2408. 'Lest you are consumed in the iniquity of the city' means lest they perished in evils deriving from falsity. This is clear from the meaning of 'iniquity' as evil, and from the meaning of 'a city' as doctrinal teaching, even if false, dealt with in 402. What evil deriving from falsity is becomes clear from what has been stated in Volume One, in 1212, 1679.

1212. 'As you come towards Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, as far as Lasha' means the falsities and evils which encompass them. This becomes clear from the meaning of these same locations when mentioned in historical and prophetical sections of the Word. In general falsities have two sources. The first group derive from the desires that belong to self-love and love of the world, the second from cognitions and facts by way of reasonings. Falsities derived in this way, when they wish to have dominion over truths, are meant by 'Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim'. The fact that falsities and derivative evils are the borders of external worship which is devoid of internal may become clear to anyone. Such worship has nothing within it other than that which is dead. Consequently whichever way someone turns whose worship is such he stumbles into falsities. There is nothing internal to guide him and keep him on the path of truth, only that which is external to take hold of him wherever evil desire and delusion lead him. Since Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim are all mentioned in historical and prophetical sections of the Word, the specific meaning of each one will in the Lord's Divine mercy be discussed in those places.