2161. That 'let now a little water be taken' means that they were to draw near and bring themselves down from Divine things nearer to His intellectual concepts does not become clear so much from these words alone that they should take a little water, as from the whole train of thought in this verse and from its connection with what comes before and after. From the actual words used in this verse no one could possibly know that 'let now a little water be taken, and wash your feet, and recline under the tree' meant that the Divine was to bring itself down nearer to that state of perception which was the Lord's at that time and was to put on something natural so that His perception might be improved. Indeed not the smallest trace of this arcanum is evident in these words if understood historically. That such is nevertheless their meaning in the internal sense, and that angels perceive them in that way, I know for certain.

[2] This shows what great and deep arcana lie concealed in the Word. The same is further evident from the meaning of the words in the internal sense, that is to say, from the meaning of 'water' as intellectual concepts, from the meaning of 'feet' as natural things, and from the meaning of 'tree' as perception. Once these things are understood, then what is meant in the internal sense - namely that which has been stated - becomes clear from the train of thought and from its connection with what comes before and after. That 'waters' means factual knowledge and rational concepts, consequently intellectual concepts, has been shown in Volume One, in 28, 680, and may also become clear from very many other places in the Word, which would take up too much space if they were introduced here.

1300. 'Clay' means the good from which the mind or the member of the Church is formed. This too is clear from the Word, as in Isaiah,

But now, O Jehovah, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You are our potter; and we are all the work of Your hands. Isaiah 64:8, 9.

'Clay' stands for the member himself of the Church who is being formed, and so stands for good stemming from charity by means of which the formation, that is, the reformation and regeneration, of every man is achieved In Jeremiah,

Like the clay in the hand of the potter so are you in My hand, ¹ O house of Israel. Jeremiah 18:6.

Here too 'clay' has a similar meaning. Whether reference is made to building with clay or to forming from it, it amounts to the same.

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