Arcana Coelestia #1006

By Emanuel Swedenborg

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1006. From the hand of every wild beast. That this signifies from all that is violent in man, is evident from the signification of “wild beast.” In the Word “wild beast” [fera] signifies what is living (as shown n. 908), but in the opposite sense it signifies what is like a wild beast, thus whatever is ferine in man (as also shown above). Therefore it signifies a man of such life, namely, a violent man, or one who inflicts violence on charity; for he is like a wild beast. Man is a man from love and charity, but he is a wild beast from hatred, revenge, and cruelty.

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