67. As white wool, as snow, signifies in respect to good and truth therein. This is evident from the signification of "white wool" as being good in ultimates (of which presently); and from the signification of "snow," as being truth in ultimates. "Snow" means truth in ultimates by reason of the water of which it is composed, and its whiteness and brightness. (That "water" signifies truth, see below, n. 71; and that "whiteness," and "brightness," signify truth from the transparency of light, see Arcana Coelestia 3301, 3993, 4007, 5319, 8459.)
"White wool," signifies good in ultimates, because wool upon lambs and sheep has a signification like that of hair upon man; and "lambs," and "sheep" signify good, "lambs" celestial good (See Arcana Coelestia 3519, 3994, 10132), and "sheep" spiritual good (n. 4169, 4809). From this it is that the "hairs," by which Divine truth in ultimates is signified, are said to be "white as white wool, and as snow." So also of the Lord, when He was transfigured:
His garments became glistening, exceeding white as snow, so as no fuller on earth can whiten them (Mark 9:3);
and of the "Ancient of Days" in Daniel:
I beheld till thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of Days did sit; His raiment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was white wool 1
(Daniel 7:9).
"Raiment" signifies the Divine in ultimates (See above, n. 64); and "the Ancient of Days," the Lord from eternity.
[2] Because "wool" signifies good in ultimates, good is sometimes described in the Word by "wool," and truth by "linen" and by "snow," as in Hosea:
She said, I will go after my lovers, that give me my bread and my waters, my wool and my flax. Therefore will I return and take my corn in the time thereof, and I will pluck away my wool and my flax (Hosea 2:5, 9).
In Ezekiel:
Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool; ye slaughter that which is the best; ye feed not the flock (Ezekiel 34:3).
In David:
Jehovah will send 2
out His word upon the earth; He giveth snow like wool (Psalms 147:15-16).
In Isaiah:
Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow; though they be red like purple they shall be as wool (Isaiah 1:18).
"Snow" is predicated of sins that were as scarlet, and "wool" of sins that were red like purple, because "scarlet" signifies truth from good, and in a contrary sense, falsity from evil (See Arcana Coelestia 4922, 9468); and "red" and "purple" signify good, and in a contrary sense, evil of every kind (See Arcana Coelestia 3300, 9467, 9865).
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