9818. Whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom. That this signifies in whom Divine truth has been inscribed, is evident from the signification of “the spirit of wisdom,” when said of those who are in celestial good, as being Divine truth (of which in what follows); they are said to be “filled with it” when what has been inscribed remains. The case herein is that those who are in the celestial kingdom of the Lord do not know truths from memory-knowledge, and the consequent faith; but from internal perception; for they are in the good of love from the Lord, and all truths have been ingrafted in this good. The good itself has been implanted in their will part, and the derivative truth in their intellectual part. With them the will part and the intellectual part act absolutely as a one, differently from those who are in the spiritual kingdom. From this it is that those who are in the celestial kingdom of the Lord do not from their intellectual part know truths, but perceive them; for the good that has been implanted in the will is presented in its quality and in its form in the understanding, and is there in a light as it were flaming. With them, truth is the form of good, and the quality of it, which is not seen but perceived, is from good. From this it is that they never dispute about truths, insomuch that when they discourse about truths, they say that it is so, or is not so, nothing further; for anything further is not from good. These are they who are meant in Matthew:

Let your discourse be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay; whatsoever is more than these is from evil (Matthew 5:37).

(That they who are in the celestial kingdom of the Lord are of this character, see n. 2715, 2718, 3246, 4448, 5113, 6367, 7877, 9166, 9543; what the difference is between those who are in the celestial kingdom, and those who are in the spiritual kingdom, may be seen in the places cited in n. 9276.)

[2] From all this it can now be seen what is meant by Divine truths being “inscribed.” The word “spirit” is used in many passages in the Word, and when said of man, by his “spirit” is signified the good and truth that have been inscribed on his intellectual part, consequently there is signified the life of this part. That when predicated of man, “spirit” has this signification, is because in respect to his interiors man is a spirit, and in respect to these is also in company with spirits. On this subject see what has been abundantly shown above, namely, that there are spirits and angels with man, and man is directed by the Lord by means of them (n. 50, 697, 986, 2796, 2886, 2887, 4047, 4048, 5846-5866, 5976-5993); that man is among spirits and angels such as he is himself (n. 4067, 4073, 4077, 4111); and that every man has a spirit through which his body has life (n. 4622).

[3] From this it can be known what is meant by “Spirit” when said of the Lord, namely, the Divine truth that proceeds from His Divine good, and that when this Divine truth flows in with man, and is received by him, it is “the Spirit of Truth,” “the Spirit of God,” and “the Holy Spirit;” for it flows in immediately from the Lord, and also mediately through angels and spirits (see the pl aces cited in n. 9682); that “the Spirit of Truth,” “the Spirit of God,” and “the Holy Spirit,” denote this, will be seen in what follows. For it must first be shown that in the Word, “spirit,” when said of man, denotes the good and truth that has been inscribed on his intellectual part, consequently that it denotes the life of this. For there is the life of the intellectual part, and the life of the will part; the life of the intellectual part is to know, to see, and to understand, that truth is true, and that good is good; whereas the life of the will part is to will and to love truth for the sake of truth, and good for the sake of good. This latter life is called in the Word “heart;” but the former is called “spirit.”

[4] That such is the case is evident from the following passages in the Word, in Ezekiel:

Make for you a new heart and a new spirit; why will ye die, O house of Israel? (Ezekiel 18:31).

I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in the midst of you (Ezekiel 36:26);

“a new heart” denotes a new will; and “a new spirit,” a new understanding.

In Zechariah:

Jehovah stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man in the midst of him (Zechariah 12:1);

where “stretching forth the heavens, and laying the foundation of the earth” denotes a new church (that the church is meant by “heaven and earth,” see n. 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118, 3355, 4535); “to form the spirit of man in the midst of him” denotes to regenerate him in respect to the understanding of truth and good.

[5] In David:

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a steadfast spirit in the midst of me. Cast me not away from before Thee, and take not the Spirit of Thy holiness from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and let an ingenuous spirit uphold me. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart God doth not despise (Psalms 51:10-12, 17);

“a clean heart” denotes a will that is averse to evils, which are unclean; “a steadfast spirit” denotes the understanding and faith of truth; “a broken spirit,” and “a broken heart,” denote a state of temptation and the consequent humiliation of the life of both of these. That “spirit” denotes life, is plain from each of the above expressions. The Divine truth, from which is this life, is “the Spirit of holiness.”

In Matthew:

A generation that maketh not its heart right, and whose spirit is not constant with God (Psalms 78:8);

“a heart not right” denotes that the will is not right; “a spirit not constant with God,” denotes that the understanding and faith are not constant.

[6] In Moses:

Jehovah God made worse the spirit of Sihon king of Heshbon, and hardened his heart (Deuteronomy 2:30);

in this passage also “spirit” and “heart” denote the two lives, which are said to be “hardened” when there is no will of understanding truth and good, nor of doing them.

In Ezekiel:

Every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be let down, and every spirit shall be contracted (Ezekiel 21:7); where the meaning is similar.

In Isaiah:

Jehovah, that giveth soul unto the people upon the earth, and spirit to them that walk therein (Isaiah 42:5);

“giving soul to the people” denotes the life of faith (that “soul” denotes the life of faith, see n. 9050); and “giving spirit” denotes the understanding of truth.

Again:

With my soul have I desired Thee in the night; yea, with my spirit in the midst of me have I awaited Thee in the morning (Isaiah 26:9); where the meaning is similar.

[7] Conceive ye refuse, bring forth stubble; your spirit the fire shall devour (Isaiah 33:11).

“The spirit which the fire shall devour,” denotes the understanding of truth, thus intelligence; “fire” denotes evil affection, which being from evil destroys.

[8] In Ezekiel:

Woe to the foolish prophets that go away after their own spirit (Ezekiel 13:3).

That which cometh up upon your spirit shall never come to pass (Ezekiel 20:32).

Not one hath done so, and the rest who have the spirit: what therefore the one, seeking the seed of God? Therefore take heed by your spirit, that he may not deal treacherously against the wife of thy youth (Malachi 2:15).

Blessed is the man to whom Jehovah imputeth not iniquity, provided in his spirit there is no deceit (Psalms 32:2).

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens (Matthew 5:3.)

Jesus said unto His disciples, Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit indeed is ready, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41).

It is very evident that in these passages by “spirit” is meant the very life of man; that it denotes the intellectual life, or the life of truth, can be seen from the fact that by “spirit” in the natural sense is meant the life of man’s respiration; and that the respiration of the lungs corresponds to the life of truth, which is the life of faith and from this of the understanding; while the beating of the heart corresponds to the life of the will, thus of the love. That there is this correspondence of the lungs and of the heart, see n. 3883-3896, 9300, 9495; from which it can be seen what life is meant in the spiritual sense by “spirit.”

[9] That in a general sense “spirit” denotes the life of man’s respiration, is very plain in David:

Thou hidest Thy face, they are troubled; Thou gatherest their spirit, they expire. Thou sendest forth Thy spirit, they are created (Psalms 104:29-30).

Answer me, O Jehovah, my spirit hath been consumed; hide not Thy faces from me (Psalms 143:7).

My spirit hath been consumed, my days extinguished (Job 17:1).

Jesus, taking the hand of the maid that was dead, said, Maid arise. And so her spirit returned, and straightway she rose up (Luke 8:54-55).

Every man is become foolish with knowledge, a graven image is a lie, and there is no spirit in it (Jeremiah 10:14; 51:17).

He carried me forth in the spirit of Jehovah, and set me in the midst of the valley. And there the Lord Jehovih said to the dry bones, Behold I bring spirit into you, that ye may live. Thus said the Lord Jehovih, Come from the four winds, O spirit, and breathe into these slain; and the spirit came into them, and they lived again (Ezekiel 37:1, 5, 9-10).

The two witnesses were slain by the beast that came up out of the abyss; but after three days and a half the spirit of life from God entered into them, that they should stand upon their feet (Revelation 11:7, 11).

[10] From these passages it is very manifest that “spirit” denotes the life of man. That specifically it denotes the life of truth, which is the life of man’s intellectual part, and is called intelligence, is clear in John:

The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth. God is a spirit, therefore those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24).

Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, both of knowledge and of understanding, was in him (Daniel 5:12, 14).

John grew, and waxed strong in spirit (Luke 1:80).

The child Jesus grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was filled with wisdom (Luke 2:40).

He whom the Father hath sent speaketh the words of God; for God hath not given the spirit by measure to him (John 3:34).

“spirit” here denotes intelligence and wisdom; “speaking the words of God” denotes to speak Divine truths.

[11] From all this it is now evident what is signified by “spirit” in John:

Jesus said to Nicodemus, Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which hath been begotten of the flesh is flesh; and that which hath been begotten of the spirit is spirit (John 3:5-6); where “to be begotten of water” denotes by means of truth; and “to be begotten of the spirit” denotes the consequent life from the Lord, which is called spiritual life. (That “water” denotes the truth through which is regeneration, see n. 2702, 3058, 3424, 4976, 5668, 9323; but “the flesh” denotes what is man’s own, in which there is nothing of spiritual life, n. 3813, 8409)

[12] The like is signified by “spirit” and “flesh” in the same:

It is the spirit that maketh alive; the flesh profiteth nothing; the words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life (John 6:63);

“the words which the Lord spoke” are Divine truths, the life thence derived is “the spirit.”

In Isaiah:

Egypt is man and not God; and his horses are flesh, and not spirit (Isaiah 31:3);

“Egypt” denotes memory-knowledge in general; “his horses” denote memory-knowledge from the intellectual, which is called “flesh, and not spirit” when there is nothing of spiritual life therein. (That “Egypt” denotes memory-knowledge, see the places cited in n. 9340, 9391; that “horses” denote the intellectual, n. 2761, 2762, 3217, 5321; and that “the horses of Egypt” denote memory-knowledges from the intellectual, n. 6125, 8146, 8148.) He who does not know what is signified by “Egypt,” by “horses,” and also by “flesh” and “spirit,” cannot possibly know what these words involve.

[13] When it is known what is signified by “spirit” in regard to man, it can be known what is signified by “Spirit” when it is said of Jehovah or the Lord, to whom are attributed all things belonging to man; as face, eyes, ears, arms, hands, and also a heart and a soul; thus also a Spirit, which in the Word is called “the Spirit of God,” “the Spirit of Jehovah,” “the Spirit of His mouth,” “the Spirit of holiness,” or “the Holy Spirit.” That by the “Spirit” is meant the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord, is evident from many passages in the Word, in Ezekiel. The reason why the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord is signified by “the Spirit of God,” is that the whole life of man is thence, and those have heavenly life who receive this Divine truth in faith and love. That this is “the Spirit of God,” the Lord Himself teaches in John:

The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life (John 6:63);

“the words which the Lord spoke” are Divine truths.

[14] Again:

Jesus cried with a great voice, saying, If anyone thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. Whosoever believeth in Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow streams of living water. This said He of the Spirit, which they that believe in Him should receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet, because Jesus was not yet glorified (John 7:37-39).

That by “the Spirit which they that believe in the Lord were to receive” is meant the life which is from the Lord, and which is the life of faith and of love, is plain from the details of this passage; for “thirsting and drinking” signify a longing to know and perceive truth; “streams of living water which shall flow from the belly” denote truths Divine. From this it is evident that “the Spirit which they should receive,” which is also called “the Holy Spirit,” denotes life from the Divine truth which proceeds from the Lord, which life (as just said) is called “the life of faith and of love,” and is the very spiritual and celestial life with man. The reason why it is said that “the Holy Spirit was not yet, because Jesus was not yet glorified,” is that while the Lord was in the world He Himself taught Divine truth; but when He was glorified, which was after the resurrection, He taught it through angels and spirits. This holy thing which proceeds from the Lord, and flows into man through angels and spirits, whether manifestly or not manifestly, is “the Holy Spirit” there mentioned; for it is the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord that is called “holy” in the Word (see n. 9680).

[15] From this it is that the Holy Spirit is called “the Spirit of Truth,” and that it is said that “He will lead into all truth;” and that “He shall not speak of Himself, but what things soever He shall hear from the Lord;” and that “He shall receive from the Lord the things that He will proclaim” (John 16:13-14); and also that when the Lord departed from the disciples, “He breathed into them, and said, Receive ye the Holy Spirit” (John 20:21-22). The respiration signifies the life of faith (n. 9229, 9281); consequently the inspiration [or breathing] of the Lord signifies a capability imparted to men to perceive Divine truths, and thus to receive the life of faith; whence also comes the word “spirit” from “blowing” and from “wind,” because from the respiration; and therefore spirit is sometimes called “wind.” That the respiration of the lungs corresponds to the life of faith, and the beating of the heart to the life of love, see n. 3883-3896, 9300, 9495.)

[16] The like is signified by “inspiration” [or “breathing into”] in the book of Genesis:

And Jehovah breathed into man’s nostrils the soul of lives (Genesis 2:7).

From this the Lord is called “the spirit of our nostrils” (Lamentations 4:20). And as Divine truth consumes and vastates the evil, it is said in David:

The foundations of the world were revealed at the blast of the spirit of Thy nostrils (Psalms 18:15).

By the breath of God they perish, and by the spirit of His nostrils are they consumed (Job 4:9).

By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made, and all the army of them by the spirit of His mouth (Psalms 33:6);

“the word of Jehovah” denotes Divine truth; in like manner “the spirit of His mouth.” That this denotes the Lord is evident in John:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word. All things were made by Him. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (John 1:1, 3, 14).

[17] That Divine truth, from which is the heavenly life of man, is signified by “the Holy Spirit,” is plain also from the following passages,

In Isaiah:

There shall go forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse; and the spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and intelligence, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah (Isaiah 11:1-2).

These words are said of the Lord, in whom Divine truth, consequently Divine wisdom and intelligence, are called “the Spirit of Jehovah;” and this Spirit is called “the spirit of wisdom and intelligence, of counsel, of might, and of knowledge.”

Again:

I have put My Spirit upon Him; he shall bring forth judgment to the nations (Isaiah 42:1);

speaking here also of the Lord; “the Spirit of Jehovah upon Him” denotes Divine truth, consequently Divine wisdom and intelligence. Divine truth is also called “judgment” (n. 2235).

[18] Again:

When the enemy shall come as a pent-up stream, the spirit of Jehovah shall lift up a standard against him (Isaiah 59:19).

The spirit of the Lord Jehovih is upon Me; therefore Jehovah hath anointed Me to preach glad tidings to the poor (Isaiah 61:1);

speaking here also of the Lord; the Divine truth which was in the Lord while He was in the world, and which He Himself then was is “the Spirit of Jehovah.”

[19] That “the Spirit of Jehovah” denotes Divine truth, and that the man who receives it has heavenly life therefrom is still more evident from the following passages,

In Isaiah:

Until the spirit be poured upon you from on high, then shall the wilderness become a fruitful field; then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness (Isaiah 32:15-16).

The subject here treated of is regeneration; “the spirit from on high” denotes life from the Divine; for “the wilderness becoming a fruitful field,” and “judgment dwelling in the wilderness,” signifies intelligence where there was none before, thus new life.

[20] In like manner in Ezekiel:

That ye may know that I will give My spirit in you, that ye may live (Ezekiel 37:13-14).

Then I will not hide My faces any more from them; for I will pour out My spirit upon the house of Israel (Ezekiel 39:29).

I will pour out My spirit upon all flesh, and upon the manservants and upon the maidservants in those days will I pour out My spirit (Joel 2:28-29).

I am full of might with the spirit of Jehovah, and with judgment and strength to declare to Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin (Micah 3:8).

The horses that go forth into the land of the north have quieted my spirit in the land of the north (Zechariah 6:8).

I will pour waters upon him that is thirsty, and streams upon the dry land; I will pour out My spirit upon thy seed (Isaiah 44:3).

That in these passages “the Spirit of Jehovah” denotes the Divine truth, and through this the life of faith and of love, is evident; that it flows in immediately from the Lord and also mediately from Him through spirits and angels, may be seen above (n. 9682).

[21] In like manner in another passage in Isaiah:

In that day shall Jehovah Zebaoth be for a crown of ornament and for a diadem of beauty to the remains of His people; and for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth upon judgment, and for strength to them (Isaiah 28:5-6); where “a crown of ornament” denotes the wisdom which is of good; “a diadem of beauty,” the intelligence which is of truth; and “a spirit of judgment,” Divine truth, for judgment is predicated of truth (n. 2235, 6397, 7206, 8685, 8695, 9260, 9383).

[22] Again:

The Angel of the faces of Jehovah delivered them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; yet they rebelled, and embittered the Spirit of His Holiness; whereby He was turned to be their enemy. He put the Spirit of His Holiness in the midst of him; the Spirit of Jehovah led him (Isaiah 63:9-11, 14);

here “the Spirit of holiness” denotes the Lord as to Divine truth, thus the Divine truth which is from the Lord; “the N. Angel of His faces” denotes the Lord as to Divine good, for “the face of Jehovah” denotes love, mercy, and good.

In Revelation:

The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10);

“the testimony of Jesus” denotes the Divine truth which is from Him and concerning Him (n. 9503).

[23] In David:

Jehovah God maketh His angels spirits; and His ministers a flaming fire (Psalms 104:4); where “making the angels spirits” denotes receptions of Divine truth; and “making them a flaming fire” denotes receptions of Divine good, that is, of Divine love.

In Matthew:

John said, I baptize you with water unto repentance; but He that cometh after me shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11); where “to baptize” denotes to regenerate; “with the Holy Spirit” denotes by means of Divine truth; and “with fire” denotes from the Divine good of the Divine love. (That “to baptize” denotes to regenerate, see n. 5120, 9088; and that “fire” denotes the Divine good of the Divine love, n. 4906, 5215, 6314, 6832, 6834, 4849, 7324

[24] In Luke:

If ye, being evil, know how to give good things to your children; how much more shall the Father who is in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him? (Luke 11:13);

“to give the Holy Spirit” denotes to enlighten with Divine truth, and to endow with the life thence derived, which is the life of intelligence and wisdom.

In Revelation:

The seven lamps of fire burning before the throne are the seven Spirits of God (Revelation 4:5).

In the midst of the elders a Lamb standing, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth (Revelation 5:6).

That in these passages “Spirits” do not mean spirits, is evident from the fact that the lamps and the eyes of the Lamb are called “the Spirits of God;” for “lamps” denote Divine truths (n. 4638, 7072), and “eyes” denote the understanding of truth, and when said of the Lord, the Divine intelligence and wisdom (n. 2701, 4403-4421, 4523-4534, 9051); from which it is evident that “the Spirits of God” signify Divine truths.

[25] When therefore it is known that “the Holy Spirit” denotes the Divine truth that proceeds from the Lord, which is holiness itself, the Divine meaning of the Word can be known wherever mention is made of “the Spirit of God,” and “the Holy Spirit;” as in the following passages, in John:

I will ask the Father that He may give you another Paraclete, that He may abide with you forever; the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him; but ye know Him, for He abideth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you orphans. The Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and put you in mind of all things that I have said unto you (John 14:16-18, 26).

When the Paraclete shall come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth, who goeth forth from the Father, He shall bear witness of Me; and ye shall bear witness (John 15:26-27).

I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away; if I go not away, the Paraclete will not come unto you; but if I go away, I will send Him unto you (John 16:7).

[26] From these passages it is again evident that the Divine truth proceeding from the Divine good which is “the Father,” is “the Paraclete,” and “the Holy Spirit,” and therefore also He is called “the Spirit of Truth;” and it is said of Him that “He shall abide in them,” that “He shall teach all things,” that “He shall bear witness of the Lord.” In the spiritual sense “to bear witness of the Lord” denotes to teach about Him. Its being said that “the Paraclete who is the Holy Spirit is sent from the Father in the name of the Lord,” and again that “the Lord will send Him from the Father,” and afterward that “the Lord Himself will send Him,” is because the Father signifies the Divine Itself which is in the Lord, and consequently that the Father and He are one, as the Lord plainly declares in John 10:30; 14:9-11.

[27] In Matthew:

All sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy of the Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men. If anyone shall say a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is to come (Matthew 12:31-32);

“to say a word against the Son of man” denotes against truth Divine not yet implanted or inscribed in the life of man (that “the Son of man” denotes the Divine truth, see n. 9807); but “to speak against the Holy Spirit” denotes against the Divine truth that has been implanted or inscribed in the life of man, especially against the Divine truth about the Lord Himself. To speak against this, that is, to deny it after it has once been acknowledged, is profanation; and the profanation is of such a nature that it utterly destroys the interiors of man; and from this it is said that this sin cannot be forgiven. (What profanation is, see n. 3398, 3898, 4289, 4601, 6348, 6959, 6963, 6971, 8394, 8882, 9298)

[28] And again:

Jesus said unto the disciples, Go ye, and baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19);

“the Father” here denotes the Divine Itself; “the Son” denotes this Divine Itself in a human form; and “the Holy Spirit” denotes the Divine which proceeds. Thus there is one Divine, and yet a Trinity. That the Lord is the Divine Itself under a human form, He Himself teaches in John:

From henceforth ye have known the Father, and have seen Him; he that seeth Me seeth the Father; I am in the Father, and the Father in Me (John 14:7, 9-10).

3869. And said, Because Jehovah hath heard. That in the supreme sense this signifies providence; in the internal sense, the will of faith; in the interior sense, obedience; in the external sense, hearing; in the present case faith in the will, which is from the Lord alone, is evident from the signification of “hearing.” That “to hear” is of the sense of hearing, it is needless to explain; but that in the interior sense “to hear” is obedience, and in the internal sense faith in the will, is evident from many passages in the Word (as will be seen presently); and also from the nature of hearing in respect to that of sight. That in the interior sense “sight” is understanding, and in the internal sense, faith in the understanding, may be seen above (see n. 3863); and this because the quality of things becomes apparent by the internal sight, and thereby they are apprehended by a kind of faith, but an intellectual kind. In like manner when the things which are heard penetrate to the interiors, they are also changed into something like sight, for what is heard is seen interiorly; and therefore by “hearing” there is also signified that which is signified by “sight,” namely, that which is of the understanding, and also that which is of faith; but the hearing at the same time persuades that the case is so, and affects not only the intellectual part of man, but also his will part, and causes him to will that which he sees. Hence it is that “hearing” signifies the understanding of a thing, and at the same time obedience; and in the spiritual sense, faith in the will.

[2] As all this is latent in hearing, namely, obedience and faith in the will, therefore these likewise are signified in common speech by “hearing,” “hearkening,” and “attending;” for “to hear” is to be obedient; and “to hearken to anyone” is also to obey. For the interior things of a matter are sometimes thus contained within the expressions of man’s speech, for the reason that it is the spirit of man which thinks and perceives the meaning of the expressions of speech, and this is in a certain communion with spirits and angels, who are in the first principles of the expressions. Moreover, such is the circle of things in man, that whatever enters by the ear and eye, or by the hearing and sight, passes into his understanding, and through the understanding into the will, and from the will into act. And in like manner the truth of faith first becomes the truth of faith in memory-knowledge; afterwards the truth of faith in the will; and lastly the truth of faith in act, thus charity. Faith in memory-knowledge, or in the understanding, is “Reuben,” as already shown; faith in the will is “Simeon;” and when faith in the will becomes charity it is “Levi.”

[3] That in the supreme sense “to hear” signifies providence, may be seen from what has been said above (n. 3863) concerning “seeing,” as being in the supreme sense foresight; for the Lord’s foreseeing is the seeing from eternity to eternity that the case is so; but the Lord’s providing is the directing that it be so; and is the bending of man’s freedom to good, insofar as He foresees that man will suffer himself to be bent in freedom (see n. 3854).

[4] That by “Jehovah hearing,” from which Simeon was named, in the interior sense is signified obedience, and in the internal sense faith in the will from the Lord alone, is manifest from very many passages in the Word; as from the following.

In Matthew:

Behold a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him (Matthew 17:5);

“to hear Him” denotes to have faith in Him, and to obey His commandments; thus to have faith in the will.

In John:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, that the hour cometh when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live. Marvel not at this; for the hour cometh in which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice (John 5:25, 28);

“to hear the voice of the Son of God” denotes to have faith in the words of the Lord, and to will them. They who have faith of the will, receive life; wherefore it is said, “they that hear shall live.”

[5] Again:

He who entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep; to him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one flock, and one shepherd. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me (John 10:2-3, 16, 27);

“to hear the voice” manifestly denotes to obey from faith of the will. Again:

Everyone that is of the truth heareth My voice (John 18:37); where the same thing is meant.

In Luke:

Abraham said unto him, They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them. If they hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rose from the dead (Luke 16:29, 31);

“to hear Moses and the Prophets” denotes to know the things contained in the Word, and to have faith therein; thus also to will them; for to have faith and not to will, is to see and not to hear, but to have faith and to will is both to “see” ¹ and to “hear;” wherefore both “seeing” and “hearing” are mentioned together in the Word throughout; and by “seeing” is signified the same as by “Reuben;” and by “hearing” the same as by “Simeon;” for they are joined together as brother to brother.

[6] That “seeing” and “hearing” are mentioned together, is evident from the following passages.

In Matthew:

Therefore speak I to them by parables; because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand, and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive; for this people’s heart is waxed gross, and with ears they have heard dully, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart. But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. Verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see the things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear the things which ye hear, and have not heard them (Matthew 13:13-17; John 12:40; Isaiah 6:9).

In Mark:

Jesus said to the disciples, Why reason ye because ye have no bread? Do ye not yet comprehend, neither understand? Have ye your heart yet hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? And having ears, hear ye not? (Mark 8:17-18).

[7] In Luke:

Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God; but to others in parables; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not hear (Luke 8:10).

In Isaiah:

The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be opened (Isaiah 35:5).

Again:

And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of thick darkness, and out of darkness (Isaiah 29:18).

Again:

Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see (Isaiah 42:18).

Again:

Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears (Isaiah 43:8).

Again:

The eyes of them that see shall not be closed, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken (Isaiah 32:3).

Again:

Thine eyes shall see thy teachers, and thine ears shall hear a word (Isaiah 30:20-21).

Again:

He that stoppeth his ear from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil, shall dwell on high (Isaiah 33:15-16).

In Ezekiel:

Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of the house of rebellion, that have eyes to see, and see not; that have ears to hear, and hear not (Ezekiel 12:2).

In these passages mention is made of both “seeing” and “hearing” because the one follows the other; that is, faith in the understanding which is “seeing,” and faith in the will which is “hearing;” otherwise it would have been sufficient to mention one only; and from this it is also evident why one son of Jacob was named from “seeing” and another from “hearing.”

[8] That “seeing” signifies faith in memory-knowledge or in the understanding; and “hearing,” faith in obedience or in the will, is from the correspondences in the other life, and the derivative significatives; for those who are intellectual and are thence in faith belong to the province of the eye; and those who are obedient and thence in faith belong to the province of the ear. That this is the case will be seen at the close of the chapters, where of the Lord’s Divine mercy the Grand Man, and the correspondence of all things in the human body therewith, will be described.

[9] Hence then it is that in the internal sense the “eye” is the understanding (n. 2701); and that the “ear” is obedience, and in the spiritual sense the derivative faith, or faith in the will; as is evident also from the following passages.

In Isaiah:

Yea, thou heardest not yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time thine ear opened not itself (Isaiah 48:8).

Again:

The Lord Jehovih will waken mine ear to hear, as they that are taught; the Lord Jehovih hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious (Isaiah 50:4-5).

Again:

In attending attend to Me, and eat ye that which is good, that your soul may delight itself in fatness; incline your ear, and come unto Me; hear that your soul may live (Isaiah 55:2-3).

In Jeremiah:

To whom shall I speak and testify, that they may hear; behold their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken (Jeremiah 6:10).

Again:

This thing I commanded them, saying, Hear ye My voice and I will be your God, and ye shall be My people; and they heard not, nor inclined their ear (Jeremiah 7:23-24, 26).

Again:

Hear the word of Jehovah, O ye women; and let your ear receive the word of His mouth (Jeremiah 9:20).

Again:

Ye have not inclined your ear, and have not obeyed Me (Jeremiah 35:15).

In Ezekiel:

Son of man, all My words that I have spoken unto thee, receive in thy heart, and hear with thine ears (Ezekiel 3:10).

Again:

I will set my zeal against thee, and they shall deal with thee in fury; they shall take away thy nose and thine ears (Ezekiel 23:25);

“to take away the nose and the ears” denotes the perception of truth and good, and the obedience of faith.

In Zechariah:

They refused to hearken, and turned a stubborn shoulder, and made their ears heavy, that they should not hear; and their heart have they set as adamant, that they might not hear the law (Zech. 7:11-12).

[10] In Amos:

Thus saith Jehovah, As the shepherd snatcheth out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the sons of Israel be snatched away in Samaria, in the corner of a bed, and on the end of a couch (Amos 3:12);

“to snatch the two legs” denotes the will of good; and the “piece of an ear,” the will of truth. That a “piece of an ear” denotes this can as before said be seen solely from the correspondences in the other life, and the derivative significatives, according to which is the internal sense of the Word, and also the rituals in the Israelitish and Jewish Church. Hence it was that when Aaron and his sons were inaugurated into the ministry, it was commanded, among other things, that Moses should take of the blood of a ram, and should put it on the tip of Aaron’s ear, and upon the tip of the ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot (Exodus 29:20). By this ritual was represented the will of faith, into which also as priest he was to be initiated. That this ritual was holy, everyone may know, because it was enjoined upon Moses by Jehovah; and so also putting blood on the tip of the ear was holy. But what particular holy thing this signified can be known only from the internal sense of things in the Word, which sense here is that the holy of faith from the will must be preserved.

[11] That by the “ear” is signified obedience, and in the internal sense the consequent faith, is still more plainly evident from the ritual respecting a servant who was not willing to depart from service; concerning whom we read in Moses:

If a manservant or maidservant shall not be willing to depart from service, his master shall bring him unto God, and shall bring him to the door, or unto the doorpost, and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall serve him forever (Exodus 21:5-6; Deuteronomy 15:17);

“boring the ear through with an awl at the doorpost” signifies serving or obeying perpetually; in the spiritual sense it signifies not to will to understand truth, but to will truth from obedience, which relatively is not freedom.

[12] As in the internal sense the obedience of faith is understood by “ears,” and obeying by “hearing,” it is evident what is signified by these words of the Lord, so often uttered by Him:

He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear (Matthew 13:9, 43; Mark 4:9, 23; 7:16; Luke 8:8; 14:35; Revelation 2:7, 11, 29; 3:13, 22).

[13] That in the supreme sense “to hear” signifies providence, and “to see” foresight, is evident from the passages in the Word where “eyes” and “ears” are predicated of Jehovah or the Lord; as in Isaiah:

Incline Thine ear, O Jehovah and hear; open Thine eyes, O Jehovah and see (Isaiah 37:17).

In Daniel:

O my God, incline Thine ear and hear; open O Jehovah Thine eyes and see our wastes (Daniel 9:18).

In David:

O God, incline Thine ear unto me, and hear my speech (Psalms 17:6).

Again:

Incline Thine ear unto me, and save me (Psalms 71:2).

Again:

Turn Thine ear to my prayers because of Thy truth, answer me because of Thy righteousness (Psalms 143:1).

In Jeremiah:

O Jehovah, Thou heardest my voice; hide not Thine ear at my sighing, at my cry (Lam. 3:55-56).

In David:

O Jehovah, hide not Thy faces from me in the day of my distress; incline Thine ear to me; in the day when I cry, answer me (Psalms 102:1-2).

It is known that Jehovah has not ears nor eyes like a man, but that it is some attribute predicable of the Divine that is signified by the “ear” and by the “eye,” namely, infinite will and infinite understanding. Infinite will is providence, and infinite understanding is foresight; these are what are understood by “ear” and “eye” in the supreme sense, when they are attributed to Jehovah. From all this it is now manifest what in every sense is signified by “Jehovah hath heard,” from which Simeon was named.

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