905. 21:16 The city is laid out as a square. This symbolizes justice in the New Church.

The city was seen as square because a square or quadrilateral form symbolizes justice, inasmuch as a triangle symbolizes rectitude, all of these being symbols on the lowest level, which is the natural one.

A square or quadrilateral layout symbolizes justice because it has four sides, and the four sides face the four cardinal points of the compass; and to face the four cardinal points equally is to regard everything equitably. That is why there were three gates on each side giving entrance into the city, and why it is said in Isaiah,

Open the gates, that a righteous nation which keeps its fealties may enter in. (Isaiah 26:2)

The city was laid out as a square in order that its length and breadth might be equal, the length symbolizing the goodness of the New Church, and the breadth its truth, and when goodness and truth are in balance, then there is justice.

It is because a square has this symbolic meaning that we say in everyday speech that this or that man deals squarely, meaning a man who does not incline unjustly to either one party or the other.

Because a square symbolizes justice, therefore the altar of burnt offering was square (Exodus 27:1), which symbolized a worship springing from a celestial goodness and consequent truth. The altar of incense, too, was square as well (Exodus 30:1-2). And other objects also were square.

899. And twelve gates. This symbolizes all the concepts of truth and goodness by which a person is introduced into the church.

Gates symbolize concepts of truth and goodness from the Word, because a person is introduced into the church by them. For the wall that had the gates symbolizes the Word, as explained just above in no. 898. Moreover we are later told that "the twelve gates were twelve pearls: each gate was of one pearl" (verse 21), and pearls symbolize concepts of truth and goodness (no. 727). Clearly it is by these concepts that people are introduced into the church, as through gates into a city.

That the number twelve symbolizes all people may be seen in no. 348 above.

Gates symbolize concepts of truth and goodness also in the following places:

I will... lay your foundations in sapphires; I will make your pinnacles of garnets, and your gates carbuncle-stones. ¹ (Isaiah 54:11-12)

Jehovah loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God! (Psalms 87:2-3)

Enter through His gates with confession... Confess Him, bless His name. (Psalms 100:4)

Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem! Jerusalem is built as a city that holds fast together. (Psalms 122:2-3)

Praise Jehovah, O Jerusalem! ...For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; He has blessed your children in your midst. (Psalms 147:12-13)

...that I may recount all Your praises in the gates of the daughter of Zion. (Psalms 9:14)

Open the gates, that a righteous nation which keeps its fealties may enter in. (Isaiah 26:2)

...raise your voice... that they may enter the gate of the princes. (Isaiah 13:2)

Blessed are those who do His commandments... and enter through the gates into the city. (Revelation 22:14)

Lift up your heads, O you gates... that the King of glory may come in. (Psalms 24:7, 9)

The roads to Zion mourn... All her gates are desolate; her priests groan... (Lamentations 1:4)

Judah mourned, and her gates have been made to languish. (Jeremiah 14:2)

Jehovah has purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion... Her gates have sunk into the ground. (Lamentations 2:8-9)

...who make a man to sin against the Word, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate... (Isaiah 29:21)

They chose new gods; then he began to attack the gates. (Judges 5:8)

And so on elsewhere, as in Isaiah 3:25-26; 14:31; 22:7; 24:12; 28:6; 62:10; Jeremiah 1:15; 15:7; 31:38, 40; Micah 2:13; Nahum 3:13; Judges 5:11.

Since gates symbolize introductory truths, which are concepts from the Word, therefore the elders of the city used to sit as judges at the gates, as is apparent from Deuteronomy 21:18-21; 22:15; Lamentations 5:14; Amos 5:12, 15; Zechariah 8:16.

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