624. 14:5 And in their mouth was found no deceit. This symbolically means that they do not speak with cunning or with a purpose to persuade people of falsity and evil.

A mouth symbolizes speech, preaching, and doctrine (no. 452). And deceit symbolizes a persuasion to evil by means of falsity, especially with cunning and purpose. For someone who urges something with cunning or deceit also does so on purpose. Indeed, cunning or deceit proposes it to itself, conceals it, and acts on it when given the opportunity.

A lie in the Word symbolizes falsity and false speaking. Deceit symbolizes each of these on purpose. Lying and deceit are both mentioned in the following passages:

(Jesus said of Nathanael,) "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" (John 1:47)

The remnant of Israel shall... not speak a lie, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth. (Zephaniah 3:13)

...He did no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. (Isaiah 53:9)

Her rich men are full of violence, her inhabitants speak falsehood, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. (Micah 6:12)

You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; Jehovah abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. (Psalms 5:6)

Deliver my soul, O Jehovah, from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue. (Psalms 120:2-3)

They have taught their tongue to speak lies... Your dwelling is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they have refused to know Me. (Jeremiah 9:5-6)

Ephraim has encircled Me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit. (Hosea 11:12)

But if someone purposes to kill his neighbor by deceit, you shall take him from My altar and he will die. (Exodus 21:14)

Cursed is he who does the work of Jehovah deceitfully... (Jeremiah 48:10)

And so on elsewhere, as for instance in Jeremiah 5:26-27; 8:5; 14:14; 23:26; Job 13:7; 27:4.

Deceitful people are symbolically meant in the Word by poisonous reptiles, such as crocodiles and vipers, and their deceit by the reptiles' poison.

452. And out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. This symbolically means that interiorly regarded, their thoughts and discourses contained nothing else, and issuing from them was nothing but a love of self and the world, which is a characteristic trait of the will, a conceit in their own intelligence, which is a characteristic trait of the intellect, and the lusts attendant on evil and falsity, which are a characteristic trait flowing from them both.

Out of their mouths means from their thoughts and discourses. Fire symbolizes a love of self and the world, which is a characteristic trait of the will (nos. 450, 468, 494). Smoke symbolizes a conceit in one's own intelligence, which is a characteristic trait of the intellect, emanating from the love of self and the world like smoke from a fire (no. 422). And brimstone symbolizes the lusts attendant on evil and falsity, which are a characteristic trait flowing from them both.

This is not, however, apparent from these people's discourses in public in the world. But it is clearly apparent to angels in heaven. Consequently we say that their thoughts and discourses, interiorly regarded, are of this character.

Fire symbolizes hellish love, and brimstone the lusts flowing from that love through a conceit in one's own intelligence, in the following places:

I will rain down on him... fire and brimstone. (Ezekiel 38:22)

Upon the wicked (Jehovah) will rain... fire and brimstone... (Psalms 11:6)

...the day of Jehovah's vengeance... Its streams shall be turned into pitch, and its dust into brimstone...; its smoke shall ascend forever. (Isaiah 34:8-10)

On the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone... Even so will it be in the day the Son of Man is revealed. (Luke 17:29-30. Cf. Genesis 19:24)

If anyone worships the beast and his image..., he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone... (Revelation 14:9.10)

The beast, the false prophet, and the devil were cast into the lake of fire and brimstone (Revelation 19:20; 20:10; 21:8).

The breath of Jehovah, like a stream of brimstone, shall kindle (the pyre). (Isaiah 30:33)

The whole land is brimstone, salt, and burning; it shall not be sown, nor shall it sprout..., like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah... (Deuteronomy 29:22-23)

Brimstone is scattered on the habitation (of the wicked). (Job 18:15)