9151. If the thief be caught. That this signifies remembrance, is evident from the signification of “being caught,” when said of truths and knowledges in the memory that have been taken away, as being remembrance; and from the signification of “the thief,” as being that which has been taken away; for by “the thief” the like is signified as by “the theft” (see n. 9125, 9126).

9126. And be smitten, and he die. That this signifies if then it is so injured as to be extinguished, is evident from the signification of “being smitten,” when said of truth and good, as being to be injured or harmed (see n. 9034, 9058); and from the signification of “dying,” as being to be extinguished. Truth and good are here meant, because by a “thief,” or by “theft,” is signified that which has been taken away, thus good and truth, as also in what follows: “if finding the theft be found in his hand, from an ox, even to an ass, even to one of the flock” (verse 3); an “ox,” an “ass,” and “one of the flock” signify goods and truths exterior and interior; and they are called “theft,” because found in the hand of the thief; in like manner “silver” and “vessels” (verse 6), which also denote truths interior and exterior. The like is signified by “thief” as by “theft,” because in the sense abstracted from person, “the thief” denotes the theft; that is, the truth and good that have been taken away (see just above, n. 9125).