Arcana Coelestia #7424
7424. And there was louse on man and on beast. That this signifies that interior and exterior evils of cupidities were thence derived, is evident from the signification of “lice,” as being evils (see n. 7419); and from the signification of “man,” as being good (n. 4287, 5302), thus in the opposite sense evil; and from the signification of “beast,” as being the affection of good, and in the opposite sense the affection of evil, or cupidity (n. 45, 46, 142, 143, 246, 714, 715, 719, 776, 2179, 2180, 3218, 3519, 5198); but when “man and beast” are mentioned together, then by “man” is signified interior good, and in the opposite sense interior evil; and by “beast” exterior good, and in the opposite sense exterior evil. The reason why by “man” is signified interior good, or evil, is that he is man from his internal man and its quality, but not from the external man; for the external man is not man without the internal; and in order that the external may also be man, it must be wholly subordinated to the internal, insomuch that it does not act from itself, but from the internal man. The reason why by “beast” is signified exterior good, and in the opposite sense exterior evil, is that beasts have no internal such as man has; the internal which they have has been immersed in the external, insomuch that it is one with it, and together with it looks downward or toward the earth, without any elevation toward what is interior. It is said “evils of cupidities” because all evils belong to cupidities, because cupidities belong to loves. Interior evils are distinguished from exterior by the fact that interior evils are those which are of the thought and will; and exterior evils are those which are of act. That there may be evils which are interior and not exterior, is evident from the fact that a man may be evil, and yet in the outward form may appear as an upright man, and even as a man of faith and conscience. Some also know how to counterfeit angels, when yet inwardly they are devils. So far can the inward form which is of the spirit differ from the outward form which is of the body.
Arcana Coelestia #46
46. That “beasts” signify man’s affections-evil affections with the evil, and good affections with the good-is evident from numerous passages in the Word, as in Ezekiel:
Behold, I am for you, and I will look back to you, that ye may be tilled and sown, and I will multiply upon you man and beast, and they shall be multiplied and bring forth fruit; and I will cause you to dwell as in your ancient times (Ezekiel 36:9, 11, treating of regeneration).
In Joel:
Be not afraid ye beasts of My field, for the dwelling places of the wilderness are become grassy (Joel 2:22).
In David also:
So foolish was I, I was as a beast before Thee (Psalms 73:22).
In Jeremiah, treating of regeneration:
Behold the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast, and I will watch over them to build and to plant (Jeremiah 31:27-28).
[2] “Wild animals” have a similar signification, as in Hosea:
In that day will I make a covenant for them with the wild animal of the field, and with the fowl of the heavens, and with the creeping thing of the earth (Hosea 2:18).
In Job:
Thou shalt not be afraid of the wild animals of the earth, for thy covenant is with the stones of the field, and the wild animals of the field shall be at peace with thee (Job 5:22-23).
In Ezekiel:
I will make with you a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil wild animal to cease out of the land, that they may dwell confidently in the wilderness (Ezekiel 34:25).
In Isaiah:
The wild animals of the field shall honor me, because I have given waters in the wilderness (Isaiah 43:20).
In Ezekiel:
All the fowls of the heavens made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the wild animals of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations (Ezekiel 31:6).
This is said of the Assyrian, by whom is signified the spiritual man, and who is compared to the garden of Eden.
In David:
Glorify ye Him, all His angels, glorify Jehovah from the earth, ye whales, fruit trees, wild animal, and every beast, creeping thing, and flying fowl (Psalms 148:2, 7, 9-10).
Here mention is made of the same things-as “whales” the “fruit tree” “wild animal” the “beast” “creeping thing” and “fowl” which, unless they had signified living principles in man, could never have been called upon to glorify Jehovah.
[3] The Prophets carefully distinguish between “beasts” and “wild animals of the earth” and “beasts” and “wild animals of the field.” Nevertheless goods in man are called “beasts” just as those who are nearest the Lord in heaven are called “animals” 1 both in Ezekiel and in John:
All the angels stood round about the throne, and the elders, and the four animals, 1 and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshiped the Lamb (Revelation 7:11, 19:4).
Those also who have the gospel preached to them are called “creatures” because they are to be created anew:
Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15).
Fußnoten:
1. This word is here correctly translated “animals” and not “beasts” as in the authorized version, for zoon in Greek, and animal in Latin and English, precisely correspond to each other, and properly signify “a living creature.” Zoon is the word used in these passages in the original, and not thar or tharion, as would be the case if beast had been intended. [Note to former edition.]
