Det finns många fall i Bibeln som beskriver människor som vänder sig tillbaka, ser tillbaka eller går tillbaka. I de flesta fall är det ett negativt, ibland förödande så (som hos Lots fru, vände sig till en saltpelare när hon tittade tillbaka på Sodoms förstörelse). I allmänhet representerar detta vårt tillstånd när vi avancerar till en ny andlig nivå och befinner oss som önskar komforten och lättheten hos den gamla - att gå tillbaka representerar en återgång till ett tidigare, underlägset stadium.

Betydelsen av ”tillbaka” är mer bokstavlig när den är ansluten till föremål. När någon tar tillbaka något eller ger tillbaka något, är den andliga betydelsen mestadels centrerad på det aktuella objektet och de personer som utför handlingen.

(références: Himmelska Hemligheter 1717, 2417, 2454, 3614, 3712, 5624)

5624. 'And the silver that was put back in the mouth of your pouches you are to take back in your hand' means that through the truth freely given and present in the exterior natural they were to make themselves submissive as far as was possible. This is clear from the meaning of 'the silver that was put back' as truth freely given, dealt with in 5530; from the meaning of 'in the mouth of a sack' as in the opening of the exterior natural, dealt with in 5497; and from the meaning of 'in the hand' as within one's power, dealt with immediately above in 5623, thus as far as possible. Making themselves submissive through that truth is meant by the instruction that 'they were to put back' the silver; for when people in the spiritual world 'take back' truth to the Lord from whom they have received it freely they are making themselves submissive through it. But in what way they made themselves submissive through such truth is evident from the conversation, included in verses 18-24, which they had with the man who was over Joseph's house.