426. That “iron” signifies natural truth, is further evident from what Ezekiel says of Tyre:
Tarshish was thy trader by reason of the multitude of all riches; in silver, iron, tin, and lead, they gave thy traffickings. Dan, and Javan, and Meusal furnished bright iron in thy tradings; cassia and calamus were in thy mart (Ezekiel 27:12, 19).
From these words, as well as from what is said both previously and subsequently in the same chapter, it is very evident that celestial and spiritual riches are signified; and that every particular expression, and even the names mentioned, have some specific signification, for the Word of the Lord is spiritual, and not verbal.
[2] In Jeremiah:
Can one break iron, even iron from the north, and brass? Thy substance [facultates] and thy treasures will I give for a spoil without price, and this for all thy sins (Jeremiah 15:12-13),
where “iron” and “brass” signify natural truth and good; that it came from the “north” signifies what is sensuous and natural; for what is natural, relatively to what is spiritual and celestial, is like thick darkness (that is, the “north”) relatively to light or the “south;” or like shade, which is also signified here by “Zillah” who is the “mother.” That the “substance” and “treasures” are celestial and spiritual riches, is also very evident.
[3] Again in Ezekiel:
Take thou unto thee a pan of iron, and set it for a wall of iron between thee and the city, and set thy faces toward it, and let it be for a siege, and thou shalt straiten against it (Ezekiel 4:3),where also it is evident that “iron” signifies truth. Strength is attributed to truth, because it cannot be resisted, and for this reason it is said of iron-by which is signified truth, or the truth of faith-that it “breaks in pieces” and “crushes”; as in Daniel 2:34, 40, and in John:
He that overcometh, to him will I give sovereign power over the nations, that he may pasture them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers (Revelation 2:26-27).
Again:
The woman brought forth a man child, who should pasture all nations with a rod of iron (Revelation 12:5).
[4] That a “rod of iron” is the truth which is of the Word of the Lord, is explained in John:
I saw heaven open, and behold a white horse, and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and fight; He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood, and His name is called the Word of God; out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations; and He shall pasture them with a rod of iron (Revelation 19:11, 13, 15).
