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να περασω σημερον δια μεσον ολου του ποιμνιου σου, διαχωριζων εκειθεν παν προβατον εχον ποικιλματα και κηλιδας, και παν το μελανωπον μεταξυ των αρνιων, και το εχον κηλιδας και ποικιλματα μεταξυ των αιγων· και ταυτα να ηναι ο μισθος μου·
Γένεση 30:32
Arcana Coelestia #4001
4001. 'And black among the lambs' means the first state of innocence. This is clear from the meaning of 'black' as the proprium, and from the meaning of 'a lamb' as innocence, dealt with just above in 3994. The reason why 'black among the lambs' at this point means the first state of innocence is that the proprium of a person who is being regenerated rules at first, for he imagines that he does good from his proprium, and also, so that he can be granted a heavenly proprium, he must do it as if from his proprium, see 1712, 1937, 1947, 2882, 2883, 2891. This is why 'black among the lambs' here means the first state of innocence.
