7268. See, I have given thee a god to Pharaoh. That this signifies the law Divine, and its power over those who are in falsities, is evident from the signification of “giving thee a god,” as being the Divine truth, or what is the same, the Divine law, and also its power (for in the Word where truth is treated of, and also the power of truth, the name “God” is used, but where good is treated of, the name “Jehovah,” see n. 300, 2586, 2769, 2807, 2822, 3910, 3921, 4287, 4295, 4402, 7010); and from the representation of Pharaoh, as being those who are in falsities and infest (n. 6651, 6679, 6683). As to what further regards the signification of “God,” be it known that in the supreme sense “God” denotes the Divine which is above the heavens, but in the internal sense “God” denotes the Divine which is in the heavens. The Divine which is above the heavens is the Divine good, but the Divine in the heavens is the Divine truth; for from the Divine good proceeds the Divine truth, and makes heaven, and disposes it. For that which is properly called “heaven” is nothing else than the Divine formed there, because the angels who are in heaven are human forms recipient of the Divine, and constituting a common form, which is that of man.

[2] And because the Divine truth in the heavens is that which in the Word of the Old Testament is meant by “God,” in the original language God is called Elohim in the plural; and as the angels who are in the heavens are recipient of the Divine truth, they also are called “gods,” as in David:

Who in heaven shall compare himself to Jehovah? or shall be likened to Jehovah among the sons of the gods? (Psalms 89:6).

Give to Jehovah, O ye sons of the gods, give to Jehovah glory and strength (Psalms 29:1).

I said, Ye are gods, and all of you sons of the Most High (Psalms 82:6).

Jesus said, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods? So He called them gods to whom the Word came (John 10:34-35).

And also in the passages where the Lord is called God of gods, and Lord of lords (Genesis 46:2-3; Deuteronomy 10:17; Numbers 16:22; Daniel 11:36; Psalms 136:2-3).

From all this it can be seen in what sense Moses is called a “god,” here a “god to Pharaoh,” and a “god to Aaron” (Exodus 4:16), namely, because Moses represented the Divine law, which is the Divine truth, and is called the “Word.” Hence also it is that Aaron is here called his “prophet,” and in a former passage his “mouth,” that is, one who utters in a form adapted to the understanding the Divine truth which proceeds immediately from the Lord, and which transcends all understanding. And as a “prophet” denotes one who teaches and utters Divine truth in a form adapted to the understanding, a “prophet” also denotes the doctrine of the church; of which in what now follows.

300. As regards the first arcanum-that by “Jehovah God” is meant the Lord and at the same time heaven-it is to be observed that in the Word, always for a secret reason, the Lord is sometimes called merely “Jehovah” sometimes “Jehovah God” sometimes “Jehovah” and then “God” sometimes the “Lord Jehovih” sometimes the “God of Israel” and sometimes “God” only. Thus in the first chapter of Genesis, where it is also said, in the plural, “Let us make man in our image” He is called “God” only, and He is not called “Jehovah God” until the following chapter, where the celestial man is treated of. He is called “Jehovah” because He alone is or lives, thus from Essence; and “God” because He can do all things, thus from Power; as is evident from the Word, where this distinction is made (Isaiah 49:4-5; 55:7; Psalms 18:2, 28-29, 31; 31:14). On this account every angel or spirit who spoke with man, and who was supposed to possess any power, was called “God” as appears from David:

God hath stood in the congregation of God, He will judge in the midst of the gods (Psalms 82:1);

and in another place:

Who in the sky shall be compared unto Jehovah? who among the sons of the gods shall be likened to Jehovah? (Psalms 89:6).

Again:

Confess ye to the God of gods, confess ye to the Lord of lords (Psalms 136:2-3).

Men also as being possessed of power are called “gods” as in Psalms 82:6; John 10:34-35. Moses also is said to be “a god to Pharaoh” (Exodus 7:1). For this reason the word “God” in the Hebrew is in the plural number—“Elohim.” But as the angels do not possess the least power of themselves, as indeed they acknowledge, but solely from the Lord, and as there is but one God, therefore by “Jehovah God” in the Word is meant the Lord alone. But where anything is effected by the ministry of angels, as in the first chapter of Genesis, He is spoken of in the plural number. Here also because the celestial man, as man, could not be put in comparison with the Lord, but with the angels only, it is said, the man “is become as one of us, knowing good and evil” that is, is wise and intelligent.