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Genesis 29

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1 καί-C ἐκαἴρω-VA--AAPNSM *ἰακώβ-N---NSM ὁ- A--APM πούς-N3D-APM πορεύομαι-VCI-API3S εἰς-P γῆ-N1--ASF ἀνατολή-N1--GPF πρός-P *λαβαν-N---ASM ὁ- A--ASM υἱός-N2--ASM *βαθουηλ-N---GSM ὁ- A--GSM *σύρος-N2--GSM ἀδελφός-N2--ASM δέ-X *ρεβεκκα-N---GSF μήτηρ-N3--GSF *ἰακώβ-N---GSM καί-C *ησαυ-N---GSM

2 καί-C ὁράω-V3--PAI3S καί-C ἰδού-I φρέαρ-N3T-NSN ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSN πεδίον-N2N-DSN εἰμί-V9--IAI3P δέ-X ἐκεῖ-D τρεῖς-A3--NPN ποίμνιον-N2N-NPN πρόβατον-N2N-GPN ἀναπαύω-V1--PMPNPN ἐπί-P αὐτός- D--GSM ἐκ-P γάρ-X ὁ- A--GSN φρέαρ-N3T-GSN ἐκεῖνος- D--GSM ποτίζω-V1I-IAI3P ὁ- A--APN ποίμνιον-N2N-APN λίθος-N2--NSM δέ-X εἰμί-V9--IAI3S μέγας-A1P-NSM ἐπί-P ὁ- A--DSN στόμα-N3M-DSN ὁ- A--GSN φρέαρ-N3T-GSN

3 καί-C συνἄγω-V1I-IMI3P ἐκεῖ-D πᾶς-A3--NPN ὁ- A--NPN ποίμνιον-N2N-NPN καί-C ἀποκυλίω-V1I-IAI3P ὁ- A--ASM λίθος-N2--ASM ἀπό-P ὁ- A--GSN στόμα-N3M-GSN ὁ- A--GSN φρέαρ-N3T-GSN καί-C ποτίζω-V1I-IAI3P ὁ- A--APN πρόβατον-N2N-APN καί-C ἀπο καταἵστημι-V6I-IAI3P ὁ- A--ASM λίθος-N2--ASM ἐπί-P ὁ- A--ASN στόμα-N3M-ASN ὁ- A--GSN φρέαρ-N3T-GSN εἰς-P ὁ- A--ASM τόπος-N2--ASM αὐτός- D--GSM

4 εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S δέ-X αὐτός- D--DPM *ἰακώβ-N---NSM ἀδελφός-N2--VPM πόθεν-D εἰμί-V9--PAI2P σύ- P--NP ὁ- A--NPM δέ-X εἶπον-VAI-AAI3P ἐκ-P *χαρραν-N---GS εἰμί-V9--PAI1P

5 εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S δέ-X αὐτός- D--DPM γιγνώσκω-V1--PAI2P *λαβαν-N---ASM ὁ- A--ASM υἱός-N2--ASM *ναχωρ-N---GSM ὁ- A--NPM δέ-X εἶπον-VAI-AAI3P γιγνώσκω-V1--PAI1P

6 εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S δέ-X αὐτός- D--DPM ὑγιαίνω-V1--PAI3S ὁ- A--NPM δέ-X εἶπον-VAI-AAI3P ὑγιαίνω-V1--PAI3S καί-C ἰδού-I *ραχηλ-N---NSF ὁ- A--NSF θυγάτηρ-N3--NSF αὐτός- D--GSM ἔρχομαι-V1I-IMI3S μετά-P ὁ- A--GPN πρόβατον-N2N-GPN

7 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S *ἰακώβ-N---NSM ἔτι-D εἰμί-V9--PAI3S ἡμέρα-N1A-NSF πολύς-A1--NSF οὔπω-D ὥρα-N1A-NSF συνἄγω-VQ--APN ὁ- A--APN κτῆνος-N3E-APN ποτίζω-VA--AAPNPM ὁ- A--APN πρόβατον-N2N-APN ἀποἔρχομαι-VB--AAPNPM βόσκω-V1--PAI2P

8 ὁ- A--NPM δέ-X εἶπον-VAI-AAI3P οὐ-D δύναμαι-VF--FMI1P ἕως-P ὁ- A--GSN συνἄγω-VQ--APN πᾶς-A3--APM ὁ- A--APM ποιμήν-N3--APM καί-C ἀποκυλίω-VA--AAS3P ὁ- A--ASM λίθος-N2--ASM ἀπό-P ὁ- A--GSN στόμα-N3M-GSN ὁ- A--GSN φρέαρ-N3T-GSN καί-C ποτίζω-VF--FAI1P ὁ- A--APN πρόβατον-N2N-APN

9 ἔτι-D αὐτός- D--GSM λαλέω-V2--PAPGSM αὐτός- D--DPM καί-C *ραχηλ-N---NSF ὁ- A--NSF θυγάτηρ-N3--NSF *λαβαν-N---GSM ἔρχομαι-V1I-IMI3S μετά-P ὁ- A--GPN πρόβατον-N2N-GPN ὁ- A--GSM πατήρ-N3--GSM αὐτός- D--GSF αὐτός- D--NSF γάρ-X βόσκω-V1I-IAI3S ὁ- A--APN πρόβατον-N2N-APN ὁ- A--GSM πατήρ-N3--GSM αὐτός- D--GSF

10 γίγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S δέ-X ὡς-C ὁράω-VBI-AAI3S *ἰακώβ-N---NSM ὁ- A--ASF *ραχηλ-N---ASF θυγάτηρ-N3--ASF *λαβαν-N---GSM ἀδελφός-N2--GSM ὁ- A--GSF μήτηρ-N3--GSF αὐτός- D--GSM καί-C ὁ- A--APN πρόβατον-N2N-APN *λαβαν-N---GSM ἀδελφός-N2--GSM ὁ- A--GSF μήτηρ-N3--GSF αὐτός- D--GSM καί-C προςἔρχομαι-VB--AAPNSM *ἰακώβ-N---NSM ἀποκυλίω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--ASM λίθος-N2--ASM ἀπό-P ὁ- A--GSN στόμα-N3M-GSN ὁ- A--GSN φρέαρ-N3T-GSN καί-C ποτίζω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--APN πρόβατον-N2N-APN *λαβαν-N---GSM ὁ- A--GSM ἀδελφός-N2--GSM ὁ- A--GSF μήτηρ-N3--GSF αὐτός- D--GSM

11 καί-C φιλέω-VAI-AAI3S *ἰακώβ-N---NSM ὁ- A--ASF *ραχηλ-N---ASF καί-C βοάω-VA--AAPNSM ὁ- A--DSF φωνή-N1--DSF αὐτός- D--GSM κλαίω-VAI-AAI3S

12 καί-C ἀναἀγγέλλω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--DSF *ραχηλ-N---DSF ὅτι-C ἀδελφός-N2--NSM ὁ- A--GSM πατήρ-N3--GSM αὐτός- D--GSF εἰμί-V9--PAI3S καί-C ὅτι-C υἱός-N2--NSM *ρεβεκκα-N---GSF εἰμί-V9--PAI3S καί-C τρέχω-VB--AAPNSF ἀποἀγγέλλω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--DSM πατήρ-N3--DSM αὐτός- D--GSF κατά-P ὁ- A--APN ῥῆμα-N3M-APN οὗτος- D--APN

13 γίγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S δέ-X ὡς-C ἀκούω-VAI-AAI3S *λαβαν-N---NSM ὁ- A--ASN ὄνομα-N3M-ASN *ἰακώβ-N---GSM ὁ- A--GSM υἱός-N2--GSM ὁ- A--GSF ἀδελφή-N1--GSF αὐτός- D--GSM τρέχω-VBI-AAI3S εἰς-P συνάντησις-N3I-ASF αὐτός- D--DSM καί-C περιλαμβάνω-VB--AAPNSM αὐτός- D--ASM φιλέω-VAI-AAI3S καί-C εἰςἄγω-VBI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--ASM εἰς-P ὁ- A--ASM οἶκος-N2--ASM αὐτός- D--GSM καί-C διαἡγέομαι-VAI-AMI3S ὁ- A--DSM *λαβαν-N---DSM πᾶς-A3--APM ὁ- A--APM λόγος-N2--APM οὗτος- D--APM

14 καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--DSM *λαβαν-N---NSM ἐκ-P ὁ- A--GPN ὀστέον-N2N-GPN ἐγώ- P--GS καί-C ἐκ-P ὁ- A--GSF σάρξ-N3K-GSF ἐγώ- P--GS εἰμί-V9--PAI2S σύ- P--NS καί-C εἰμί-V9--IAI3S μετά-P αὐτός- D--GSM μήν-N3--ASM ἡμέρα-N1A-GPF

15 εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S δέ-X *λαβαν-N---NSM ὁ- A--DSM *ἰακώβ-N---DSM ὅτι-C γάρ-X ἀδελφός-N2--NSM ἐγώ- P--GS εἰμί-V9--PAI2S οὐ-D δουλεύω-VF--FAI2S ἐγώ- P--DS δωρεά-N1A-ASF ἀποἀγγέλλω-VA--AAD2S ἐγώ- P--DS τίς- I--NSM ὁ- A--NSM μισθός-N2--NSM σύ- P--GS εἰμί-V9--PAI3S

16 ὁ- A--DSM δέ-X *λαβαν-N---DSM δύο-M θυγάτηρ-N3--NPF ὄνομα-N3M-NSN ὁ- A--DSF μέγας-A3C-DSFC *λεια-N---NSF καί-C ὄνομα-N3M-ASN ὁ- A--DSF νέος-A1A-DSFC *ραχηλ-N---NSF

17 ὁ- A--NPM δέ-X ὀφθαλμός-N2--NPM *λεια-N---GSF ἀσθενής-A3H-NPM *ραχηλ-N---NSF δέ-X καλός-A1--NSF ὁ- A--DSN εἶδος-N3E-DSN καί-C ὡραῖος-A1A-NSF ὁ- A--DSF ὄψις-N3I-DSF

18 ἀγαπάω-VAI-AAI3S δέ-X *ἰακώβ-N---NSM ὁ- A--ASF *ραχηλ-N---ASF καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S δουλεύω-VF--FAI1S σύ- P--DS ἑπτά-M ἔτος-N3E-APN περί-P *ραχηλ-N---GSF ὁ- A--GSF θυγάτηρ-N3--GSF σύ- P--GS ὁ- A--GSF νέος-A1A-GSFC

19 εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S δέ-X αὐτός- D--DSM *λαβαν-N---NSM βελτίων-A3C-NSN δίδωμι-VO--AAN ἐγώ- P--AS αὐτός- D--ASF σύ- P--DS ἤ-C δίδωμι-VO--AAN ἐγώ- P--AS αὐτός- D--ASF ἀνήρ-N3--DSM ἕτερος-A1A-DSM οἰκέω-VA--AAD2S μετά-P ἐγώ- P--GS

20 καί-C δουλεύω-VAI-AAI3S *ἰακώβ-N---NSM περί-P *ραχηλ-N---GSF ἔτος-N3E-APN ἑπτά-M καί-C εἰμί-V9--IAI3P ἐναντίον-P αὐτός- D--GSM ὡς-C ἡμέρα-N1A-NPF ὀλίγος-A1--NPF παρά-P ὁ- A--ASN ἀγαπάω-V3--PAN αὐτός- D--ASM αὐτός- D--ASF

21 εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S δέ-X *ἰακώβ-N---NSM πρός-P *λαβαν-N---ASM ἀποδίδωμι-VO--AAD2S ὁ- A--ASF γυνή-N3K-ASF ἐγώ- P--GS πληρόω-VM--XMI3P γάρ-X ὁ- A--NPF ἡμέρα-N1A-NPF ἐγώ- P--GS ὅπως-C εἰςἔρχομαι-VB--AAS1S πρός-P αὐτός- D--ASF

22 συνἄγω-VBI-AAI3S δέ-X *λαβαν-N---NSM πᾶς-A3--APM ὁ- A--APM ἀνήρ-N3--APM ὁ- A--GSM τόπος-N2--GSM καί-C ποιέω-VAI-AAI3S γάμος-N2--ASM

23 καί-C γίγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S ἑσπέρα-N1A-NSF καί-C λαμβάνω-VB--AAPNSM *λαβαν-N---NSM *λεια-N---ASF ὁ- A--ASF θυγάτηρ-N3--ASF αὐτός- D--GSM εἰςἄγω-VBI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--ASF πρός-P *ἰακώβ-N---ASM καί-C εἰςἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3S πρός-P αὐτός- D--ASF *ἰακώβ-N---NSM

24 δίδωμι-VAI-AAI3S δέ-X *λαβαν-N---NSM *λεια-N---DSF ὁ- A--DSF θυγάτηρ-N3--DSF αὐτός- D--GSM *ζελφα-N---ASF ὁ- A--ASF παιδίσκη-N1--ASF αὐτός- D--GSM αὐτός- D--DSF παιδίσκη-N1--ASF

25 γίγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S δέ-X πρωΐ-D καί-C ἰδού-I εἰμί-V9--IAI3S *λεια-N---NSF εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S δέ-X *ἰακώβ-N---NSM ὁ- A--DSM *λαβαν-N---DSM τίς- I--ASN οὗτος- D--ASN ποιέω-VAI-AAI2S ἐγώ- P--DS οὐ-D περί-P *ραχηλ-N---GSF δουλεύω-VAI-AAI1S παρά-P σύ- P--DS καί-C ἵνα-C τίς- I--ASN παραλογίζομαι-VAI-AMI2S ἐγώ- P--AS

26 εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S δέ-X *λαβαν-N---NSM οὐ-D εἰμί-V9--PAI3S οὕτως-D ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSM τόπος-N2--DSM ἐγώ- P--GP δίδωμι-VO--AAN ὁ- A--ASF νέος-A1A-ASFC πρίν-D ἤ-C ὁ- A--ASF πρεσβύτερος-A1A-ASFC

27 συντελέω-VA--AAD2S οὖν-X ὁ- A--APN ἕβδομος-A1--APN οὗτος- D--GSF καί-C δίδωμι-VF--FAI1S σύ- P--DS καί-C οὗτος- D--ASF ἀντί-P ὁ- A--GSF ἐργασία-N1A-GSF ὅς- --GSF ἐργάζομαι-VF2-FMI2S παρά-P ἐγώ- P--DS ἔτι-D ἑπτά-M ἔτος-N3E-APN ἕτερος-A1A-APN

28 ποιέω-VAI-AAI3S δέ-X *ἰακώβ-N---NSM οὕτως-D καί-C ἀναπληρόω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--APN ἕβδομος-A1--APN οὗτος- D--GSF καί-C δίδωμι-VAI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--DSM *λαβαν-N---NSM *ραχηλ-N---ASF ὁ- A--ASF θυγάτηρ-N3--ASF αὐτός- D--GSM αὐτός- D--DSM γυνή-N3K-ASF

29 δίδωμι-VAI-AAI3S δέ-X *λαβαν-N---NSM *ραχηλ-N---DSF ὁ- A--DSF θυγάτηρ-N3--DSF αὐτός- D--GSM *βαλλα-N---ASF ὁ- A--ASF παιδίσκη-N1--ASF αὐτός- D--GSM αὐτός- D--DSF παιδίσκη-N1--ASF

30 καί-C εἰςἔρχομαι-VBI-AAI3S πρός-P *ραχηλ-N---ASF ἀγαπάω-VAI-AAI3S δέ-X *ραχηλ-N---ASF μᾶλλον-D ἤ-C *λεια-N---ASF καί-C δουλεύω-VAI-AAI3S αὐτός- D--DSM ἑπτά-M ἔτος-N3E-APN ἕτερος-A1A-APN

31 ὁράω-VB--AAPNSM δέ-X κύριος-N2--NSM ὅτι-C μισέω-V2--PMI3S *λεια-N---NSF ἀναοἴγω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--ASF μήτρα-N1A-ASF αὐτός- D--GSF *ραχηλ-N---NSF δέ-X εἰμί-V9--IAI3S στεῖρα-N1A-NSF

32 καί-C συνλαμβάνω-VBI-AAI3S *λεια-N---NSF καί-C τίκτω-VBI-AAI3S υἱός-N2--ASM ὁ- A--DSM *ἰακώβ-N---DSM καλέω-VAI-AAI3S δέ-X ὁ- A--ASN ὄνομα-N3M-ASN αὐτός- D--GSM *ρουβην-N---ASM λέγω-V1--PAPNSF διότι-C ὁράω-VBI-AAI3S ἐγώ- P--GS κύριος-N2--NSM ὁ- A--ASF ταπείνωσις-N3I-ASF νῦν-D ἐγώ- P--AS ἀγαπάω-VF--FAI3S ὁ- A--NSM ἀνήρ-N3--NSM ἐγώ- P--GS

33 καί-C συνλαμβάνω-VBI-AAI3S πάλιν-D *λεια-N---NSF καί-C τίκτω-VBI-AAI3S υἱός-N2--ASM δεύτερος-A1A-ASM ὁ- A--DSM *ἰακώβ-N---DSM καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S ὅτι-C ἀκούω-VAI-AAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM ὅτι-C μισέω-V2--PMI1S καί-C προςδίδωμι-VAI-AAI3S ἐγώ- P--DS καί-C οὗτος- D--ASM καλέω-VAI-AAI3S δέ-X ὁ- A--ASN ὄνομα-N3M-ASN αὐτός- D--GSM *συμεων-N---ASM

34 καί-C συνλαμβάνω-VBI-AAI3S ἔτι-D καί-C τίκτω-VBI-AAI3S υἱός-N2--ASM καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S ἐν-P ὁ- A--DSM νῦν-D καιρός-N2--DSM πρός-P ἐγώ- P--GS εἰμί-VF--FMI3S ὁ- A--NSM ἀνήρ-N3--NSM ἐγώ- P--GS τίκτω-VBI-AAI1S γάρ-X αὐτός- D--DSM τρεῖς-A3--APM υἱός-N2--APM διά-P οὗτος- D--ASN καλέω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--ASN ὄνομα-N3M-ASN αὐτός- D--GSM *λευί-N---ASM

35 καί-C συνλαμβάνω-VB--AAPNSF ἔτι-D τίκτω-VBI-AAI3S υἱός-N2--ASM καί-C εἶπον-VBI-AAI3S νῦν-D ἔτι-D οὗτος- D--ASN ἐκὁμολογέω-VF--FMI1S κύριος-N2--DSM διά-P οὗτος- D--ASN καλέω-VAI-AAI3S ὁ- A--ASN ὄνομα-N3M-ASN αὐτός- D--GSM *ιουδα-N---ASM καί-C ἵστημι-VHI-AAI3S ὁ- A--GSN τίκτω-V1--PAN

   

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Arcana Coelestia # 4023

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4023. And all the black. That this signifies to such a state, namely, that which is signified by the “black in the lambs” (concerning which state see n. 3994, 4001).

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for the permission to use this translation.

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Arcana Coelestia # 3994

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3994. And every black one among the lambs. That this signifies an own that is innocent that belongs to the good signified by “Laban,” is evident from the signification of “black,” as being what is man’s own (concerning which just above, n. 3993); and from the signification of a “lamb,” as being innocence (concerning which below). As regards an own that is innocent, signified by the “black among the lambs,” the case is this. In all good there must be innocence in order that it may be good. Charity without innocence is not charity; and still less is love to the Lord possible without innocence. For this reason innocence is the very essential of love and charity, consequently of good. An own that is innocent is to know, acknowledge, and believe, not with the mouth but with the heart, that nothing but evil is from one’s self, and that all good is from the Lord; and therefore that what is man’s own is nothing but blackness; that is to say, not only the own of his will, which is evil, but also the own of his understanding, which is falsity. When man is in this confession and belief from the heart, the Lord flows in with good and truth, and insinuates into him a heavenly own, which is white and lustrous. No one can ever be in true humility unless he is in this acknowledgment and belief from the heart; for he is then in annihilation of self, nay, in the loathing of self, and thus in absence from self; and in this manner he is then in a state capable of receiving the Divine of the Lord. It is by this means that the Lord flows in with good into a humble and contrite heart.

[2] Such is the own that is innocent, which is here signified by the “black among the lambs” that Jacob chose for himself; but the white among the lambs is the self-merit that is placed in goods. (That “white” is merit has been shown above, n. 3993.) This Jacob did not choose, because it is contrary to innocence; for he who places self-merit in goods, acknowledges and believes that all good is from himself; because in the goods he does he has regard to himself, and not to the Lord, and accordingly demands recompense on account of his merit. Such a one therefore despises others in comparison with himself, and even condemns them, and consequently in the same proportion recedes from heavenly order, that is, from good and truth. From all this it is now evident that charity toward the neighbor and love to the Lord are impossible unless there is innocence within them; consequently that no one can come into heaven unless there is something of innocence in him; according to the Lord’s words:

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein (Mark 10:15; Luke 18:17);

by a “little child” here and elsewhere in the Word is signified innocence. (See what has been said before on this subject, namely, That infancy is not innocence, but that innocence dwells in wisdom, n. 2305, 3494: What the innocence of infancy is, and what the innocence of wisdom, n. 2306, 3183: also, What man’s own is when vivified by the Lord with innocence and charity, n. 154: That innocence causes good to be good, n. 2526, 2780)

[3] That “lambs” signify innocence may be seen from many passages in the Word, of which the following may be adduced in confirmation.

In Isaiah:

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them (Isaiah 11:6); where the subject treated of is the Lord’s kingdom, and the state of peace and innocence therein. The “wolf” denotes those who are against innocence; and the “lamb,” those who are in innocence. Again in the same Prophet:

The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s bread. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all the mountain of My holiness (Isaiah 65:25); where the “wolf” as above denotes those who are against innocence; and the “lamb,” those who are in innocence. As the “wolf” and the “lamb” are opposites, the Lord also said to the seventy whom He sent forth:

Behold I send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves (Luke 10:3).

In Moses:

He maketh him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock; butter of the herd, and milk of the flock, with the fat of lambs and of rams, the sons of Bashan (Deuteronomy 32:13-14);

here in the internal sense the celestial things of the Ancient Church are treated of, and the “fat of lambs” denotes the charity of innocence.

[4] In the original language “lambs” are expressed by various names, by which are signified the different degrees of innocence; for as before said, in all good there must be innocence to make it good; consequently there must be the same in truth. “Lambs” are here expressed by the same word that is used for “sheep” (as in Leviticus 1:10; 3:7 5:6; 17:3; 22:19; Numbers 18:17); and it is the innocence of the faith of charity that is signified. Elsewhere they are expressed by other words, as in Isaiah:

Send ye the lamb of the ruler of the land from the rock toward the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion (Isaiah 16:1).

By still another word in the same prophet:

The Lord Jehovih cometh in strength, and his arm shall rule for him; he shall feed his flock like a shepherd, he shall gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that give suck (Isaiah 40:10-11); where to “gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom,” denotes those who are in charity in which there is innocence.

[5] In John:

When Jesus showed Himself to the disciples, He said to Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Feed My lambs. He saith to him a second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, Feed My sheep (John 21:15-16).

“By Peter” here and elsewhere is signified faith (see the preface to Genesis 18, and the preface to chapter 22, and n. 3750); and as faith is not faith unless it is from charity toward the neighbor, and thus from love to the Lord; and as charity and love are not charity and love unless they are from innocence, for this reason the Lord first asks Peter whether he loves Him, that is, whether there is love in the faith, and then says, “Feed My lambs,” that is, those who are in innocence. And then, after the same question, He says, “Feed My sheep,” that is, those who are in charity.

[6] As the Lord is the innocence itself which is in His kingdom, the all of innocence being from Him, He is called the “Lamb”; as in John:

The next day John the Baptist seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29, 36).

And in the Revelation:

These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them; for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and they that are with Him are called, and chosen (Revelation 17:14, and elsewhere, in Revelation 5:6; 6:1, 16; 7:9, 14, 17; 12:11; 13:8; 14:1, 4; 19:7, 9; 21:22-23, 26-27; 22:1, 3).

That in the supreme sense the paschal lamb is the Lord is well known; for the passover signified the Lord’s glorification, that is, the putting on of the Divine in respect to the Human; and in the representative sense it signifies man’s regeneration; and the paschal lamb signifies that which is the essential of regeneration, namely, innocence; for no one can be regenerated except by means of the charity in which there is innocence.

[7] As innocence is the primary thing in the Lord’s kingdom, and is the celestial itself there, and as the sacrifices and burnt-offerings represented the spiritual and celestial things of the Lord’s kingdom, therefore the very essential of the Lord’s kingdom, which is innocence, was represented by lambs. For this reason a perpetual or daily burnt-offering was made of lambs, one in the morning, and another in the evening (Exodus 29:37-39; Numbers 28:3-4), and a double one on the sabbath days (Numbers 28:9-10), and of still more lambs on stated festivals (Leviticus 23:12; Numbers 28:11, 14, 19, 27; 29:1 to the end). The reason why a woman who had given birth, after the days of her cleansing were accomplished, was to offer a lamb for a burnt-offering, and the young of a pigeon or a turtle-dove (Leviticus 12:6), was that the effect of conjugial love might be signified (for that conjugial love is innocence may be seen above, n. 2736); and also because innocence is signified by “infants.”

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for the permission to use this translation.