Arcana Coelestia # 9857
9857. And thou shalt make a breastplate of judgment. That this signifies that which has regard to Divine truth shining forth from Divine good, is evident from the signification of “the breastplate,” as being Divine truth shining forth from the Divine good of the Lord in ultimates (see n. 9823). It is called “a breastplate of judgment,” because it gave answers, and thereby revealed Divine truth. Moreover, by “judgment” in the Word is signified Divine truth, consequently doctrine and life according to doctrine. From this then it is that this breastplate is called “a breastplate of judgment,” and also “judgment,” in what follows in this chapter — “Aaron shall carry the judgment of the sons of Israel upon his heart before Jehovah continually” (verse 30). And when Joshua was chosen to be leader over the people, it is said, “he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of Urim before Jehovah” (Numbers 27:21).
[2] That “judgment” denotes Divine truth and the intelligence thence derived, consequently that it denotes doctrine and life according to doctrine, is evident from many passages in the Word; as from the following, in Isaiah:
The vineyard of Jehovah Zebaoth is the house of Israel. He looked for judgment but behold an abscess; for righteousness, but behold a cry (Isaiah 5:7).
“To look for judgment” denotes intelligence from Divine truth, and a life according to the commandments. Again:
He sat upon a throne in truth, in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment (Isaiah 16:5);
speaking of the coming of the Lord; “the throne upon which He was to sit” denotes the Divine truth proceeding from Him, and hence the spiritual kingdom (see n. 2129, 5313, 6397, 8625, 9039); “to judge judgment” denotes to teach Divine truth, and “to seek judgment” denotes its reception with man.
[3] Again:
In that day shall Jehovah be for a diadem of ornament to the remains of the people; and for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth upon judgment (Isaiah 28:5-6)
“A diadem of ornament,” when said of Jehovah, that is, the Lord, denotes Divine intelligence (see above, n. 9828); and “the spirit of judgment” denotes wisdom from Divine truth (n. 9818); “he that sitteth upon judgment” denotes one who instructs about Divine truth, that is, teaches it. Again:
Jehovah hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness (Isaiah 33:5);
“Zion” denotes the celestial church; “being filled with judgment” denotes intelligence from Divine truth, and “being filled with righteousness” denotes wisdom from Divine good.
[4] Again:
Who hath directed the Spirit of Jehovah? With whom took He counsel, that he might make Him intelligent, and instruct Him in the way of judgment, and teach Him knowledge, and show Him the way of intelligence? (Isaiah 40:13-14);
“the Spirit of Jehovah” denotes the Divine truth (n. 9818); that “instructing Him in the way of judgment” denotes to render Him knowing, intelligent, and wise, is plain.
In Jeremiah:
The stork in heaven knoweth her appointed times, but the people of Jehovah know not the judgment of Jehovah. How say ye, We are wise, and the law of Jehovah is with us? (Jeremiah 8:7-8).
Here “not to know the judgment of Jehovah” denotes not to know Divine truth, from which is wisdom; therefore it is said, “how say ye, We are wise?”
[5] Again:
Woe to him that buildeth his house without righteousness, and his chambers without judgment (Jeremiah 22:13);
“to build chambers without judgment” denotes to be imbued with things not true.
In Hosea:
I will betroth thee to Me forever in righteousness and in judgment, and I will betroth thee to Me in truth (Hosea 2:19-20).
“To betroth in judgment” denotes to conjoin by means of Divine truth, thus by means of faith and a life of faith.
In Amos:
Let judgment flow like water, and righteousness as a mighty torrent (Amos 5:24).
Ye turn judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood (Amos 6:12); where also “judgment” denotes intelligence from Divine truth, and the consequent life.
[6] In Zephaniah:
In the morning will Jehovah give His judgment for light (Zephaniah 3:5);
“to give judgment for light” denotes to reveal Divine truth.
In Moses:
All the ways of Jehovah are judgment (Deuteronomy 32:4).
In David:
Thy truth, O Jehovah, reacheth unto the skies; Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God; Thy judgments are a great deep (Psalms 36:5-6).
Jehovah shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday (Psalms 37:6).
Hear my voice according to Thy mercy; O Jehovah, quicken me according to Thy judgments (Psalms 119:149).
In these passages “judgment,” and “judgments,” denote Divine truth.
[7] In Luke:
Woe unto you Pharisees, ye pass by judgment and the love of God; these ought ye to do (Luke 11:42).
“To pass by the judgment of God” denotes to pass by Divine truth; and “to pass by the love of God” denotes to pass by Divine good, and the life from both. As life also is meant, it is said “these things ought ye to do.”
In Isaiah:
Jehovah Zebaoth shall be exalted in judgment, and God shall be sanctified in righteousness (Isaiah 5:16).
Upon the throne of David, to establish the kingdom in judgment and in righteousness, from henceforth and even forever (Isaiah 9:7).
Bring forth counsel, do ye judgment; make thy shadow like the night in the midst of the noonday (Isaiah 16:3);
“to do judgment” denotes to act according to Divine truth.
[8] In Jeremiah:
I will raise unto David a righteous branch, and He shall do judgment and righteousness in the earth (Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15).
If a man be righteous, and do judgment and righteousness, and walk in My statutes, and keep My judgments, to do the truth; he is righteous, he shall surely live (Ezekiel 18:5, 9).
Seek ye Jehovah, all ye meek of the earth, who have done His judgment (Zephaniah 2:3).
“To do the judgment of God” denotes to do the Divine truth, that is, to do according to it.
In Isaiah:
I have put My Spirit upon Him, He shall bring forth judgment to the nations. He shall not extinguish, nor break, till He have set Judgment in the earth (Isaiah 42:1, 4);
speaking of the Lord; “to bring forth judgment to the nations,” and “to set judgment in the earth” denotes to teach Divine truth, and set it up in the church.
[9] Again:
A law shall go forth from Me, and I will raise up My judgment for a light of the peoples (Isaiah 51:4); where “judgment” denotes Divine truth, “for a light of the peoples” denotes for enlightenment.
In John:
For judgment I am come into this world, that those who see not may see; and that those who see may become blind (John 9:39).
“To come into the world for judgment” denotes to reveal Divine truth, which causes those to see who are wise from the Lord, and those to be blind who are wise from themselves, thus who pass for being learned.
[10] In Jeremiah:
Swear by the living Jehovah in truth, in judgment, and righteousness (Jeremiah 4:2).
There is none that judgeth judgment for health; thou hast no medicines for recovery (Jeremiah 30:13).
In David:
Righteousness and judgment are the support of Thy throne; mercy and truth are before Thy faces (Psalms 89:14); where “righteousness” denotes the good which is of mercy; and “judgment” the truth which is of faith; wherefore it is said, “mercy and truth.”
In Ezekiel:
Jerusalem hath changed My judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and My statutes more than the lands; therefore I will do judgments on thee in the eyes of the nations, and I will scatter all thy remains (Ezekiel 5:6-8, 10, 15).
“To change judgments” denotes the truths which are of the civil state (that these are signified by “judgments,” when “statutes” also are mentioned, see n. 8972); but “doing judgments” denotes to judge either to death, which is damnation; or to life, which is salvation. Salvation or damnation is also signified by “judgment,” where “the day of judgment,” or “hour of judgment,” is mentioned (Matthew 11:22, 2 11:24; 12:36, 41-42; Luke 10:14; 11:31-32; John 5:28-29; Revelation 14:7; 18:10); the same is also signified by “judgment,” where the office of a judge is treated of (Matthew 5:21-22; 7:1-2; 23:14, 33; John 5:24, 26-27; 7:24; 8:15-16; 12:31, 47-48; Luke 6:37; 12:13-14, 56-57; 19:21-22, 2 19:27; 20:47; 22:30; Mark 12:40; Isaiah 41:1; 3:14; Jeremiah 25:31; 48:21; Joel 3:12; Psalms 7:8-9; 9:4, 7-8; Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 1:16-17; 25:1; Revelation 17:1 18:10; 20:12-13).
Jeremiah 33
1
Moreover the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the guard, saying,
2
Thus says Yahweh who does it, Yahweh who forms it to establish it; Yahweh is his name:
3
Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great things, and difficult, which you don't know.
4
For thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are broken down [to make a defense] against the mounds and against the sword;
5
while [men] come to fight with the Chaldeans, and to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have killed in my anger and in my wrath, and for all whose wickedness I have hidden my face from this city:
6
Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them; and I will reveal to them abundance of peace and truth.
7
I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.
8
I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, by which they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, by which they have sinned against me, and by which they have transgressed against me.
9
[This city] shall be to me for a name of joy, for a praise and for a glory, before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do to them, and shall fear and tremble for all the good and for all the peace that I procure to it.
10
Thus says Yahweh: Yet again there shall be heard in this place, about which you say, It is waste, without man and without animal, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without animal,
11
the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say, Give thanks to Yahweh of Armies, for Yahweh is good, for his loving kindness endures forever; [and of them] who bring [sacrifices of] thanksgiving into the house of Yahweh. For I will cause the captivity of the land to return as at the first, says Yahweh.
12
Thus says Yahweh of Armies: Yet again shall there be in this place, which is waste, without man and without animal, and in all its cities, a habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.
13
In the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland, and in the cities of the South, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks again pass under the hands of him who numbers them, says Yahweh.
14
Behold, the days come, says Yahweh, that I will perform that good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and concerning the house of Judah.
15
In those days, and at that time, will I cause a Branch of righteousness to grow up to David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
16
In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely; and this is [the name] by which she shall be called: Yahweh our righteousness.
17
For thus says Yahweh: David shall never want a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel;
18
neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to burn meal offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.
19
The word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah, saying,
20
Thus says Yahweh: If you can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, so that there shall not be day and night in their season;
21
then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he shall not have a son to reign on his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.
22
As the army of the sky can't be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured; so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites who minister to me.
23
The word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah, saying,
24
Don't consider what this people has spoken, saying, The two families which Yahweh did choose, he has cast them off? thus do they despise my people, that they should be no more a nation before them.
25
Thus says Yahweh: If my covenant of day and night fails, if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth;
26
then will I also cast away the seed of Jacob, and of David my servant, so that I will not take of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and will have mercy on them.
