9397. And read it in the ears of the people. That this signifies for hearkening and obedience, is evident from the signification of “reading,” as being for hearkening; for when anything is read, it is that it may be heard, perceived, and obeyed; that is, that it may be hearkened unto; and from the signification of “in the ears,” as being for obedience; for “the ears,” and “hearing,” signify obeying (see n. 2542, 3869, 4551, 4652-4660, 5471, 5475, 7216, 8361, 8990, 9311).

[2] As “the ears” signify not only hearing and notice, but also obedience, therefore in the Word frequent mention is made of speaking “in the ears,” and reading “in the ears,” of people; and not of speaking and reading “before them;” as in Jeremiah:

Hear thou these words that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people (Jeremiah 28:7).

They spoke these words in the ears of the people (1 Samuel 11:4).

Let thine handmaid speak in thine ears (1 Samuel 25:24).

Proclaim in the ears of the people, saying (Judg. 7:3).

Speak in the ears of the people (Exodus 11:2).

Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the judgments which I speak in your ears this day (Deuteronomy 5:1.

I speak these words in their ears (Deuteronomy 31:28).

Moses spoke all the words of the song in the ears of the people (Deuteronomy 32:44).

He read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant (2 Kings 23:2).

They said unto him, Sit down and read it in our ears; and Baruch read it in their ears (Jeremiah 36:15).

When Jesus had ended all the words in the ears of the people (Luke 7:1).

[3] As “the ear,” and “hearing,” signify the reception of truth, notice, and obedience, thus the first and the last of faith, therefore it was so often said by the Lord, “He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear” (Matthew 11:15; 13:9, 43; Mark 4:9, 23; 7:16; Luke 14:35). And because by “the deaf,” that is, those who do not hear, are signified in the spiritual sense those who are not in the faith of truth, because they are not in the knowledge and consequent perception of it (n. 6989, 9209), therefore when the Lord healed one that was deaf, “He put His finger into his ears, and said, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. And straightway his ears were opened” (Mark 7:32-35). (That all the miracles of the Lord infolded and signified states of the church, see n. 8364, 9086)

9311. For in hearing thou shalt hear his voice. That this signifies instruction in the commandments of faith, and reception, is evident from the signification of “hearing,” as being to be instructed and to receive (of which below); and from the signification of “his voice,” as being the commandments of faith (see above, n. 9307). “To hear,” in the Word, signifies not merely to hear in simplicity, but also to receive in the memory and to be instructed, likewise to receive in the understanding and to believe, and also to receive with obedience and to do. That these things are signified by “hearing,” is because the speech which is heard presents itself before the internal sight, or understanding, and is thus inwardly received; and there, according to the cogency of the reasons given, or according to the powers of persuasion from some other source, what is heard is either retained, or believed, or obeyed. From this it is that in the spiritual world there is a correspondence of the ear and of hearing with such things (see n. 4652-4660, 5017, 7216, 8361, 8990).

[2] That “to hear” denotes to receive in the memory and to be instructed, also to receive in the understanding and believe, likewise to receive in obedience and do, is plain also from the following passages.

In Matthew:

I speak in parables; because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand; that in them may be fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive; the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest haply they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart. Blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. Many prophets and righteous men have desired to see the things which ye see, but have not seen them; and to hear the things which ye hear, but have not heard them (Matthew 13:13-17);

“to hear” is here used in every sense; in that of being instructed; in that of believing; and in that of obeying. “Hearing they hear not” denotes to be taught and yet not to believe; and also to be instructed and not to obey; “to have ears dull of hearing” denotes to refuse instruction, belief, and obedience; “the ears which are blessed because they hear” denote blessedness from the reception of the doctrine of faith concerning the Lord, and through the Word from the Lord.

[3] In John:

He that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. The sheep hear his voice. Those who were before Me were thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them. Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one flock, and one shepherd. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me (John 10:2-3, 8, 16, 27);

“to hear the voice” denotes to be instructed in the commandments of faith, and to receive them with faith and obedience. The same is signified by what the Lord so often said:

He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear (Matthew 11:15; 13:9, 43; Mark 4:9, 23; 7:16; Luke 8:8; 14:35).

[4] Similar things are signified also in Matthew:

Behold a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is My beloved Son, hear ye Him (Matthew 17:5).

He that hath the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth with joy because of the bridegroom’s voice (John 3:29).

Verily I say unto you, The hour cometh when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live (John 5:25);

“the dead” denote those who as yet have no spiritual life, by reason of ignorance of the truth of faith; “to hear the voice of the Son of God” denotes to be instructed in the truths of faith, and to obey them; “to live” denotes to be endowed with spiritual life through these truths.

[5] Again:

He that is of God heareth the words of God: for this cause ye hear not, because ye are not of God (John 8:47).

Jesus said, Everyone that is of the truth heareth My voice (John 18:37).

Abraham said to the rich man, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them (Luke 16:29).

They said of Jesus, He hath done all things well, for He maketh the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak (Mark 7:37);

“the deaf” denote those who do not know the truths of faith, and therefore cannot live according to them (n. 6989); “to hear” denotes to be instructed, to receive, and to obey.

In John:

When the Holy Spirit is come, He shall lead you into all truth. He shall not speak from Himself; but what things soever He shall hear, these shall He speak. He shall take of Mine (John 16:13-14);

“what things soever he shall hear” denotes whatsoever he shall receive from the Lord. In Matthew:

Everyone who heareth My words, and doeth them, I will liken him to a prudent man; but everyone that heareth these words of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened to a foolish man (Matthew 7:24, 26).

Everyone that cometh unto Me, and heareth My sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like (Luke 6:47).

“To hear His words,” or “sayings,” denotes to learn and know the commandments of faith which are from the Lord; “to do them” denotes to live according to them.