THE EXPLANATION of Isaiah Chapter 25

(Note: Rev. Smithson's translation of the Isaiah text is appended below the explanation)

1. O JEHOVAH, You art my God; I will exalt You, I will praise Your name; for You have done wonderful [things]; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

2. For You have made of a city a heap; of a fortified city a ruin: a palace of strangers be no city; it shall never be built.

VERSES 1-12. The glorification of God Messiah, or the Lord, and the thanksgiving of those who are in heaven, on account of deliverance from their enemies, is here described. The "enemies" are also described, namely, those to whom a revelation has been made, and who, from self-love, are therefore proud. This glorification is referred to the elders or ancients in Jerusalem, concerning whom we read at the end of the former chapter, - they shall now see "wonderful things and counsels from antiquity", that is, truths and goods, which are signified by "Truth and Fidelity."

Verse 2. The "devastated city" is in allusion to the judgment in the former chapter; "strangers are the impious; their "palace" is pride and the love of self; this "palace" will be utterly cast down.

Verse 3. The "strong or brave people are those who have acquired faith, hence their strength and bravery; the "formidable nations" are also those who have faith, for they are formidable to their enemies.

Verse 4. A faith in the Lord involves what is here said, namely that they know and believe that their "defence or fortress is the Lord", for He is a defence to those who are "poor and needy", that is, who believe that they have, by no means, any strength from themselves. The more a man believes that he has no strength in himself, and that all power belongs to the Lord, he is the more strong and formidable [to his spiritual enemies]. Hence it follows that the Lord is "a refuge from the inundation, a shadow from the heat", etc., for so long as a man lives, he is liable to perpetual assaults from evil spirits; a "wall" is mentioned, because they desire to take possession of his intellectual mind, wherefore their assaults are compared to a "blast against a wall."

Verse 5. "From their heat, or their love, in a dry place, arises a tumult or noise [or opposition against divine Truth]; the Lord represses that heat by "the shadow of a cloud", which is called "the branch of the violent ones", namely, by their darkness, for it is their darkness which is called "branch."

Verse 6. The "feasts" thus described signify spiritual and celestial joys; the "eatables" from which everything impure is removed, are those joys in spiritual things when they are imbued with the Lord's justice or righteousness, hence His holiness. The impure or feculent things do not then appear, because they are not excited; they still, however, remain at the roots, but they are changed into that form in which they can be imbued with the Lord's holiness, for they are no longer excited by the diabolical crew, which is, then expelled.

Verse 7 describes the intellectual light which will then arise, or the understanding of Truth; for then will be seen "the counsels from afar", namely, Truth and Goodness. The shade which is described is compared to a "veil", and to the "face of a covering"; these things are said of the understanding but the "feasts" of love. This is to take place on Mount Zion for all peoples, that is, for those who are in the faith; for these are called "the people of Mount Zion."

Verse 8. "He shall swallow up death for ever", etc. - "Death" is damnation, which Adonai Jehovih, that is, !he Lord, will destroy when all "tears", that is, grief and pain, "will be wiped away", and likewise all", reproach or ignominy, because during their lifetime they had been affected with ignominy.

Verse 9. Faith is here described by a confession of faith in God Messiah, or the Lord; to "rejoice in His salvation", is to rejoice in Himself, for He is Salvation.

Verse 10. By "Moab" the impious are understood. By " Moab", who was born of Lot and of his elder daughter, are understood those who mix holy things with profane thus those to whom a revelation has been made, and who then can adulterate holy things, which is signified by the adultery of Lot with his own daughter. This is also the case with those who confide in their own powers, and not in the Lord, as in the following verse.

Verse 11. Because a revelation has been given to them, they are proud and trust in themselves; wherefore they are compared to those who "swim" and who continually desire to cast themselves on high, and who wish to betake themselves to the other bank, but by "the devices or obstacles [obices] of their hands, which are their own powers in which they trust, their pride is subdued.

Verse 12. "The fortress of the high fort", etc. - Their pride is here treated of and its imaginary defences, which are dejected and laid prostrate in the dust; for such is the representation of the depression of the proud. (Swedenborg's Notes on Isaiah, p. 64.)

Verses 1-3. Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth, etc.

- The devastation of the former church and the establishment of a new one are here treated of. The devastation of the church as to doctrine is understood by "making of a city a heap, a fortified city a ruin, a palace of strangers to be no city; and the establishment of a New Church as to doctrine, is understood by the words which follow, "Therefore shall the powerful people honour You; the city of the strong nations shall fear You." Apocalypse Explained 223.

Verse 2. Strangers. - See Chap, Isaiah 1:7, the Exposition.

3. Therefore shall the powerful people honour You; the city of the formidable nations shall fear You:

Verse 3.The powerful people shall honour You, the city of the formidable nations shall fear You. Here worship from Good is signified by "honouring", for "honouring" is predicated of the good of love; and worship from Truths is signified by "fearing You", as was said above; powerful people signify the men of the church who are in truths from Good, for from them comes all power; "the city of the formidable nations" signifies those who are in the truths of doctrine, and thereby in the good of love; and inasmuch as all spiritual power is thence derived, therefore they are called "the formidable nations."

From these words also it manifestly appears that there is a marriage of Good and Truth in every part of the Word; for to "honour" is predicated of Good to "fear" of Truth; both of them in worship. "People" also is predicated of those who are in Truths, and thereby in good; and "nations", those who are in Good, and thence in truths; and whereas all power in the spiritual world is from the conjunction of Good and Truth, therefore people are called "powerful", and nations are called "formidable." Apocalypse Explained 696. See also Arcana Coelestia 2826.

Verses 3, 7, 8. The powerful people shall honour You, etc.

- A distinction is here made between people and nations, because "people" signify those who are of the spiritual kingdom of the Lord, and "nations" those of His celestial kingdom, thus those who are in spiritual good, and those who are in celestial good; spiritual good is the Good of charity towards our neighbour, and the good of faith thence derived; and celestial good is the Good of love to the Lord, and the good of mutual love thence derived. The truth of this latter good is what is understood by "the city of formidable nations", for "city" signifies the doctrine of Truth, or truths of doctrine.

By "swallowing up the covering which is upon all peoples, and the veil that is spread over all nations", is signified to dissipate the shade which covers the understanding, and prevents it seeing the truths and perceiving the goods which appertain to heaven and the church. Apocalypse Explained 331.

4. For You have been a fortress to the poor, a fortress to the needy in his distress: a refuge from; the inundation, a shadow from the heat; when the blast of the violent ones was like an inundation [against] a wall.

5. As the heat in a dry place, the tumult of strangers shalt You subdue; as the heat by, the shadow of a cloud, the branch of the violent ones shall He bring low.

Verses 4, 5. By the "poor" and "needy" are signified those who are in a defect of Good from ignorance of Truth, and yet are in the desire of Good and Truth. It is called. "inundation and heat ", when evils and falsities rise up and flow in from the proprium, and also from others who are in evil; the "spirit [or blast] of the violent" signifies their opposition to the goods and truths of the church; they are called "violent" "who endeavour to destroy goods and truths, and their "spirit" signifies their lust of destroying. "The tumult of strangers shall You bring low", signifies that the Lord will allay and take away the irruption of falsities from evil; "tumult" signifying irruptions, "strangers" falsities from evil, and to "humble and bring low" signifies to allay and take away. To "repress the heat by the shadow of a cloud", signifies to defend from the concupiscence of the false; "heat" denoting the concupiscence of the false, and the "shadow of a cloud" defence from it; for the shadow of a cloud tempers the heat of the, sun, and assuages its burning. Apocalypse Explained 481.

Verse 4. A refuge, etc. - See the Exposition of Isaiah Chapter 4:6.

6. And Jehovah of Hosts shall make, for all; peoples on this mountain a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees of fat things full of' marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.

Verse 6. These things are said concerning the state of those who should acknowledge and adore the Lord. By "this mountain" is signified the New Church from the them; by the "feast of fat things, of fat things full things full of marrow", is signified good both natural and' spiritual, with joy of heart and by "wine", and "wine on the lees well refined", are signified truths from that good, with the felicity thence derived. Apocalypse Explained 1159.

The words also treat of the Lord's advent. By "the feast of fat things" is signified the appropriation and communication of goods; and by "the feast of wines on the lees well refined", or of the best wine, is signified the appropriation of truths. That" fat things" signified the goods of love, may be seen in Arcana Coelestia 353, 5943, 10053; and also the delights of love, 6409; and that "wine" signifies the good of charity, which in its essence is Truth 1071, 1798, 6377.

Similar things are signified by the "marriage [feast]", to which the ten virgins were invited. (Matthew 25:1-12)

This "feast of fat things", etc. was spoken of the sacrament of the Holy Supper, "which was to be instituted by the Lord. True Christian Religion 708.

The "feasts" which were anciently made among those who were in significatives and representatives, signified no other than initiation into mutual love and charity. The "nuptial feasts", too, signified initiation into conjugial love; and the "holy feasts" into spiritual and celestial love; and this by reason that "feasting", or eating and drinking, signified appropriation and conjunction. Arcana Coelestia 3832.

"Feasts of Charity" were instituted among the primitive Christians that they might meet together in cordial joy and friendly union. The spiritual sphere which prevailed on those occasions was the sphere of love to the Lord and towards the neighbour, which exhilarated every mind, softened, the tone of every expression and communicated to all the senses a festivity from the heart; for from every man there emanates a spiritual sphere, derived from the affection of his love and corresponding thought, which inwardly affects those in his company, particularly at the time of convivial recreations. This sphere emanates both by the face and the respiration.

It is because "dinners" and "suppers", or "feasts", were significative of such consociation of mind that they are so often mentioned in the Word. True Christian Religion 433, 459, 727.

7. And in this mountain He will swallow up the face of the covering cast over all peoples, and the veil that is spread over all nations.

Verse 7. He will swallow up the face of the covering, etc. - [By these words is meant that the Lord will, when this spiritual " feast" comes to be enjoyed, remove all obscurity respecting the true meaning of His Word, and will open the understandings of His people to perceive its internal Truths and the genuine doctrines of His church.]

8. He shall swallow up death for ever; and the Lord Jehovih shall wipe away the tear from off all faces; and the reproach of His people shall He remove from off the whole earth: for Jehovah has spoken it.

Verse. 8. By which is signified that the Lord, by His coming, shall remove evils and falsities with those who live from Him, so that there shall be no grief of mind on account of them, or from them, "Death" signifies evil, because this is the case of spiritual death; and "tear" is predicated of the false. It is to be observed that "the shedding of tears" and "weeping" signify grief on account of falsities and from falsities, but "shedding of tears" grief of mind, and "weeping" grief of heart, on account of falsities; grief of mind is grief of the thought and understanding, which are of truth, and grief of heart is grief of the affection or will, which are of good; and as everywhere in the Word there is the marriage of Truth and Good, therefore both "weeping" and "tears" are mentioned in the Word when grief is expressed on account of the falsities of doctrine or of religion. That "weeping" is grief of heart, may appear from this consideration, that it bursts forth from the heart and breaks out into lamentation through the mouth; and that "shedding of tears" is grief of mind, may appear from this consideration, that it issues forth from the thought through the eyes. In the act both of weeping, and shedding of tears comes forth water, but bitter and astringent, and this is occasioned by the influx from the spiritual world into the grief of man, where "bitter water" corresponds to the defect of truth by reason of falsities, and to grief on account thereof; wherefore grief on account of falsities has place with those who are in truths. From these considerations it may appear whence it is that in the Word, where "tears" are mentioned, "weeping" is mentioned also, namely, that it is on account of the marriage of Good and Truth in every part of the Word. The following passages may serve for confirmation, thus in Isaiah:

"I will weep, as with the weeping of Jazer, for the vine of Sibmah: I will water you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh!" (Isaiah 16:9)

In Jeremiah:

"My soul shall weep in secret places, and mine eyes shall run down with tears:" (Jeremiah 13:17) Apocalypse Explained 484.

The Lord Jehovih shall wipe away the tear from all faces, etc. These words signify that they will no longer be in combats against evils and their false principles, and thus not in pain or grief, but in goods and truths, and hence in heavenly joys from the Lord. The same thing is also signified in the Apocalypse by "the Lamb wiping away all tears from their eyes." Apocalypse Revealed 385.

As to the specific meaning of "Jehovih", see Chapter 3:15, the Exposition.

9. In that day shall, they say, Behold, this is our God! we have waited for Him, and, He will save us: this is Jehovah; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.

Verse 9. From this and many other passages it is evident that it was JEHOVAH HIMSELF who should come into the world to redeem and save mankind, and not, as is commonly supposed, "a Son from eternity." (See Isaiah 43:11, 12; 45:14, 15, 21; Hosea 13:4)

Brief Exposition 120. See also Conjugial Love 81; True Christian Religion 82, 188, 294.

10. For the hand of Jehovah shall rest upon this mountain; and Moab shall be trodden under Him, as the, straw is trodden on the dunghill.

Verse 10. The hand of Jehovah shall rest upon this mountain; and Moab shall be threshed [or trodden down], etc.

- That "Moab" signifies those in the church who are in external good without an internal principle, and whose good is consequently defiled with falsities, is signified by being "threshed or trodden down as straw for the dunghill", see above, Chapter 15:1, the Exposition.

11. And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst! thereof, as he that swims spreads forth to swim: but He shall bring down his pride together with the devices of his hands.

Verse 11. And he [Moab] shall spread forth his hands, etc. - That the "hand" signifies power and authority, and hence confidence, is evident from many passages in the Word, as in Isaiah:

"Moab spreads forth his hands", etc.; where "hand" stands for self-power [or power from the proprium], from the love of being pre-eminent over others, thus from pride.

Again,

"Their inhabitants were short of hand"; (Isaiah 37:27) "short of hand" means of no power, Hence it appears what was the nature of representatives which were the externals of the Jewish church; hence it appears too what the nature of the Word is, as containing things which, in their external sense, do not seem to be representative of the Lord and of His kingdom, like what is said here concerning "stretching out the hand", and all other things of a similar kind, whose true meaning cannot be comprehended whilst the mind dwells only in the historical relations of the letter. It appears likewise from hence how far the Jews departed from the true understanding of the Word and of the rites of the church, whilst they placed all worship in externals; even to the attributing of ability to the "rod of Moses" and to the "spear of Joshua", when yet there was in them no more ability than in any other piece of wood: but whereas they signified the Lord's Omnipotence, and as this was understood in heaven when, by command, they "stretched out the hand" or the "rod", therefore signs and miracles were done by them. The like is true concerning what is written of Moses when he was on the top of the hill, and when he lifted up his hands, Joshua prevailed; but when he let them down, the enemy prevailed: and therefore they supported his hands. (Exodus 17:9-13)

The like is true concerning the "laying on of hands", when anyone was to be consecrated, as when the people were to "lay their hands on the Levites," (Numbers 8:9, 10, 12) and when Moses "laid his hands on Joshua", in appointing him to be his successor, (Numbers 27:18, 23), that thus ability might be conferred; hence the ceremony at this day of inauguration and benediction by the "laying on of hands."

How far the "hand" signified and represented ability, may appear from what is written in the Word concerning Uzzah and Jeroboam; concerning Uzzah, that he "put forth [his hand] to the ark of God, and took hold of it; on which account he died. (2 Samuel 6:6, 7)

The "ark" represented the Lord, consequently all that is holy and celestial; Uzzah's "putting forth to the ark" represented self-ability, or man's proprium, which being profane, the word "hand" is not mentioned, but still it is understood; the reason thereof is, lest it should be perceived by the angels that what was so profane had touched what was holy.

Concerning Jeroboam it is thus written:

"It came to pass, when he heard the word of the man of God, which cried against the altar, that Jeroboam put forth his hand from off the altar, saying, Lay hold of him. And his hand; which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him, And he said to the man of God, Entreat I pray you, the, faces of Jehovah your God, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God entreated the faces of Jehovah God; and his hand was restored to him, and became as before. (1 Kings 13:4, 6)

Here, in like manner, by "putting forth the hand is signified self-ability, or proprium, which is profane in that it was desirous to violate what was holy by "putting forth the hand against the man of God", wherefore "the hand was dried up"; but inasmuch, as he was an idolator and incapable of profanation as was before said, "his hand was restored to him." That the "hand " signifies and represents ability, may appear from representatives in the world of spirits, where a kind of bare arm sometimes is presented to view, which has such strength in it, that it appears able to break bones to pieces, and bruise, as it were, to nothing the inmost marrow contained therein; and hence so great terror is excited, that all who see it are ready to melt at heart; nay, such strength is actually in it. Arcana Coelestia 878.

12. And the fortress of the high fort of your walls shall He bring down, lay low, bring to the ground, [even] to the dust.

Verse 12. The fortress of the high fort, etc. - [These words imply that all the false principles of doctrine and of evil confirmed by Moab will, at the time of judgment, be destroyed, howsoever he may "spread forth his hands", or put forth all his powers to save himself from destruction, that is, from being drowned in the falsities of his own persuasion.]

As to the signification of "fortress", "walls", "bulwarks", etc., see Chapter 26:1, the Exposition; but, in this passage, these terms are used in a bad sense.

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Isaiah Chapter 25

1. O JEHOVAH, You art my God; I will exalt You, I will praise Your name; for You have done wonderful [things]; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

2. For You have made of a city a heap; of a fortified city a ruin: a palace of strangers be no city; it shall never be built.

3. Therefore shall the powerful people honour You; the city of the formidable nations shall fear You:

4. For You have been a fortress to the poor, a fortress to the needy in his distress: a refuge from; the inundation, a shadow from the heat; when the blast of the violent ones was like an inundation [against] a wall.

5. As the heat in a dry place, the tumult of strangers shalt You subdue; as the heat by, the shadow of a cloud, the branch of the violent ones shall He bring low.

6. And Jehovah of Hosts shall make, for all; peoples on this mountain a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees of fat things full of' marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.

7. And in this mountain He will swallow up the face of the covering cast over all peoples, and the veil that is spread over all nations.

8. He shall swallow up death for ever; and the Lord Jehovih shall wipe away the tear from off all faces; and the reproach of His people shall He remove from off the whole earth: for Jehovah has spoken it.

9. In that day shall, they say, Behold, this is our God! we have waited for Him, and, He will save us: this is Jehovah; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.

10. For the hand of Jehovah shall rest upon this mountain; and Moab shall be trodden under Him, as the, straw is trodden on the dunghill.

11. And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst! thereof, as he that swimms spreads forth to swim: but He shall bring down his pride together with the devices of his hands.

12. And the fortress of the high fort of your walls shall He bring down, lay low, bring to the ground, [even] to the dust.

223. And the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from My God, signifies the doctrine of the new church, which is in the heavens. This is evident from the signification of "the city of My God," as being the doctrine of Divine truth (of which presently); also from the signification of "the New Jerusalem," as being the church in respect to doctrine (See the small work on The New Jerusalem 6); also from the signification of "which cometh down out of heaven from My God," as being that it is out of heaven from Divine truth there. That "God" means in the Word Divine truth, see above (n. 220, 222). And as Divine truth, which is in heaven and which comes down from heaven, is from the Lord alone, the Lord calls it His God. That "the city of My God" signifies the doctrine of Divine truth seems at first view remote, for the mind cannot readily think of doctrine when "city" is mentioned, or think of the church when a "land" is mentioned; yet in the Word, "cities" [civitates aut urbes] mean nothing else in the spiritual sense; and for the reason that the idea of a city is merely natural, but the idea of doctrine in a city is spiritual. Angels, because they are spiritual, can have no other idea of a city than of the people therein in respect to doctrine, as they can have no other idea of a land than of the people therein in respect to their church or their religion. The reason of this is that the societies into which the heavens are divided are for the most part like cities [communities], all differing from one another in respect to the reception of Divine truth in good; when, therefore, a "city" is mentioned angels think of the doctrine of truth. (That the heavens are divided into societies according to the differences of the good of love and faith, see in the work on Heaven and Hell 41-50; and that their habitations are disposed into the form of cities, n. 184).

[2] That "cities" [civitates seu urbes] in the Word signify doctrines can be seen from many passages there, of which I will cite here only the following.

In Jeremiah:

Behold I have given thee this day for a fenced city against the whole land (Jeremiah 1:18).

These things are said to the prophet, because "a prophet" in the Word signifies one who teaches truth, and in an abstract sense, the doctrine of truth; and as this is what "prophet" signifies, it is said to him, "I have given thee for a fenced city," which signifies the doctrine of truth defending against falsities. (That "prophet" in the Word signifies one who teaches truth, and in the abstract sense, the doctrine of truth, see Arcana Coelestia (2534[1-6]), n. 7269.)

In the same:

The crown of your splendor cometh down. The cities of the south are shut (Jeremiah 13:18-19).

Here the falsification of truth is treated of; and "the crown of their splendor cometh down" means that intelligence comes down; and "the cities of the south are shut" means that all the truths of doctrine are closed, which otherwise would be in the light. (That "crown" means intelligence and wisdom, see above, n. 126, 218; and that "south" means a state of light, see in the work on Heaven and Hell 148, 149, n. 151).

[3] In Isaiah:

Thou hast done [wonderful things, Thy] counsels from afar [are] truth, fidelity; and Thou hast made of a city a heap, of a fenced city a ruin, a palace of strangers to be no city, that it may not be built for ever; therefore a strong people shall honor Thee, a city of powerful nations shall fear Thee (Isaiah 25:1-3).

The vastation of the former church, and the establishment of a new one, are here treated of; the vastation of the church in respect to doctrine is meant by "Thou hast made of a city a heap, of a fenced city a ruin, a palace of strangers to be no city;" and the establishment of a new church in respect to doctrine is meant by "a strong people shall honor Thee, a city of powerful nations shall fear Thee."

In the same:

In that day shall a song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will He appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation that keepeth faithfulness may enter in (Isaiah 26:1-2).

Here "a strong city" signifies the doctrine of genuine truth, which falsities cannot destroy; "walls and bulwarks" signify truths defending; "gates" signify admission (as above, n. 208); "the righteous nation keeping faithfulness" means those who are in good and in truths therefrom.

[4] In the same:

How art thou fallen from heaven O Lucifer, how art thou cut down to the earth: that made the world as a wilderness, and threw down the cities thereof. Prepare slaughter for his sons, that they may not rise up and possess the land, and fill the faces of the world with cities (Isaiah 14:12, 17, 21).

Here "Lucifer" means Babylon, where every truth of the doctrine of the church was either falsified or annihilated; "he made the world as a wilderness, and threw down the cities thereof," signifies that this was done to the church and its doctrines; "prepare slaughter for his sons, that they may not rise up," signifies that its falsities must be destroyed; "and may not possess the land, and fill the faces of the world with cities," signifies in order that a church and doctrine may be there.

In Revelation:

And the great city was broken ¹ into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell (Revelation 16:18-19).

Here also Babylon is treated of; the doctrine of its falsities is what is meant by "a city broken ² into three parts," and the doctrine of evils therefrom by "the cities of the nations which fell."

[5] In David:

The redeemed of Jehovah wandered in the wilderness in loneliness of life; ³ they found not a city of habitation; hungry and thirsty [their soul fainted in them]. He led them into a straight way, that they might go to a city of habitation (Psalms 107:2, 4-5, 7).

"To wander in the wilderness and in loneliness of way," is to be in want of the knowledges of truth and good; "to find not a city of habitation" means not to find the doctrine of truth according to which they may live; "the hungry and thirsty" are those who have a longing to know good and truth; "to lead them into a straight way, that they might go to a city of habitation" is to lead them into genuine truth, and into the doctrine of life.

In Isaiah:

I said, Lord, how long? And He said, Until the cities shall be so devastated as to be without inhabitant, and the houses so that no man be in them, and the land be reduced to a waste (Isaiah 6:11).

Here the total vastation of the church is treated of; "cities" are the truths of doctrine; "houses" the goods thereof; and "land" the church.

[6] In the same:

The land shall be emptied, the land shall be confounded, the land shall be profaned under its inhabitants; the empty city shall be broken, every house shall be shut, a cry over the wine in the streets, the remnant in the city is a waste, and the gate shall be beaten down even to devastation (Isaiah 24:3-5, 10-12).

Here also the devastation of the church is treated of; "the land which is said to be emptied, confounded, and profaned," is the church; "city" is the truth of doctrine, "house" is its good; "wine, over which there is a cry in the streets," is the truth of doctrine falsified, over which there is contest and indignation.

[7] In Zephaniah:

I will cut off the nations; I will desolate their streets, and their cities shall be laid waste (Zephaniah 3:6).

Here "nations" are those who are in evils; "to desolate streets" means to desolate truths, and "to lay waste cities" means to lay waste doctrines. In Jeremiah:

The lion is gone up from the thicket, to reduce thy land to a waste; thy cities shall be destroyed; I saw Carmel a wilderness, and all its cities desolate; for this shall the land mourn; the whole city fleeing at the voice of a horseman and of the bowmen; the whole city is forsaken, not a man dwelling therein (Jeremiah 4:7, 26-29).

The "lion from the thicket" is falsity from evil; "the land" is the church, "cities" are the truths of doctrine; "Carmel" is the spiritual church; "the voice of the horseman and the bowmen," because of which "the city will flee," is reasoning and combat from falsities.

[8] In the same:

The devastator shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape; and the valley shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed (Jeremiah 48:8).

These words describe the total vastation of the church, until nothing of the truth of doctrine shall remain. In the same:

Behold, waters rising up out of the north, which shall become an overflowing brook, and shall overflow the land, the city, and them that dwell therein (Jeremiah 47:2).

Vastation also is signified by "an overflowing brook." In the same:

If ye hallow the day of the Sabbath, there shall enter in through the gates of this city kings and princes, riding in chariot and on horses, and this city shall be inhabited to eternity (Jeremiah 17:24-25).

"Hallowing the Sabbath" in the spiritual sense signifies holy acknowledgment of the Lord's Divine Human and of His conjunction with heaven and the church; "kings and princes entering in through the gates of the city" signify the truths of the church; "their riding in a chariot and on horses" signifies that they shall be in the truths of doctrine and in intelligence; "the city," which here is Jerusalem, is the church in respect to doctrine. Such is the spiritual sense of these words; such therefore is the sense in heaven.

[9] In Zechariah:

Thus said Jehovah; I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; whence Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets (Zechariah 8:3-5).

Here "Zion" does not mean Zion, nor "Jerusalem" Jerusalem; but "Zion" means the celestial church, and "Jerusalem" that church in respect to the doctrine of truth; therefore it is called "a city of truth;" "the streets of the city" signify the truths of doctrine; "boys and girls playing in the streets" signify the affections of truth and good. (That "Zion" signifies the celestial church, see Arcana Coelestia 2362, 9055; that "Jerusalem" signifies the church in respect to doctrine, n. 402, 3654, 9166; and in the small work on The New Jerusalem, 6; that "streets" signify the truths of doctrine, n. 2336; that "boys girls" signify the affections of truth good, in which there is innocence 3067, 3110, 3179, 5236, 6742; that "to play" means what pertains to interior festivity, which is the affection of truth and good, n. 10416).

[10] Because "Zion" signifies the celestial church, and "Jerusalem" the church in respect to the doctrine of truth, Zion is called "the city of Jehovah," and Jerusalem is called "the holy city," "the city of God" and "the city of the great king."

As in Isaiah:

They shall call thee, The city of Jehovah, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel (Isaiah 60:14).

In Ezekiel:

The prophet saw upon a high mountain the frame of a city on the south, and an angel measured the wall, the gate, the chambers, the porch of the gate; and the name of the city was Jehovah-is-there (Ezekiel 40:1; 48:35).

In Isaiah:

Behold, Jehovah hath caused it to be heard, even to the end of the earth, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh. And thou shalt be called a city that is sought (Isaiah 62:11-12).

In David:

As we have heard so have we seen in the city of Jehovah of hosts, in the city of our God; God will establish it forever (Psalms 48:8).

(What the celestial church is, and what the spiritual church, see in the work on Heaven and Hell 20-28.)

These two cities are called "holy cities," in Isaiah:

Thy holy cities are become a wilderness, Zion is become a wilderness, Jerusalem a waste (Isaiah 64:10).

Jerusalem in particular is called "the holy city," in Revelation:

The nations shall tread down the holy city (Revelation 11:2).

Again:

I saw the holy city, coming down from God out of heaven (Revelation 21:2).

In Matthew:

The devil took Jesus into the holy city (Matthew 4:5).

And in the same:

Coming forth out of the tombs, they entered into the holy city (Matthew 27:53).

[11] Jerusalem was called "the holy city" because it signified the church in respect to the doctrine of truth; and Divine truth proceeding from the Lord is what is called "holy" (See Arcana Coelestia 6788, 8302, 9229, 9820, 10361). That city, apart from such representation and consequent signification, was not at all holy, but rather profane, is evident from the Lord's having been rejected and crucified there; and for this reason it is also called "Sodom and Egypt" (Revelation 11:8). But because it signified the church in respect to the doctrine of truth, it was called not only "the holy city," but also "the city of God," and "the city of the great king."

Thus in David:

There is a river, the streams whereof have made glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her (Psalms 46:4-5).

In the same:

Great is Jehovah in the city of our God, beautiful in situation the city of the great king (Psalms 48:1-2).

In Matthew:

Swear not by the earth, for it is the footstool of God's feet; neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king (Matthew 5:35).

Jerusalem was called "the city of God" because "God" in the Word of the Old Testament means Divine truth proceeding from the Lord (as may be seen above, n. 220, 222); and it was called "the city of the great king," because "king" also signifies, in reference to the Lord, Divine truth proceeding from Him (See above, n. 31). From this then it is that Jerusalem is called "the city of truth" (Zechariah 8:3).

[12] In Isaiah:

Thus saith Jehovah, thy Redeemer and Former from the womb, I make void the signs of liars; turning wise men backward, and making their knowledge foolish; saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the desolate places thereof (Isaiah 44:24-26).

This treats of the rejection of the church whose doctrine is from self-intelligence, and of the establishment of a new church, whose doctrine is from the Lord. Doctrine from self-intelligence is meant by "I make void the signs of liars, turning wise men backward, and making their knowledge foolish," and doctrine that is from the Lord by "saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built."

[13] In Jeremiah:

Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? I will cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, for the land shall become a waste (Jeremiah 7:17, 34).

Here also "the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem" signify the truths of doctrine; "the voice of joy and the voice of gladness" is delight from the affection of good and truth; "the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride" are those affections themselves; and that these are to cease is meant by "the land shall become a waste;" the "land" is the church.

[14] In Isaiah:

I will commingle Egypt with Egypt that they may fight a man against his brother, and a man against his companion; city against city, kingdom against kingdom. In that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak with the lip of Canaan and that swear to Jehovah of Hosts. In that day there shall be an altar to Jehovah in the midst of Egypt (Isaiah 19:2, 18-19).

"Egypt" means the natural man and its knowledge [ejus scientificum]; "that they may fight a man against his brother, and a man against his companion," means against good and truth; "city against city, and kingdom against kingdom," signifies doctrine against doctrine, and church against church; "in that day" signifies the Lord's coming, and the state then of those who are natural and in true knowledges [scientificis]; "five cities in the land of Egypt that speak with the lip of Canaan" signify the truths of doctrine in abundance, which are genuine truths of the church, "five" meaning many or in abundance; "cities" truths of doctrine; "the lip of Canaan" genuine truths of the church. "An altar to Jehovah" here signifies worship from the good of love.

[15] In the same:

The highways have been laid waste, he that passeth through the way hath ceased; he hath rejected the cities, he regardeth not man. The land mourneth, it languisheth; Lebanon hath faded away (Isaiah 33:8-9).

"The highways that have been laid waste, and the way that is not passed through," are truths leading to heaven, which are truths of the church; "to reject the cities" is to reject the truths of doctrine; "to regard not man" is to regard not truth and good. "The land that mourneth and languisheth" is the church in respect to good; "Lebanon that hath faded away" is the church in respect to truth.

[16] In the same:

Sing, O barren, that did not bear, for more are the sons of the desolate than the sons of the married one. Enlarge the place of thy tent; thy seed shall inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited (Isaiah 54:1-3).

"The barren that did not bear" signifies the nations that have not as yet truths from the Word; "the sons of the desolate" are the truths that these will receive; "the sons of the married one" are the truths that are with those who are in the church; "to enlarge the place of the tent" means that their worship is from good; "seed" is truth therefrom; "the nations which the seed will inherit" are goods; and "the cities which shall be inhabited" are the doctrines therefrom.

[17] In Jeremiah:

I will bring upon them every good; they shall buy fields with silver, and this by writing in a book, in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountain, and in the cities of the plain, and in the cities of the south (Jeremiah 32:42, 44; 33:13).

These things are said of those in the church who are in good and in truths therefrom; "to buy fields with silver" is to acquire for themselves the good of the church by means of truths; "to write in a book" is to implant in the life; "the cities of Judah" and "the cities of the mountain" are the truths of doctrine which those have who are of the Lord's celestial kingdom; "the cities of the plain, and the cities of the south," are the truths of doctrine which those have who are in the Lord's spiritual kingdom.

[18] In Matthew:

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a mountain cannot be hid. Neither do they light a lamp and put it under a bushel (Matthew 5:14-15).

These things were said to the disciples, by whom all truths and goods in the complex are signified; therefore it is said, "Ye are the light of the world;" for "light" signifies Divine truth and intelligence therefrom. Because that is what the words signify, "Ye are the light of the world," therefore it is said, "A city that is set on a mountain cannot be hid. Neither can a lamp be lighted and be put under a bushel;" for "a city set on a mountain" signifies the truth of doctrine from the good of love; and "a lamp" signifies in general truth from good and intelligence therefrom.

[19] In the same:

Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city and house divided against itself standeth not (Matthew 12:25).

"Kingdom," in the spiritual sense, signifies the church; "city" and "house" the truth and good of its doctrine, which do not stand but fall, if they do not unanimously agree.

[20] In the same:

Jesus sends forth the twelve disciples, saying to them, Go not off into the way of the nations, and enter not into a city of the Samaritans; go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 10:5-6)

"The way of the nations" into which they were not to go off, signifies falsity from evil; "a city of the Samaritans" into which they were not to enter, signifies the false doctrine of those who reject the Lord; "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" signify those who are in the good of charity and in faith therefrom, "Israel" meaning all such wherever they may be. "A city of the Samaritans" signifies the false doctrine of those who reject the Lord, because the Samaritans did not receive Him (as may be seen in Luke 9:52-56).

[21] In the same:

Jesus said, When they persecute you in one city they should flee ⁴ into another (Matthew 10:23).

Here also by "city" is meant the doctrine of falsity from evil; that where this doctrine is the doctrine of truth will not be admitted, is meant by "when they persecute you in one city flee ye into another."

[22] In Luke:

Then the master of the house being angry, said to his servants, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor and maimed and blind and halt (Luke 14:21).

"Their going out into the streets and lanes of the city" signifies that they should enquire where those are who receive the truths of the doctrine; for "streets" and "lanes" are the truths of doctrine (as above); and "city" means doctrine. The "poor," "the maimed," "the halt," and "the blind," signify those who are not in truths and goods, and yet long for them. (Who are signified specifically by "the poor," who by "the maimed," "the halt," and "the blind," may be seen in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 107, from Arcana Coelestia.)

[23] In the same:

A certain nobleman going into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, gave to his servants ten pounds for trading; when he returned, he commanded the servants to be called. The first came, saying, Thy pound hath gained ten pounds. He said to him, good servant, because thou hast been faithful over the least, thou shalt have authority over ten cities. Then the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath made five pounds. He said to him, Be thou also over five cities (Luke 20:12-19 seq.).

These words signify, in the spiritual sense, much more than can be expressed in a few words; let it be noted merely that by "cities" here are not meant cities but the doctrinals of truth and good; and by "having authority over them" intelligence and wisdom are meant; by "ten" much, and by "five" some. (That "ten" in the Word signifies much, see Arcana Coelestia 1988, 3107, 4638, 9757; and that "five" signifies some, n. 4638, 9604.) From this it can now be seen that "the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from My God," signifies the doctrine of the new church, which is in the heavens. (This doctrine is also given in a separate small work, entitled The New Jerusalem and its Heavenly Doctrine.)

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