8278. The abysses have covered them. That this signifies that falsities from cupidities have enveloped them, is evident from the signification of “the abysses,” as being falsities which are from cupidities. By “abysses” in the Word are meant waters and abundance of waters in the deeps; and by “waters” in a good sense are signified truths, and in the opposite sense falsities (see n. 739, 790, 2702, 3058, 3424, 4976, 5668), and by “deeps” are signified the hells. Hence it is that “abysses” denote falsities from cupidities; also that they denote the hells. That by “abysses” in the Word are meant waters in the deeps and abundance of waters, is evident in Ezekiel:

The waters made the cedar to grow, the abyss made it high; so that with its rivers it went round thy plant, and it sent out water-channels unto all the trees of the field (Ezekiel 31:4).

He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and made them drink the great abysses; He brought forth streams out of the rock, and made the waters to come down like streams (Psalms 78:15-16).

A good land, a land of rivers of water, of fountains and abysses, going forth from valley and from mountain (Deuteronomy 8:7).

In these passages “abysses” denote waters in abundance; and waters in abundance, or “abysses,” denote truths of faith in abundance. “He made them to drink great abysses out of the rock” denotes that He made them receive truths of faith without lack, for “rock” denotes faith from the Lord, thus the Lord as to faith; “the abysses going forth from valley and from mountain” denote truths of faith from love. Consequently also among the blessings of Joseph were “blessings of the abyss that lieth beneath” (Genesis 49:25; Deuteronomy 33:13).

[2] That “abysses” denote falsities from cupidities, consequently also the hells, is evident in Isaiah:

Awake, as in the days of old, the generations of eternity; dost Thou not dry up the sea, the waters of the great abyss, and make the depths of the sea for a way, that the redeemed may pass over? (Isaiah 51:9-10).

Jehovah who cleft asunder the waters before them, who led them through the abysses, like a horse in the wilderness; they stumbled not (Isaiah 63:12-13).

Thus said the Lord Jehovih, When I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited; when I shall make the abyss to come up against thee, and many waters shall cover thee (Ezekiel 26:19).

I saw a star from heaven fallen to the earth, to which was given the key of the pit of the abyss, and he opened the pit of the abyss (Revelation 9:1-2, 11).

The beast that cometh up out of the abyss made war with them (Revelation 11:7).

The beast that thou sawest was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss, and go into perdition (Revelation 17:8).

In these passages the “abyss” denotes the hells, thus also falsities from cupidities, for these are in the hells and make them.

[3] As these things are signified by “abysses,” by them are also signified temptations, for temptations are effected by means of falsities and evils that are injected by the hells. In this sense “abyss” is used in Jonah:

The waters compassed me about, even to the soul; the abyss was round about me (Jonah 2:5).

Abyss crieth unto abyss at the voice of thy water-channels; all thy breakers and thy waves have passed over me (Psalms 42:7).

Who hast shown me many and evil straitnesses, return and quicken me, and make me return and come up from the abysses of the earth (Psalms 71:20).

739. That by the “flood of waters” is signified the beginning of temptation, is evident from temptation as to things of the understanding being here treated of, which temptation precedes, and, as before said, is light; and for this reason it is called a “flood of waters” and not simply “a flood” as in the seventeenth verse (Genesis 7:17). For “waters” signify especially the spiritual things of man, the intellectual things of faith, and the opposites of these, which are falsities; as may be confirmed by very many passages from the Word.

[2] That a “flood” or “inundation” of waters signifies temptation, is evident from what was shown in the introduction to this chapter. So also in Ezekiel:

Thus saith the Lord Jehovih, I will make a stormy wind to break through in My fury, and an inundating rain shall there be in Mine anger, and hailstones in wrath, unto the consummation, that I may destroy the wall that ye have daubed with what is unfit (Ezekiel 13:13-14).

Here a “stormy wind” and an “inundating rain” denote the desolation of falsities; the “wall daubed with what is unfit” denotes fiction appearing as truth.

In Isaiah:

Jehovah God is a protection from inundation, a shadow from the heat, for the breath of the violent is as an inundation against the wall (Isaiah 25:4).

An “inundation” here denotes temptation as to things of the understanding, and is distinguished from temptation as to things of the will, which is called “heat.”

[3] Again:

Behold the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, as an inundation of hail, a destroying storm, as an inundation of mighty waters, overflowing (Isaiah 28:2),

where degrees of temptation are described. And again:

When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned, and the flame shall not kindle upon thee (Isaiah 43:2).

“Waters” and “rivers” here denote falsities and phantasies, “fire” and “flame” evils and cupidities.

In David:

For this shall everyone that is holy pray unto Thee at a time of finding; so that in the inundation of many waters they shall not reach unto him; Thou art my hiding place; Thou wilt preserve me from trouble (Psalms 32:6-7),where the “inundation of waters” denotes temptation which is also called a “flood.” In the same:

Jehovah sitteth at the flood; yea, Jehovah sitteth King forever (Psalms 29:10).

From these passages, and from what was premised at the beginning of this chapter, it is evident that a “flood” or “inundation” of waters signifies nothing else than temptations and vastations, although described historically, after the manner of the most ancient people.