THE EXPLANATION of Isaiah Chapter 57

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

1. THE just perishes, and no man lays it to heart: and the men of holiness are taken away, and none understands; for on account of evil is the just taken away.

2. He enters into peace; they rest upon their beds, [each] walking in his uprightness.

VERSE 1. Mention is frequently made in the Word of "a just one", of "justice", and of "justifying", but what is specifically signified by these expressions is not yet known. The reason why it is not known is, because hitherto it has been unknown that by every single expression in the Word are signified such things as are of the internal church and of heaven, thus which are of the internal man; for in the internal man is the internal of the church and heayen; also that those interior things in the Word differ from its exterior things, which are of the letter, as spiritual things differ from natural, or celestial things from earthly, - the difference of which is so great that before the natural man there scarcely appears a likeness, although, there is full concordance. Inasmuch as this has been unknown, it could not be known what is signified by "just", by "justice", and by being "justified", in the spiritual and celestial sense, in the Word. It is believed by those who are considered as oracles in the church, that he is just and justified who is acquainted with the Truths of faith derived from the doctrine of the church and from the Word, and hence is in trust or confidence that he is saved by the justice of the Lord, and that the Lord had justice in consequence of fulfilling all things of the law; and that He had merit because He endured the cross, and thereby expiated and redeemed man. By this Faith alone man is believed to be justified; and it is believed further that "these" are they who in the Word are called "just." But there are no others who are called "just", in the Word, except those, who from the Lord are in the Good of charity towards the neighbour, for the Lord alone is just, because alone "Justice"; therefore man, so much as he receives of Good from the Lord, that is, so much of the Lord as he has appertaining to him, and according to its quality, so much he is just, and justified. The Lord being made "Justice'" consisted in His making His Human [principle] Divine by His own proper power of his Divine [principle], appertaining to the man who receives it, is the "justice" of the Lord appertaining to him, and is the essential Good of charity towards the neighbour; for the Lord is in the Good of love, and by it in the Truth of faith, because the Lord is Divine Love itself. The Good of charity towards the neighbour is exterior good, which is signified by "just"; and the Good of love to the Lord is interior good, which is signified by "innocence." That the Good of love towards the neighbour from the Lord is what is "just" in a proper sense, may be manifest from the passages in the Word where mention is made of "just", and of "justice", and of being "justified", as in Matthew:

"Then shall the just answer, saying, When saw we You hungry, and fed You? or thirsty, and gave You drink?" etc. (Matthew 25:37-40, 46)

In this passage they are called "just" who have performed the Goods of charity towards the neighbour, which are there recounted; and that the Goods of charity are the Lord appertaining to them, is said manifestly, "Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these Myy brethren, you have done it to Me."

And in Isaiah:

"The just perishes, and no man lays it to heart", etc. (Isaiah 57:1) Arcana Coelestia 9262.

Verses 1, 2. These words signify that the faithful are separated from the evil, and thus have "peace" in themselves. (Swedenborg's Notes on Isaiah, p. 141.)

Verse 2. He enters into peace. - See Chapter 9:6; 32:17, 18, the Exposition.

They rest upon their beds, [each] walking in his uprightness. - As to the signification of a "bed", both in a good and in a bad sense, see Chapter 28:20, the Exposition.

3. But as for you, draw near hither, you sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and of her who has committed whoredom.

Verses 3 to the middle of 13 describe the unfaithful, who place hope in themselves and trust in their works. (Swedenborg's Notes on Isaiah, p. 141.)

Verse 3. For the signification of "sorcery" or witchcraft, see Chapter 47:9, 12, the Exposition.

The seed of the adulterer. - Adulteries are most profane, and from hell; but marriages are most holy, and from Heaven. Adulterers cannot come into heaven, and in their hells they live in filth and in excrements; when anyone commits adultery on earth heaven is closed against him, and he then holds in aversion the Goods and Truths of the Word and of the church, and hates the worship of the Lord; and this because the love of adultery is derived from the marriage of the evil and the false, which is infernal. To "commit adultery and whoredom", in a spiritual sense, signifies the perversion of the Truths and the adulteration of the Goods of the Word; hence it is that "adulteries" and "whoredoms" are so often mentioned in the Word, especially in the Prophets (see Hosea throughout), and the Jews were said to "commit adultery with stones and stocks",

(Jeremiah 3:9) and also "with idols", (Ezekiel 23:37) which can only be understood in a spiritual sense. Arcana Coelestia 9961, 2733-2755, 10175.

Verses 3, 4. Draw near hither, you sons of the sorceress, etc. - By "the sons of the sorceress" and "the seed of the adulterer", are signified falsities from the Word, when falsified and adulterated; by the "sons of the sorceress", falsities from the falsification of the Word, and by the "seed of the adulterer", falsities from the adulteration thereof. The Word is said to be falsified when the Truths thereof are perverted, and to be adulterated when the Goods thereof are in like manner perverted; likewise when the Truths are applied to the loves of self.

By "sons of transgression" and "the seed of falsehood", are signified falsities flowing from those former falsities; by "sporting themselves", is denoted the delight, derived from falsification; by "making wide the mouth", is meant the delight of the thoughts therein originating, and by "drawing out the tongue", the delight of teaching and propagating them. Apocalypse Explained 768.

4. Against whom do you sport yourselves? Against whom make you a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? Are you not the sons of transgression, the seed of falsehood?

Verses 4, 5. Are you not the sons of transgression, the seed of falsehood? slaying the sons in the rivers, etc. - The "sons of transgression" denote the falsities which destroy the Truths of faith; they are therefore also called the "seed of falsehood", for "falsehood", or a lie, is the false. (Arcana Coelestia 8908)

And therefore it is said of them that "they inflame themselves with idols [gods] under every green tree", by which words, in the internal sense, is meant worship grounded in falsities; for "idols" [gods] denote falsities; (Arcana Coelestia 4402, 4544) and a "green tree" signifies the perceptivity of the false, derived from a perverse understanding; (Arcana Coelestia 2722) hence, therefore, it is also said, "You slay the sons in the rivers", by which words is meant the extinction of the Truths of faith by falsities; for to "slay" is to extinguish, and "those that are born", or the "sons", are the Truths of faith, and "rivers" denote falsities, Arcana Coelestia 9156.

5. Inflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree; slaying the sons in the rivers under the cliffs of the rocks?

Verse 5. No one can know what these things signify without the internal sense. In this sense, by being "inflamed with idols [gods] under every green tree", is signified to worship God from every false principle which occurs; to be "inflamed with idols [gods]" denotes ardent worship; "every green tree" is every false principle which occurs, for "tree" signifies knowledges and perceptions, - in the present case, knowledges and perceptions of what is false.

By "slaying the sons in the rivers under the cliffs of the rocks", is signified to extinguish Truths by falsities from self-derived intelligence; "sons" denote Truths, "rivers" self-derived intelligence, "cliffs of the rocks" denote falsities, and by the expression "under the cliffs of the rocks" is signified from the sensual principle, in which is the lowest natural lumen; for they who are in this lumen only, stand under the craggy [or broken places] of rocks, and do not see any Truth, and if it is spoken they have no perception thereof. In such a station have I seen them in the spiritual world; whence it is evident that to "slay the sons" is not here understood by those words, but to extinguish Truths. Apocalypse Explained 411.

Verses 5, 6, 9. Worship from evils and falsities which are from hell, is here treated of "Gods" [or idols], in the internal sen so, are falsities; for those who worshipped other gods, called upon them indeed by name, but, nevertheless, it was the falsities from evils which they worshipped. That "strange gods", in the Word, are falsities, may be seen, Arcana Coelestia 4402; a "green tree" is everything relating to the perception, knowledge, and confirmation of the false, Arcana Coelestia 2272, 2972; "green" is the sensitive principle; to be "inflamed" is the ardour of worship, for "fire", from which inflaming comes, is love in both senses, Arcana Coelestia 5215, 6832. To "pour forth a drink-offering is worship from the falsities of evil. To "offer a gift to the king in oil" is to worship Satan from evils; a "gift in oil" is a meat-offering, or an oblation [minchah]; to "increase perfumes" is to multiply incense, by which adoration is signified; wherefore it is also said, "You have debased yourself to hell." Arcana Coelestia 10137.

6. In the smooth [things] of the valley is your portion; these, these are your lot: even to these have you poured out, a drink-offering, you have offered a meat-offering. Can I receive comfort in these things?

Verse 6. That what is "smooth" is predicated, in a good sense, of what is True, and, in the opposite sense, of what is false, may be proved from the following passages:

"Inflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree; in the smooth [things] of the valley is your portion"; (Isaiah 57:5, 6) where to be "inflamed" is said of evil, and "the smooth [things] of the valley" of what is false. Again:

"Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongue they speak smooth things [flatter]"; (Psalm 5:9) "their throat an open sepulchre" is predicated of evil; "the tongue speaking smooth things" is said of the false. (See also Psalm 55:21) Arcana Coelestia 3527.

See above, Chapter 30:10:

"Speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits; "where it is evident that "smooth things" signify falsities. See the Exposition.

7. Upon a high and lofty mountain have you placed your bed: even thither have you gone up to offer sacrifice.

Verse 7. And in Hosea:

"They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills." (Hosea 4:13)

In these passages, by "worship upon mountains and hills", is signified worship from evils find falsities. Hence also it was that the Gentiles in Greece fixed Helicon in a high mountain, and Parnassus in a hill below it, and believed that the gods and their goddesses dwelt there; this they derived from the ancients in Asia and especially in the land of Canaan, which was not far remote, with whom all worship consisted of representatives. Apocalypse Explained 405.

8. And behind the door and the door-post have you placed your memorial: for [departing] from Me, you have discovered yourself [to another]; you have ascended, and enlarged your bed; you have made [a covenant] with them; you love their bed; you have provided a place for it.

Verse 8. [It does not appear that Swedenborg has quoted this clause of the verse, but from the correspondence of "writing on the door-posts and on the gates", as mentioned in Deuteronomy 6:9; 11:20, we may in some degree see the signification of these words. In the spiritual sense "the door" and the "door-post" signify natural Goods and Truths, by which there is an introduction to spiritual things; (Arcana Coelestia 7847) but, in a bad sense, they signify false and evil principles, which lead to idolatries, and to all kinds of perversion of what is Good and True.

To "write on the door-posts" has a similar signification to the "binding of the commandments as a sign upon the hand, and as frontlets between the eyes", (Deuteronomy 6:8) because the angels regard everything in relation to the human form, (Arcana Coelestia 7847) which was a memorial to the people of Israel that they should always keep the divine precepts both in their understanding and in their life. Thus to "place the memorial of idols behind the door and the door-post", is to have the life so immersed in idolatries, or in the perversions of what is Good and True from the Word, that is, in evils an d falsities, as to admit nothing into the mind, which is the "house", but what is in harmony with such a state of sinful depravity.]

These words signify idolatry, and worship founded in false doctrines; for all worship grounded in false doctrine is idolatry. Hence it is that a "bed", which corresponds to doctrine, is so often mentioned in these verses. See the Exposition of Isaiah Chapter 28:20.

9. You have offered a gift to the king in oil, and have increased your perfumes; and you have sent your messengers far off, and have debased yourself to hell.

10. You art wearied in the length of your way; you have not said, I despair: you have found the life of your hand; wherefore you have not become weak.

11. And whom have you dreaded and been afraid of, that you should lie, and have not remembered Me, and laid it to your heart? Is it not that I have been silent even of old, and you dost not fear Me?

12. I will declare your justice and your works, which do not profit you.

Verse 9. You have sent your messengers far off, etc. - What is meant by being "far off", see Chap, Isaiah 5:26, 28; and what by being "near", see Chapter 34:1, the Exposition.

Verse 12. Is it not that I have been silent even of old, and you dost not fear Me?-For the signification of the "fear of God", in the internal sense, when mentioned in the Word, see Isaiah 11:3, the Exposition.

13. When you cry out, let the collection [or thine idols] deliver you; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them off: but he who trusts in Me shall possess the land, and shall inherit the mountain of, My holiness;

Verse 13. But the wind shall carry them [the idols] all away, etc. As to "winds" and "tempests" in the spiritual world, at the period of Judgment, see Chapter 17:13, the Exposition.

He who trusts in.Me shall possess the land, and shall inherit the mountain of My holiness. - For as much as a "mountain" signifies the Good of love, and, in the supreme sense, the Divine Good, and from the Divine Good proceeds the Divine Truth, therefore the "mountain of Zion" was above Jerusalem, and by the "mountain of Zion", in the Word, is signified the church which is in the Good of love to the Lord; and by "Jerusalem", the church which is in Truths from that Good, or the church as to doctrine. Hence also Jerusalem was called the "mountain of holiness", and the "hill"; for by the "mountain of holiness" is signified spiritual Good, which in its essence is Truth from Good, in like manner as by a "hill", as may appear from the above passage. Apocalypse Explained 405.

That to "possess the land", meaning Canaan, signifies heaven, see Arcana Coelestia 2658, 9338.

14. And it shall be said, Cast up, cast up; sweep the way; remove the stumbling block from the way of My people.

Verse 14. Sweep the way; remove the stumbling block from the way of My people. - The reason why to "sweep" denotes to prepare and to be filled is, because nothing else is required of man but to "sweep the house", that is, to reject the lusts of evils and the persuasions of what is false thence originating; in this case he is filled with good things, for Good from the Lord continually flows in, but into the "house", or into man, purged from such things as impede influx, that is, which either reflect, or pervert, or suffocate the inflowing Good. Hence it was a customary formula of speaking with the ancients to "sweep or purge the house", also to "sweep and prepare the way"; and by "sweeping the house" was meant to purge themselves from evil, and thus to prepare themselves for the entrance of Goods; whereas to "sweep the way" meant to prepare themselves for the reception of Truths; for by the "house" was signified Good, see Arcana Coelestia 3128, and by "way" Truth, see n. Arcana Coelestia 627, 2333; as in Isaiah:

"The voice of one proclaiming in the wilderness, Sweep you [prepare] the way of Jehovah! make straight in the desert a highway for our God!" (Isaiah 40:3)

Again, in the same Prophet:

"Cast up, cast up; sweep [prepare] the way; remove the stumbling block from the way of My people." (Isaiah 57:14)

Again:

"Pass through, pass through the gates; cast up, cast up the way, gather out the stones." (Isaiah 62:10)

So in Malachi,

"Behold, I send My angel, and he shall sweep [prepareJ the way before Me; and the Lord, whom you seek, shall suddenly come to the temple." (Malachi 3:1)

In these passages, to "sweep the way" denotes to make themselves ready, and to prepare to receive Truth. The subject here treated of is concerning the coming of the Lord, for whom they were to prepare themselves, in order to receive the Truth of faith, and thereby the Good of charity, and thus eternal salvation.

So in David:

"You have caused a vine to come forth out of Egypt; You have driven out the nations, and planted it; You have swept before it, and have caused its root to be rooted, and it has filled the land"; (Psalm 80:8, 9),

speaking, in the supreme sense, of the Lord; the "vine out of Egypt" is Truth from scientifics; to "drive out the nations" is to purge from evils; to "sweep before it" is to make ready that Goodnesses may fill.

To "sweep the house" also, in an opposite sense, is applied to man, to signify one who deprives himself of all things Good and True, and who is thereby filled with things evil and false, as in Luke:

"The unclean spirit, if he doth not find rest says I will return to my house whence I came forth. And if he cometh and finds it swept and adorned, then he departs and takes seven other spirits worse than himself; and entering in, they dwell there." (Luke 11:24-26; see also Matthew 12:43-45) Arcana Coelestia 3142.

15. For thus says the High and Lofty One, inhabiting eternity, and whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and with him also that is contrite and of a humble spirit; to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Verse 15. That by what is "high" is signified what is Divine, is, because by "high and lofty" is understood heaven where the Divine [Being] is; hence in the Word it is said of Jehovah, or the Lord, that He "dwells on high", and He Himself is called the "Highest", as in Isaiah:

"Jehovah is exalted; yea, He dwells on high. (Isaiah 33:5)

Again:

"Thus says the High and Lofty [One], inhabiting eternity, and whose name is holy: I dwell in the high and holy place. [Isaiah 57:15)

And In David:

"Jehovah sent from high and snatched me out." (Psalm 18:16)

Hence Jehovah is called the "Highest." (Deuteronomy 32:8; Daniel 4:17, 32, 34)

Inasmuch as "high" signified heaven, and the Divine [Being] therein, therefore divine worship, by those who were of the representative church, was instituted on mountains and high places. On that account also [it was performed] in the heights, which they likewise built for themselves, and of which mention is made in the historical and prophetical parts of the Word throughout, as in Ezekiel:

"You have built to yourself an eminence, and have made to yourself what is high in every street; upon every head of a way you have built thine eminence:" (Ezekiel 16:21, 25, 31)

The reason why the Divine [Being] was signified by "high" is, because by the "starry heaven" was understood the angelic heaven, and it was also believed that it was there; but the wiser amongst them knew that heaven was not on high, but where the Good of love is and this within in man, wherever he was. That "high things" denote the interiors, or the Goods which are there, see Arcana Coelestia 450, 1735. Arcana Coelestia 8153.

16. For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always angry: for the spirit would fail before Me, and the souls which I have made.

Verse 16. That to "contend" [litigate], in the Word, signifies contention or litigation concernIng Truths, and, in general, for Truths against falsities, and also defence and liberation from falsities, is evident from the following passages, as in Jeremiah:

"A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for Jehovah has a controversy [or disputation] with the nations: He will enter into judgment with all flesh; He will deliver the impious to the sword. Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great tempest shall be raised up from the sides of the earth." (Jeremiah 25:31, 32)

The perverse state of the church is thus prophetically, described; the "noise" is the contention for falsities against Truths, and for evils against Goods; the "earth" is the church; the "controversy of Jehovah against the nations" is the contention of the Lord for Truths against falsities, and for Goods; against evils, thus also their defence; "nations" are falsities and evils; the "sword" is the false combating and conquering; "great tempest" is the false ruling; the "sides of the earth" are where falsities burst forth from evil.

Again, in the same Prophet:

"Jehovah shall contend for their cause, that He may give rest to the earth"; (Jeremiah 50:34) where to "contend for their cause" denotes to defend Truths against falsities, and to liberate the "earth" denotes the church, which has rest when it is in Good and thence in Truths.

Again:

"You, O Lord, have pleaded the causes of my soul; You have liberated my life"; (Lamentations 3:58) where to "plead the causes of the soul" denotes to defend and liberate from falsities. Arcana Coelestia 9024.

17. For the iniquity of his covetousness was I angry, and I smote him: hiding Myself, and I was angry; but he went on perversely in the way of his heart.

Verse 17. For the iniquity of his covetousness [or lucre] was I angry. What is meant by "lucre", see Chapter 56:11, the Exposition.

By "anger", when said of the Lord, see Chapter 9:12, 17, 21, the Exposition.

18. I have seen his ways, and I will heal him; and I will lead him, and will restore consolations to him, and to his mourners.

Verses 18, 19. That to "heal", when predicated of the Lord, signifies that He alone preserves from evils, is evident from the signification of healing, which is to cure and also to preserve from evils; for when "diseases" signify evils, to "heal" signifies healing and preservation from them, as is evident from many passages, as in Jeremiah:

"Heal me, O Jehovah, that I may be healed; save me, that I may be saved." (Jeremiah 17:14)

And in David:

"You have turned all his bed in his sickness; I said, Jehovah, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against You." (Psalm 41:3, 4)

And in Isaiah:

"By His wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5) Arcana Coelestia 8365.

19. I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him that is afar off, and to him that is near, says Jehovah; and I will heal him.

Verse 19. The "fruit of the lips" signifies doctrine. Arcana Coelestia 1286. As to the further signification of the "lips", see Chapter 6:5-7, the Exposition.

20. But the wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

Verse 20. By the "troubled sea", which is here predicated of the wicked, are signified reasonings from falsities; and by the "waters which cast up mire and dirt", are signified the falsities themselves, from which are evils of life and falsities of doctrine. Apocalypse Explained 275. See also Arcana Coelestia 6669.

21. There is no peace, says my God, to the wicked.

Verse 21. That they have "peace" who are in Good and thence in Truths, and not those who are in evils and thence in falsities, is evident from the above passage. Apocalypse Explained 365. What the nature of true "peace" is, see Chapter 9:6; 48:18, 22, the Exposition.

---

Isaiah Chapter 57.

1. THE just perishes, and no man lays it to heart: and the men of holiness are taken away, and none understands; for on account of evil is the just taken away.

2. He enters into peace; they rest upon their beds, [each] walking in his uprightness.

3. But as for you, draw near hither, you sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and of her who has committed whoredom.

4. Against whom do you sport yourselves? Against whom make you a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? Are you not the sons of transgression, the seed of falsehood?

5. Inflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree; slaying the sons in the rivers under the cliffs of the rocks?

6. In the smooth [things] of the valley is your portion; these, these are your lot: even to these have you poured out, a drink-offering, you have offered a meat-offering. Can I receive comfort in these things?

7. Upon a high and lofty mountain have you placed your bed: even thither have you gone up to offer sacrifice.

8. And behind the door and the door-post have you placed your memorial: for [departing] from Me, you have discovered yourself [to another]; you have ascended, and enlarged your bed; you have made [a covenant] with them; you love their bed; you have provided a place for it.

9. You have offered a gift to the king in oil, and have increased your perfumes; and you have sent your messengers far off, and have debased yourself to hell.

10. You art wearied in the length of your way; you have not said, I despair: you have found the life of your hand; wherefore you have not become weak.

11. And whom have you dreaded and been afraid of, that you should lie, and have not remembered Me, and laid it to your heart? Is it not that I have been silent even of old, and you dost not fear Me?

12. I will declare your justice and your works, which do not profit you.

13. When you cry out, let the collection [or thine idols] deliver you; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them off: but he who trusts in Me shall possess the land, and shall inherit the mountain of, My holiness;

14. And it shall be said, Cast up, cast up; sweep the way; remove the stumbling-block from the way of My people.

15. For thus says the High and Lofty One, inhabiting eternity, and whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and with him also that is contrite and of a humble spirit; to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

16. For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always angry: for the spirit would fail before Me, and the souls which I have made.

17. For the iniquity of his covetousness was I angry, and I smote him: hiding Myself, and I was angry; but he went on perversely in the way of his heart.

18. I have seen his ways, and I will heal him; and I will lead him, and will restore consolations to him, and to his mourners.

19. I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him that is afar off, and to him that is near, says Jehovah; and I will heal him.

20. But the wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

21. There is no peace, says my God, to the wicked.

275. Verse 6. And in sight of the throne a glassy sea like crystal, signifies the appearance of [Divine] truth in ultimates where its generals are, and its pellucidity by virtue of the influx of Divine truth united to Divine good in firsts. This is evident from the signification of "in sight of the throne," as being appearance; also from the signification of "glassy," as being pellucid. It is also said "like crystal," that pellucidity from the influx of Divine truth united to Divine good in firsts may be described; this is signified by "the seven lamps of fire burning before the throne" (as shown just above, n. 274. In this and what precedes, the state of the whole heaven arranged in order for judgment is described, and its ultimate is meant by "the glassy sea like crystal." The truth of the ultimate heaven is signified by "a glassy sea" because "sea" signifies the generals of truth, such truth as exists in the ultimates of heaven, and with man in the natural man, which truth is called knowledge [scientificum]. The "sea" signifies such truths because in the sea is the gathering together of waters, and "waters" signify truths (See above, n. 71).

[2] That this is the signification of "sea" is evident from many passages in the Word, a number of which I will cite here. In Isaiah:

I will shut up the Egyptians into the land of a hard lord; and a fierce king shall rule over them. Then the waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall dry up and become dry (Isaiah 19:4, 6).

By "the Egyptians" knowledges [scientiae] that are of the natural man are meant; "the hard lord into whose hands they should be shut up" signifies the evil of self-love; "a fierce king" signifies falsity therefrom; "the waters shall fail from the sea" signifies that with all the abundance of knowledges [scientiarum] there still are no truths; and "the river shall dry up and become dry" signifies that there is no doctrine of truth and no intelligence therefrom.

[3] In the same:

Jehovah will visit with His sword, hard, great, and strong, upon leviathan the stretched out serpent, and leviathan the crooked serpent, and will slay the whales that are in the sea (Isaiah 27:1).

This is also said of "Egypt," by which knowledges [scientiae] that are of the natural man are signified; "leviathan the stretched out serpent" signifies those who reject all things which they do not see with the eyes, thus the merely sensual, who are without faith, because they do not comprehend. "Leviathan the crooked serpent" signifies those who, for the same reason, do not believe, and yet say that they believe. "The sword, hard, and great, and strong, with which they shall be visited," signifies the extinction of all truth, for "sword" signifies falsity destroying truth. "The whales in the sea," that shall be slain, signify knowledges [scientifica] in general. (That these are signified by "whales," see Arcana Coelestia 7293.)

[4] In the same:

Let the inhabitants of the isle be still; thou merchant of Zidon passing over the sea, they have filled thee. Blush, O Zidon, for the sea hath said, the stronghold of the sea, saying, I have not travailed, and I have not brought forth, and I have not brought up young men, and have not raised up virgins; when the report comes to Egypt they shall be seized with grief, as by the report respecting Tyre (Isaiah 23:2-5).

"Zidon" and "Tyre" signify the knowledges of good and truth; therefore it is said "the merchant of Zidon passing over the sea," "merchant" meaning one who acquires these knowledges for himself and communicates them. That they acquired for themselves thereby nothing of good and truth is signified by "the sea said, I have not travailed and I have not brought forth, I have not brought up young men, and have not raised up virgins;" "to travail and bring forth" is to produce something from knowledges; "young men" mean truths, and "virgins" goods. That the use of cognitions and knowledges (cognitionum et scientiarum) would therefore perish, is signified by "when the report comes to Egypt they shall be seized with grief, as by the report respecting Tyre."

[5] In Ezekiel:

All the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and cast away their robes, and strip off their broidered garments, they shall be clothed with terrors. They shall take up a lamentation over thee, and shall say, How hast thou perished, thou that dwelt by the seas, the renowned city which was strong in the sea; therefore the islands in the sea shall be dismayed at thy outcome (Ezekiel 26:15-18).

These things are said of "Tyre," which signifies the cognitions of truth, the neglect and loss of which are thus described; the "princes of the sea that shall come down from their thrones" signify primary cognitions; that these together with knowledges [scientificis] shall be abandoned is signified by "they shall cast away their robes, and strip off their broidered garments;" "broidered work," is knowledges [scientificum]; "the city that dwelt by the seas and was strong in the sea" signifies the power of knowing in all abundance ("seas" signify collections); "the islands in the sea" signify nations more remote from truths that long for cognitions, of which it is said "therefore the islands in the sea shall be dismayed at thy outcome."

[6] In Isaiah:

They shall not do evil nor corrupt themselves in all the mountain of My holiness; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge [scientifia] of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:9).

This treats of a new heaven and a new church, which are meant by "mountain of holiness," in which "they shall not do evil nor corrupt themselves;" their understanding of truth from the Lord is described by "the earth shall be full of the knowledge [scientia] of Jehovah; "and as waters" signify truths, and the "sea" the fullness of them, it is said, "as the waters cover the sea."

[7] In the same:

By My rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness; their fish shall become putrid because there is no water, and shall die of thirst (Isaiah 50:2).

"To dry up the sea" signifies an entire lack of the general knowledges of truth; "to make the rivers a wilderness" signifies the deprivation of all truth and of intelligence therefrom; "the fish shall become putrid" signifies that the knowledges [scientifica] pertaining to the natural man shall be without any spiritual life; this takes place when they are applied to confirm falsities in opposition to the truths of the church; "by cause there is no water" signifies because there is no truth; "to die of thirst" signifies the extinction of truth. (That "rivers" signify the things of intelligence, see Arcana Coelestia 108, 2702[1-17], Arcana Coelestia 2702[1-17], 3051; that "wilderness" signifies where there is no good because there is no truth, n. 2708, 4736, 7055; that "fish" signifies the knowledge [scientificum] pertaining to the natural man, n. 40, 991; that "water" signifies truth, n. 2702, 3058, 3424, 5668, 8568; and that "to die of thirst" signifies the absence of spiritual life from lack of truth, n. Arcana Coelestia 8568[1-10].

[8] In David:

O Jehovah, Thou rulest in the uprising of the sea; when it raiseth up its waves (Psalms 89:9).

The "sea" here signifies the natural man, because in the natural man are the generals of truth; "the uprising of the sea" signifies its exalting itself against the Divine, denying the things that are of the church; the "waves" which it raiseth up signify falsities.

[9] In the same:

Jehovah hath founded the world upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers (Psalms 24:2).

The "world" signifies the church; the "seas" knowledges in general which are in the natural man; and "rivers" the truths of faith; upon these two the church has its foundation.

[10] In Amos:

Jehovah, who buildeth His steps in the heavens, and calleth the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the faces of the earth (Amos 9:6).

"The steps that Jehovah buildeth in the heavens" signify interior truths which are called spiritual; "the waters of the sea" signify exterior truths, which are natural because they are in the natural man; "to pour them out upon the faces of the earth" signifies upon the men of the church, for the "earth" is the church.

[11] In David:

By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made; and all the hosts of them by the breath of His mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap; He giveth the deeps in treasuries (Psalms 33:6-7).

"The word of Jehovah by which the heavens were made," and "the breath of His mouth by which all the hosts of them were made," signify Divine truth proceeding from the Lord; "the hosts of the heavens" are all things of love and faith; "the waters of the sea that He gathereth together as an heap" signify the knowledges of truth, and truths in general, which are together in the natural man; "the deeps that He gives in treasuries" signify sensual knowledges [scientifica sensualia], which are the most general and ultimate things of the natural man, and in which at the same time are interior or higher truths, therefore they are called "treasures."

[12] In the same:

Jehovah hath founded the earth upon its bases, that it be not removed for ever and ever. Thou hast covered it with the deep as with a vesture (Psalms 104:5-6).

The "earth" signifies the church; "the bases on which Jehovah hath founded it for ever" are the knowledges of truth and good; "the deep with which He hath covered it as with a vesture" signifies sensual knowledge [scientificum sensuale], which is the ultimate of the natural man, and being the ultimate, it is said that "He covered it as with a vesture."

[13] In the same:

Jehovah, Thy way is in the sea, and Thy path in many waters, yet Thy footsteps have not been known (Psalms 77:19).

In Isaiah:

Thus saith Jehovah, I who have given a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters (Isaiah 43:16).

That "sea" here does not mean the sea, nor "waters" the waters, is clear, since it is said that therein "are the way and the path of Jehovah;" therefore by "sea" and by "waters" are meant such things as Jehovah or the Lord is in, which are the knowledges of truth in general from the Word, and the truths therein; "the sea" being such knowledges, and "waters" truths. Knowledges and truths differ in this, that knowledges are of the natural man, and truths of the spiritual man.

[14] In Jeremiah:

Behold, I will plead thy cause, and will revenge thy revenging; that I may dry up the sea of Babylon, and make dry her fountain. The sea shall come up upon Babylon, she shall be covered with the multitude of its waves (Jeremiah 51:36, 42).

By "Babylon" those who profane goods are meant; "the sea of Babylon" means their traditions, which are the adulterations of good from the Word; "the waves" are the falsities from these; their destruction at the Last Judgment is hereby described.

[15] In the same:

A people coming from the north, and a great nation and many kings shall be stirred up from the sides of the earth. Their voice maketh a tumult like the sea, and they ride upon horses (Jeremiah 50:41, 42).

"A people coming from the north" are those who are in falsities from evil; "the great nation" means evils; and "many kings" falsities; "the sides of the earth" are the things outside of the church, and those that are not of the church, for the "earth" means the church; "their voice maketh a tumult like the sea" means falsity from the natural man exalting itself against the truth of the church; "the horses upon which they ride" are reasonings from the fallacies of the senses.

[16] In the same:

Jehovah giveth the sun for light by day, the statutes of the moon and stars for light by night, stirring up the sea so that the waves thereof roar (Jeremiah 31:35).

"The sun from which is the light of day" signifies the good of celestial love, from which is the perception of truth; "the statutes of the moon and stars, from which is the light of night," signify truths from spiritual good and from knowledges, by which there is intelligence; "the sea that is stirred up, and the waves that roar," signify the generals of truth in the natural man, and knowledges [scientifica].

[17] In Isaiah:

The wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot be quiet, but its waters cast up filth and mire (Isaiah 57:20).

"The troubled sea which is like the wicked," signifies reasonings from falsities; "the waters that cast up filth and mire," signify the falsities themselves, from which come evils of life and falsities of doctrine.

[18] In Ezekiel:

I will stretch out Mine hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast (Ezekiel 25:16).

"The Philistines" signify those who are in the doctrine of faith alone, and "the remnant of the sea coast that shall be destroyed," signifies all things of truth.

[19] In Hosea:

I will not return to destroy Ephraim. They shall go after Jehovah; and the sons from the sea shall draw near with honor, with honor shall they come as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria (Hosea 11:9-11).

"Ephraim" signifies the church in respect to the understanding of truth; "the sons from the sea, who shall draw near," signify truths from a common fountain, which is the Word; "a bird out of Egypt" signifies knowledge [scientificum] agreeing; and "a dove out of the land of Assyria" signifies the rational.

[20] In Zechariah:

In that day living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; part of them to the eastern sea, and part of them to the hinder sea (Zechariah 14:8).

"Living waters from Jerusalem" signify truths from a spiritual origin in the church, which are the truths that are received by man when he is illustrated by the Lord while he is reading the Word. "Jerusalem" is the church in respect to doctrine, the "sea" signifies the natural man, into which those things that are in the spiritual man descend; the "eastern sea" signifies the natural man in respect to good; and the "hinder sea" the natural man in respect to truth; and as the natural man is in the generals of truth, "sea" also signifies the general of truth.

[21] He who knows nothing about the spiritual man, and the truths and goods that are therein, may suppose that the truths that are in the natural man, and are called cognitions and knowledges [scientifica] are not merely the generals of truth, but are all there is of truth with man. But let him know that the truths in the spiritual man, from which those are that are in the natural, are incomparably more numerous; but these truths in the spiritual man do not come to the perception of the natural man until he enters the spiritual world, which is after death; for then man puts off the natural and puts on the spiritual. That this is so can be seen from this fact alone, that angels are in intelligence and wisdom ineffable as compared with man, and yet they are from the human race. (That angels are from the human race, see in the small work onThe Last Judgment 14-22 and 23-27)

[22] As the "sea" signifies the generals of truth, therefore the great vessel, which was for general washing, was called "the brazen sea" (1 Kings 7:23-26); for the "washings" represented purifications from falsities and evils, and "waters" signify truths, by which purifications are effected; and as all truths are from good, the containing vessel was made of brass, and was therefore called "the barren sea," for brass signifies good. Spiritual purification, which is called purification from falsities and evils, is there fully described by the measurements of that vessel, and by the bases thereof, understood in a spiritual sense. From what has been brought forward it can be seen that "sea" signifies the generals of truth or the knowledges of truth together and collectively. But what further is signified by "sea" will be shown in the explanation of what follows, for "sea" is used in various senses (as in Revelation 5:13; 7:1-3; 8:8, 9; 10:2, 8; 12:12; 13:1; 14:7; 15:2; 16:3; 18:17, 19, 21; 20:13; 21:1).