, 12.

[16] Because in the highest sense 'the vine' means the Lord as regards Divine Truth, and from this it means, in the internal sense, a member of the spiritual Church, 'a vineyard' therefore means the spiritual Church itself, 1069, 3220.

[17] Since 'the Nazirite' represented the celestial man - who is regenerated by means of the good of love and not, like the spiritual man, by means of the truth of faith, so that, as may be seen stated above, it is not in the understanding part but in the will part of the celestial man's mind that the regeneration takes place - the Nazirite was therefore forbidden to eat anything that came from the vine and so was forbidden to drink wine, Numbers 6:3-4; Judges 13:14. From this also it is evident that 'the vine', as has been shown, means the understanding part, which belongs to the spiritual man. For details about 'the Nazirite' representing the celestial man, see 3301. From this one may also see that nobody can possibly know why the Nazirite was forbidden anything that came from the vine, and many other things besides, unless he knows what 'the vine' means in the proper sense, and also unless he knows of the existence of a celestial Church and of a spiritual Church, and that the member of the celestial Church is regenerated in a different way from a member of the spiritual Church. The former is regenerated by means of seed implanted in the will part, the latter by seed implanted in the understanding part. These are the kinds of arcana stored away in the internal sense of the Word.