Like most meanings in the Bible this can change depending on context to a meaning perverted into the opposite. Instead of a mind full of knowledge and love of the neighbor, the love can be twisted around to pride in one's own self-intelligence and lead toward evil instead of good. The elders and chief priests who sat in judgment on Jesus in Caiaphas' house show the other side of the representation. Elders are mentioned in the Bible mainly in two ways: First the elders of Israel: and second the 24 elders seated about the throne of God in Revelation. In both cases, they mean wisdom, which comes from using the truths we've learned to do what's right in our everyday lives. The elders of Israel mean the chief things of wisdom in the church called Israel. The elders mentioned in Revelation 4 mean the wisdom of the highest heavens, and by extension the whole of the heavens.

9742. 'On the south side, southwards' means that it dwells in the light of truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'the south, southwards' as a place where truth dwells in light, dealt with in 9642. The reason why the court lay on that side was that those who are in the court of heaven, that is, in the lowest heaven, are governed by the good of faith, and the good of faith comes into being through enlightenment provided by the light which comes from the Lord. The light which comes from the Lord is the truth of faith, and when this truth is integrated into the will it is called the good of faith. With those who are in the outer court a new will part is formed within the understanding part of their mind, 9596; and to enable it to be formed there it is necessary for those people to dwell in the light of truth. This explains why in relation to the dwelling-place the court was made 'on the south side, southwards'.