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Genesis 1

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1 In den beginne schiep God den hemel en de aarde.

2 De aarde nu was woest en ledig, en duisternis was op den afgrond; en de Geest Gods zweefde op de wateren.

3 En God zeide: Daar zij licht! en daar werd licht.

4 En God zag het licht, dat het goed was; en God maakte scheiding tussen het licht en tussen de duisternis.

5 En God noemde het licht dag, en de duisternis noemde Hij nacht. Toen was het avond geweest, en het was morgen geweest, de eerste dag.

6 En God zeide: Daar zij een uitspansel in het midden der wateren; en dat make scheiding tussen wateren en wateren!

7 En God maakte dat uitspansel, en maakte scheiding tussen de wateren, die onder het uitspansel zijn, en tussen de wateren, die boven het uitspansel zijn. En het was alzo.

8 En God noemde het uitspansel hemel. En het was avond geweest, en het was morgen geweest, de tweede dag.

9 En God zeide: Dat de wateren van onder de hemel in een plaats vergaderd worden, en dat het droge gezien worde! en het was alzo.

10 En God noemde het droge aarde, en de vergadering der wateren noemde Hij zeeen; en God zag, dat het goed was.

11 En God zeide: Dat de aarde uitschiete gras, kruid zaadzaaiende, vruchtbaar geboomte, dragende vrucht naar zijn aard, welks zaad daarin zij op de aarde! En het was alzo.

12 En de aarde bracht voort grasscheutjes, kruid zaadzaaiende naar zijn aard, en vruchtdragend geboomte, welks zaad daarin was, naar zijn aard. En God zag, dat het goed was.

13 Toen was het avond geweest, en het was morgen geweest, de derde dag.

14 En God zeide: Dat er lichten zijn in het uitspansel des hemels, om scheiding te maken tussen den dag en tussen den nacht; en dat zij zijn tot tekenen en tot gezette tijden, en tot dagen en jaren!

15 En dat zij zijn tot lichten in het uitspansel des hemels, om licht te geven op de aarde! En het was alzo.

16 God dan maakte die twee grote lichten; dat grote licht tot heerschappij des daags, en dat kleine licht tot heerschappij des nachts; ook de sterren.

17 En God stelde ze in het uitspansel des hemels, om licht te geven op de aarde.

18 En om te heersen op den dag, en in den nacht, en om scheiding te maken tussen het licht en tussen de duisternis. En God zag, dat het goed was.

19 Toen was het avond geweest, en het was morgen geweest, de vierde dag.

20 En God zeide: Dat de wateren overvloediglijk voortbrengen een gewemel van levende zielen; en het gevogelte vliege boven de aarde, in het uitspansel des hemels!

21 En God schiep de grote walvissen, en alle levende wremelende ziel, welke de wateren overvloediglijk voortbrachten, naar haar aard; en alle gevleugeld gevogelte naar zijn aard. En God zag, dat het goed was.

22 En God zegende ze, zeggende: Zijt vruchtbaar, en vermenigvuldigt, en vervult de wateren in de zeeen; en het gevogelte vermenigvuldige op de aarde!

23 Toen was het avond geweest, en het was morgen geweest, de vijfde dag.

24 En God zeide: De aarde brenge levende zielen voort, naar haar aard, vee, en kruipend, en wild gedierte der aarde, naar zijn aard! En het was alzo.

25 En God maakte het wild gedierte der aarde naar zijn aard, en het vee naar zijn aard, en al het kruipend gedierte des aardbodems naar zijn aard. En God zag, dat het goed was.

26 En God zeide: Laat Ons mensen maken, naar Ons beeld, naar Onze gelijkenis; en dat zij heerschappij hebben over de vissen der zee, en over het gevogelte des hemels, en over het vee, en over de gehele aarde, en over al het kruipend gedierte, dat op de aarde kruipt.

27 En God schiep den mens naar Zijn beeld; naar het beeld van God schiep Hij hem; man en vrouw schiep Hij ze.

28 En God zegende hen, en God zeide tot hen: Weest vruchtbaar, en vermenigvuldigt, en vervult de aarde, en onderwerpt haar, en hebt heerschappij over de vissen der zee, en over het gevogelte des hemels, en over al het gedierte, dat op de aarde kruipt!

29 En God zeide: Ziet, Ik heb ulieden al het zaadzaaiende kruid gegeven, dat op de ganse aarde is, en alle geboomte, in hetwelk zaadzaaiende boomvrucht is; het zij u tot spijze!

30 Maar aan al het gedierte der aarde, en aan al het gevogelte des hemels, en aan al het kruipende gedierte op de aarde, waarin een levende ziel is, heb Ik al het groene kruid tot spijze gegeven. En het was alzo.

31 En God zag al wat Hij gemaakt had, en ziet, het was zeer goed. Toen was het avond geweest, en het was morgen geweest, de zesde dag.

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Arcana Coelestia #9596

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9596. Of fine twined linen, and blue, and crimson, and scarlet double-dyed. That this signifies the spiritual and celestial things from which are these truths, is evident from the signification of “fine twined linen,” as being truths from a celestial origin (see n. 9469); from the signification of “blue” [hyacinthinum] as being the celestial love of truth (n. 9466); from the signification of “crimson,” as being the celestial love of good (n. 9467); and from the signification of “scarlet double-dyed,” as being spiritual good, or the good of truth (n. 9468). Such is the order in which spiritual and celestial things, or truths and goods, follow with the man, and with the angel, who is in the middle or second heaven. For first is truth from a celestial origin, which is signified by “fine linen;” next is the love or affection of truth, which is signified by “blue;” afterward is the consequent love or affection of good, which is signified by “crimson;” and lastly is spiritual good, which is signified by “scarlet double-dyed.”

[2] As spiritual and celestial things follow in this order, therefore fine twined linen is here mentioned first; but in the case of the veil, which was between the Habitation and the ark, or between the holy and the holy of holies-see verse 31 of this chapter-it is mentioned in the last place. The reason why in the veil the fine twined linen is mentioned last, is that the veil signifies the intermediate that unites the inmost heaven with the middle heaven, and therefore in this intermediate it must be the last, so that, for the sake of conjunction, it may be the first in what follows.

[3] But by “fine twined linen” is properly signified the understanding such as belongs to a spiritual man, or to an angel who is in the Lord’s spiritual kingdom. The reason why the understanding is signified by “fine twined linen,” is that with the spiritual man a new will from the Lord has been implanted in his understanding (n. 863, 875, 895, 927, 1023, 1043, 1044, 1555, 2256, 4328, 4493, 5113); and as the understanding of the spiritual man is signified by “fine twined linen,” therefore also spiritual truth is signified thereby, because all truth belongs to the part of the understanding, and all good to the part of the will (n. 3623, 9300); for the understanding is the subject or containant, and truth belongs to it, and these two make a one. From all this it can also be seen that with those who are of the Lord’s spiritual kingdom the understanding is “the Habitation” in the close sense (n. 9296, 9297), and that it is described by the expanse of the curtains.

[4] From all this it can be known what is signified by “spreading out and stretching out the heavens” in Isaiah:

Jehovah that stretcheth out the heavens, that spreadeth out the earth, that giveth breath to the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein (Isaiah 42:5).

I, Jehovah, that maketh all things; that stretcheth out the heavens alone; that spreadeth out the earth by Myself (Isaiah 44:24).

I have made the earth, and created man upon it; I, My hands, have stretched out the heavens (Isaiah 45:12).

He who maketh the earth by His power, prepareth the world by His wisdom, and by His intelligence stretcheth out the heavens (Jeremiah 51:15).

Jehovah, that stretcheth out the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man in the midst of him (Zech. 12:1).

[5] That by “stretching out the heavens and spreading out the earth” the same is here signified as by “stretching out and spreading out the habitation” by means of the curtains is manifest; and that this denotes to regenerate man, and thus to create or form a new understanding in which is a new will, which is the very heaven of the spiritual man, wherein the Lord dwells with this man. That it is regeneration, or the formation of a new understanding and therein of a new will, thus of a new man, which is signified by “stretching out the heavens and spreading out the earth” is clear from the very explanation given in the above passages, for it is said, “that giveth breath to the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein; also, “that formeth the spirit of man within him.” That “heaven and earth” denote the internal and external church, see n. 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118, 3355, 4535; also that “the earth” in general denotes the Lord’s kingdom and church (n. 9334); and this is also plainly to be seen, for unless “the earth” had this signification, what could be meant by “spreading out the earth,” and by “laying the foundation of the earth,” and by “forming the spirit of man therein”?

[6] That by “stretching out the heavens, and spreading out the earth” the like is here signified as by “stretching out and spreading out the habitation” by means of the curtains is evident from other passages where it is stated more expressly, as in Isaiah:

Jehovah, that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in (Isaiah 40:22).

Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch the curtains of thy habitations (Isaiah 54:2).

Jehovah covereth Himself with light as with a garment; He stretcheth out the heavens like a curtain (Psalms 104:2).

From all this it is also evident what is signified by “the expanse” in the first chapter of Genesis:

God said, Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it be to the waters a dividing between the waters. And God made the expanse, and divided between the waters that were under the expanse and the waters that were above the expanse. And God called the expanse heaven (Genesis 1:6-8).

In this first chapter is described the regeneration of the man of the celestial church; and his new will and understanding are described by “the expanse;” “the waters under the expanse, and above the expanse” denote the truths of the external and of the internal man (that “waters” denote truths, see n. 2702, 3058, 3424, 4976, 8568, 9323).

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for the permission to use this translation.

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Arcana Coelestia #9050

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9050. That “soul” signifies the spiritual life, is evident from the signification of “soul,” as being the life of man, but the life of his faith, which is spiritual life. In the Word throughout mention is made of “the heart” and of “the soul,” and by “the heart” is signified the life of love, and by “the soul” the life of faith. Man has two faculties receptive of life from the Lord, the one called the will, and the other the understanding. To the faculty which is called the will belongs love, for the goods of love make its life. But to the faculty which is called the understanding belongs faith, for the truths of faith make its life. But these two lives with man are nevertheless one, and when they are one, then the things which are of faith are also of love, for they are loved; and on the other hand the things which are of love are also of faith, because they are believed. Such is the life of all in heaven.

[2] The reason why the life of love, or what is the same thing, the will, is called in the Word “the heart;” and why the life of faith, or what is the same thing, the understanding, is called “the soul;” is that they who are in love to the Lord and are called celestial, constitute in the Grand Man or heaven the province of the heart; and they who are in faith in the Lord and thereby in charity toward the neighbor constitute the province of the lungs (see n. 3635, 3883-3896). From this it is that by “heart” in the Word is signified love, which is the life of the will, and by “soul” is signified faith, which is the life of the understanding (n. 2930, 7542, 8910); for in the original tongue “soul” is named from breathing, which is of the lungs.

[3] That faith pertains to the intellectual faculty, is because this faculty is enlightened by the Lord when man receives faith. From this he has light, or a perception of truth, in such things as are of faith, when he reads the Word. And that love pertains to the will faculty, is because this faculty is kindled by the Lord when the man receives love. From this he has the fire of life, and a sensitive perception of good.

[4] From all this it can be seen what is properly meant in the Word by “the heart,” and what by “the soul;” as in the following passages, in Moses:

Thou shalt love Jehovah thy God from all thy heart, and from all thy soul, and from all thy strength (Deuteronomy 6:5).

Thou shalt love Jehovah thy God, and shalt serve Him, from all thy heart and from all thy soul (Deuteronomy 10:12; 11:13).

These statutes and judgments thou shalt keep, and shalt do them, in all thy heart, and in all thy soul (Deuteronomy 26:16).

Jesus said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God from all thy heart, and in all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with thy thought (Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30, 32; Luke 10:27).

“The heart” denotes the life of love; and “the soul,” the life of faith; “the strength,” those things which proceed from the life of love, thus which are from the heart or the will; and “the thought,” those things which proceed from the life of faith, thus which are from the soul, or an enlightened understanding.

[5] In like manner in Isaiah:

A deluded heart maketh him go astray, that he rescue not his soul, and say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? (Isaiah 44:20).

In Jeremiah:

I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in the land, in truth, with all My heart and with all My soul (Jeremiah 32:41);

speaking of Jehovah, that is, of the Lord; “the heart” is predicated of the Divine good, which is of love of mercy; and “the soul” is predicated of the Divine truth, which is of faith with man.

[6] That these things are signified by “heart” and “soul” in the Word, is at this day known to few within the church, for the reason that it has not been considered that man has two faculties distinct from each other, namely, the will and the understanding, and that these two faculties constitute one mind, in order that man may be truly man. Neither has it been considered that all things in the universe, both in heaven and in the world, bear relation to good and truth, and that they must be conjoined together in order that they may be anything, and produce anything. From ignorance of these things it has resulted that they have separated faith from love; for he who is ignorant of these universal laws cannot know that faith bears relation to truth, and love to good, and that unless these are conjoined together they are not anything; for faith without love is not faith, and love without faith is not love, because love has its quality from faith, and faith has its life from love; consequently faith without love is dead, and faith with love is alive. That this is so, can be seen from everything in the Word; for where faith is treated of, there also love is treated of, in order that in this way the marriage of good and truth, that is, that heaven, and in the supreme sense the Lord, may be in each and all things of the Word. (That there is such a marriage, see n. 683, 793, 801, 2516, 2712, 4138, 5138, 5502, 6343, 7945, 8339.) From all this it is now evident why the man of the church has not hitherto known what is meant in the Word by “heart,” and what by “soul.”

[7] That” soul” in the Word denotes the life of faith, can be plainly seen from the passages where “the soul” is mentioned, as in the following.

In Moses:

Thou shalt not take the mill or the upper millstone to pledge; for he taketh the soul to pledge (Deuteronomy 24:6).

It is said that “he who taketh a mill taketh the soul to pledge” because in the internal sense by “a mill” are signified those things which are of faith (n. 7780).

In Isaiah:

It shall be as when a hungry man dreameth, as if he were eating; but when he awaketh, his soul is fasting; or as when a thirsty man dreameth, as if he were drinking; but when he awaketh, behold he is weary, and his soul hath appetite (Isaiah 29:8).

“A fasting soul,” and “a soul that hath appetite,” denote the desire of learning the goods and truths of faith. In the same:

If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and sate the afflicted soul (Isaiah 58:10).

“To draw out thy soul to the hungry” denotes to be desirous to instruct in the truths of faith; and “to sate the afflicted soul” denotes to instruct in the good of faith.

[8] In Jeremiah:

Though thou clothest thyself with double-dyed, though thou deckest thee with ornament of gold, though thou rendest thine eyes with antimony, in vain shalt thou make thyself beauteous; thy lovers will abhor thee, they will seek thy soul (Jeremiah 4:30).

Here “soul” denotes the life of faith, consequently faith itself in man, because this makes his spiritual life. That faith is meant by “soul,” is plain from the particulars in this verse. In the same:

They shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together unto the good of Jehovah, to the wheat, and to the new wine, and to the oil, and to the sons of the flock and of the herd; and their soul shall become as a watered garden; I will water the weary soul, and every sorrowful soul (Jeremiah 31:12, 25).

“The soul” denotes the life of faith in the man of the church, who is said “to become as a garden,” because by “a garden” is signified the intelligence which is from the truths of faith (n. 100, 108, 2702 the soul is said to be “watered,” because by “being watered” is signified to be instructed.

[9] In the same:

We bring our bread with the peril of our souls, because of the sword of the wilderness (Lam. 5:9).

“The peril of souls” denotes the danger of the loss of faith and consequently of spiritual life; for “the sword of the wilderness” denotes falsity fighting against the truths of faith (n. 2799, 4499, 6353, 7102, 8294).

In Ezekiel:

Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, these were thy traders, with the soul of man, and with vessels of brass, they furnished thy trading (Ezekiel 27:13).

“The soul of man” denotes the interior truth of faith from good; “vessels of brass,” exterior truths of faith from good; “vessels” denoting exterior truths or memory-truths (see n. 3068, 3079), and “brass,” the good of the natural (n. 425, 1551). Unless it were known that “the soul of man” denotes faith, it could not be understood what is signified by “trading with the soul of man, and with vessels of brass.”

[10] In the same:

Every living soul that creepeth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live; whence is exceeding much fish; because these waters are come hither, and are healed (Ezekiel 47:9);

speaking of the new temple, that is, of a new spiritual church from the Lord; “the living soul that creepeth” denotes memory-truths which are of faith; “much fish from thence” denotes memory-knowledges (n. 40, 991); “rivers” denote the things that are of intelligence, which are from the truths of faith (n. 2702, 3051). Neither in this passage would it be known without the internal sense what is meant by “much fish” in consequence of the rivers coming thither. In David:

Save me, O God, for the waters are come even unto my soul (Psalms 69:1).

The waters compassed me about, even to my soul (Jon. 2:5).

In these passages “waters” denote falsities, and also temptations which are caused by injected falsities (n. 705, 739, 756, 790, 8137, 8138, 8368).

[11] In Jeremiah:

Jehovah said, Shall not My soul be avenged on such a nation as this? (Jeremiah 5:9, 29).

Admit chastisement, O Jerusalem, lest My soul be turned away from thee, and I make thee a waste (Jeremiah 6:8).

“The soul,” when predicated of the Lord, denotes Divine truth.

In John:

The second angel poured out his vial into the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man, whence every living soul died in the sea (Revelation 16:3).

“The sea” denotes memory-knowledges in the complex (n. 28); “blood,” the truths of faith from good, and in the opposite sense, the truths of faith falsified and profaned (n. 4735, 6978, 7317, 7326); consequently “living soul” denotes life derived from faith.

[12] In Matthew:

Be not anxious for your soul, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink (Matthew 6:25).

“Soul” denotes the truths of faith; “eating” and “drinking” denote to be instructed in the good and truth of faith, for here in the internal sense the subject treated of is spiritual life and its nourishment. Again:

Whoever will find his soul shall lose it, and whoever shall lose his soul for My sake shall find it (Matthew 10:39).

“The soul” denotes the life of faith such as it is with those who believe, and in the opposite sense the life not of faith such as it is with those who do not believe.

In Luke:

In your patience possess ye your souls (Luke 21:19).

“To possess the souls” denotes those things which are of faith and consequently of spiritual life. The signification is similar in very many other passages.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation for the permission to use this translation.