THE EXPLANATION of Isaiah Chapter 49

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

1. ATTEND, O islands, unto Me; and hearken, you peoples, from afar: Jehovah has called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother has He made mention of my name.

VERSE 1. "Islands" signify those who are in Truths, and "peoples from afar" those who are in Goods, and, abstractedly, Truths and Goods, both in the natural man; "from afar" is predicated of Goods which are in the natural man, but what is "near" of Goods in the spiritual man. "Peoples" here signify Goods, because in the original it is a different term from that by which Truths are signified. Apocalypse Explained 406. See also Arcana Coelestia 1158, 2709.

Verses 1, 12. By the "islands", and by the "peoples from afar", and "from the north and from the sea", are understood the Gentiles or nations with whom the church was to be established. Hence it is evident that externals are distant from internals, and stand, as it were, afar off; hence it is that, in the Word, by "afar off" is signified the external, or what is removed from the internal, as in the above passage, and in the following:

"Hear, O you that are afar off, what I have done; and acknowledge, O you that are near, My power." (Isaiah 33:13)

By those who are "afar off" are there understood the nations or Gentiles, because remote from internal Truths; and by the "near" are understood those who are of the church, and in Truths from the Word. Apocalypse Explained 1133.

As to "islands", see Chapter 41:5, the Exposition.

Verses 1, 5. The Lord, in many parts of the Word, is called "Creator", "Maker", and " Former from the womb", and also "Redeemer", by reason that He creates man anew, reforms, regenerates; and redeems. It may be supposed that the Lord is so called because He created man, and forms him in the womb, but still it is a spiritual creation and formation which is here understood; for the Word is not only natural, but also spiritual, - natural for men, who are natural, and spiritual for the angels, who are spiritual, as may also appear from this consideration, that the things here said are said concerning Israel, and, in the supreme sense, concerning the Lord.

By "Israel" is understood the church, thus every man of the church; and inasmuch as the Lord knows the quality of every one as to the Good of love and the Truth of faith, therefore it is said "Jehovah has called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother has He made mention of my name."

By "calling and knowing the name" of anyone, is signified to know his quality; "from the womb" denotes as to the Good of love, and "from the bowels of my mother", as to Truths from that Good. By "Jacob", who shall be brought back unto Him, and "Israel", who shall be gathered unto Him, is signified the church; by "Jacob" the external church, and by "Israel" the internal, - the latter being in the spiritual man, the former in the natural. Apocalypse Explained 710.

These words also treat of the Lord. To "make mention of His name" is to instruct as to His quality. Arcana Coelestia 2009.

2. And He has set my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand has He concealed me, and He has made me a polished shaft; in His quiver has He hid me;

Verse 2. Where by the "mouth" of the prophet is signified Divine Truth, wherefore it is compared to a "sharp sword", whereby is understood its penetrating power, and dispersing and destroying the false. Apocalypse Explained 908.

In the shadow of His hand has He concealed me, etc. - Treating also concerning the Lord. By the "sharp sword" is signified Truth dispersing the false; by the "polished shaft" is denoted Truth dispersing the evil; and by the "quiver" is signified the Word. Hence it is evident what is meant by "He has set my mouth like a sharp sword, and has made me a polished shaft, and in His quiver has He hid me", that is, that in Him and from Him is Divine Truth, by which falsities and evils are dispersed, and that in Him and from Him is the Word, where and whence those Truths are. Apocalypse Explained 357.

The "sharp sword" is Truth fighting; and the "polished shaft" is the Truth of doctrine. Arcana Coelestia 2799.

3. And He has said unto me, You art My servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.

Verses 3, 6. Israel, in whom I will be glorified. - Meaning the Divine Human of the Lord. Arcana Coelestia 3441.

4. And I said, I have laboured in vain; for nought, and for vanity, I have spent my strength: nevertheless my judgment is with Jehovah, and the recompense of my work with my God.

5. And now [thus] says Jehovah, my Former from the womb to be His servant, to bring back Jacob unto Him, and that Israel unto Him may be gathered: then shall I be glorious in the eyes of Jehovah, and my God will be my strength:

Verse 4. Speaking of the establishment of the New Church from the Lord. That it could not be established with the Jewish nation, because Truths could not be received by that nation from any spiritual affection, is understood by "I said, I have laboured in vain; for nought [or emptiness], and for vanity, I have spent my strength." That still a spiritual church is provided by the Lord, that is, with the Gentiles, is signified by "My judgment is with Jehovah, and the recompense of my work with my God."

By "recompense" is here signified the church, which is in the spiritual affection of Truth; by "labour" and 'by "work" is understood the combat of the Lord against the hells; and the subjugation of them, whereby the Lord restored the equilibrium between heaven and hell, in which man can receive Truth and become spiritual; concerning which equilibrium, see the work on Heaven and Hell 589-603, and in the small work on the Last Judgrnent, n. 33, 34, 73, 74. Apocalypse Explained 695.

6. And He said, It is a light thing that You should be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: [but] I will also give You for a light to the nations, to be My salvation to the end of the earth.

7. Thus says Jehovah, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One; to Him who is despised in soul, whom the nation abhors; to the Servant of rulers: Kings shall see Him, and shall rise up; princes also, and they shall bow themselves down; for the sake of Jehovah, who is faithful; of the Holy One of Israel, for He has chosen You.

Verse 6. [These words seem to imply that the Lord, or Jehovah in His Humanity, would not only" raise up the tribes of Israel", etc., that is, establish the true church, but that from Him should come the "light" and "salvation" for all nations and peoples, and for the entire universe. That the tribes of Israel and the Jews will not again, in a literal sense, be gathered to their own land, as is supposed by many from not knowing the spiritual sense of the Word, can be abundantly proved. See the Exposition of Isaiah Chapter 66:20.]

My salvation to the end of the earth. - See above, Chapter 42:10-12, the Exposition.

8. Thus says Jehovah, In the time of acceptance have I answered You, and in the day of salvation have I helped You; and I will preserve You, and give You for a covenant of the people; to restore the land, to give possession of the desolate heritages:

Verse 8. I will give You for a covenant of the people, etc. - To "give for a covenant of the people", signifies that conjunction may be with the Lord and by Him; to "restore the land", is to restore the church; and to "give possession of the desolate heritages", signifies to restore the Goods and Truths of the church which were destroyed. Apocalypse Explained 701.

As to the "Covenant", see above, Chapter 42:6, the Exposition.

Verses 8, 13. I will give You for a covenant of the people, to restore the land. Sing, O you heavens; and rejoice, O earth; you mountains, break forth into song, etc.

- Treating of the Lord and of His advent. The establishment of the church by Him is signified by "I will give You for a covenant of the people, to restore the land"; to "restore the land" denoting to re-establish the church. It is well known that the Lord did not restore the land to the Jewish people, but that He established the church amongst the Gentiles. The joy in consequence thereof is described by "Sing, O you heavens; rejoice, O earth; you mountains, break forth into song." By the "heavens" are understood the heavens where are the angels who are in the interior Truths of the church; by the "earth" is understood the church with men; and by the "mountains", those who are in the Good of love to the Lord. Apocalypse Explained 304.

9. Saying to the prisoners, Go forth; to those that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and on all the eminences shall be their pasture.

Verse 9. These words treat manifestly of the Lord. The "prisoners" [or the bound] are, in particular, those who were detained in the lower earth until the advent of the Lord, and who were then elevated into heaven; and, in general, those who are in Good, and kept, as it were, bound by falsities, from which, however, they endeavour to come forth. To "feed in the ways" is to be instructed in Truths; that "ways" are Truths, see Arcana Coelestia 627, 2333; and that to "feed" is to be instructed, n. 5201. "On all eminences shall be their pasture", signifies to be nourished in Good; for "eminences", like mountains, are the Goods of love. Arcana Coelestia 6854. See also 6078.

By "the bound [or prisoners], to whom He shall say, Go forth", and by "those that are in darkness, to whom He shall say, Show yourselves", are signified the Gentiles who have lived in Good according to their religion, and yet were in falsities from ignorance, who are called "bound" when they are in temptations; "darkness" denotes falsities from ignorance. Apocalypse Explained 481.

As to the "lower earth" in the world of spirits, and the "prisoners", or the "bound", who are detained there until they are devastated of their false principles, see Chapter 24:22, the Exposition.

10. They shall not hunger, neither shall they thirst; neither shall, the heat nor the sun smite them: for He that has mercy on them shall lead them, and, shall guide them to springs of water.

Verse 10. Any one who thinks deeply may see that hunger and thirst for natural meat and drink are not here meant, neither the natural sun and heat which shall not smite them, nor natural springs of water to which they shall be led; by "hunger" and "thirst", therefore, is signified to hunger and thirst for such things as belong to eternal life, or which communicate that life, which, in general, have reference to the Good of love and the Truth of faith", hunger" relating to the former, and "thirst" to the latter. The "heat" and the "sun" signify the heat derived from false principles and the love of evil; for these take away all spiritual hunger and thirst. The "springs of water, to which the Lord will lead them", signify illustration in all Truth; a "spring" or "fountain" denoting the Word and doctrine from the Word; "water" denoting Truth; and to "lead", when predicated of the Lord, denoting to illustrate. From these considerations it may appear what is signified by the words of the Lord in John:

"I am the Bread of Life: He who cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he who believes on Me shall never thirst"; (John 6:35) where that to "hunger" is to come to the Lord; and that to "thirst" is to believe on Him, is evident; to "come to the Lord" is to do His commandments, Apocalypse Explained 386.

That "the heat shall not smite them", signifies that the false originating in concupiscence shall not affect them. Apocalypse Explained 481.

11. And I will make all My mountains a way, and My highways shall be exalted.

Verse 11, 13. By "mountains", in the plural number, are understood both mountains and hills, thus both the Good of love and the Good of charity. The "mountains and hills being made into a way, and the highways being exalted", signifies that they who are in those Goods shall be in genuine Truths, - to be "made or set into a way" signifying to be in Truths; and for "the highways to be exalted", is meant to be in genuine Truths, for "ways" and "highways" signify Truths, which are said to be "exalted" by Good; and Truths derived from Good are genuine Truths. Their joy of heart in consequence thereof is signified by "Sing, O you heavens; and rejoice, O earth; "internal joy by "Sing, O you heavens", and external joy by "Rejoice, O earth." Confessions from joy originating in the Good of love, are signified by "You mountains, break forth into song." That this was on account of reformation and regeneration, is signified by "for Jehovah has comforted His people." That the mountains in the world are not here understood, is evident, for to what purpose would it be for "mountains to be made into a way", for "the highways to be exalted", and likewise for" the mountains to break forth into singing"? Apocalypse Explained 405.

12. Lo! these shall come from afar; and lo! these from the north and from the sea; and these from the land of Sinim.

Verse 12. The "north" signifies those who are in obscurity as to Truth; the "west" [or the sea], those who are in obscurity as to Good; and they are said to "come from afar" who are remote from the light which is from the Lord. Arcana Coelestia 3708 Arcana Coelestia 3708[1-23].

As to the "east", "west", "north", and "south", see Chapter 43:5, 6, the Exposition.

From the land of Sinim. - [It is not known what country "Sinim" designated, but it is probable that it was adopted as an appellation for the south, as the "sea" in this verse, and frequently elsewhere, is for the west. In this way the four quarters are designated, - "from afar" denoting the east, or those who are remote from the acknowledgement and love of the Lord; and "Sinim", those who are remote from the light or intelligence of Truth proceeding from that love.]

13. Sing, O you heavens; and rejoice, O earth; you mountains, break forth into song: for Jehovah has comforted His people, and will have mercy on His afflicted.

Verse 13. See the Exposition of Isaiah Chapter 44:23.

14. But Zion says, Jehovah has forsaken me, and the Lord has forgotten me,

15. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, these may forget; but I will not forget you.

Verses 14, 15. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion. on the son of her womb?-This is said because in the spiritual sense regeneration is understood, wherefore comparison is made with a "woman" and "her love towards her infant." The case is the same with those who are regenerated by the Lord. Apocalypse Explained 710.

16. Behold, on the palms of My hands have I graven you; your walls are continually before Me.

Verse 16. To "engrave" or to "write on stone", also on the "palms of the hands", signifies perpetual remembrance. "Your walls are continually before Me;"-"walls" are the Truths of faith. (Arcana Coelestia 6419, 9841)

See, as to the meaning of a "city", "walls", "bulwarks", etc., Chapter 26:1, the Exposition.

17. They shall hasten your sons; your destroyers and your devastators shall depart from you.

Verses 17, 18. These things are said of "Zion", by which is signified the celestial church. By "the sons who shall make haste" are understood the Truths of that church. That "sons" are Truths has been frequently shown above; hence it is said that "she [Zion] should clothe herself with them all, as with an ornament; and should bind them about her, as a bride [her jewels]", -which words can be said of, the Truths of the church, but not of the "sons" of Zion. Arcana Coelestia 10540.

Verses 17, 22. They shall hasten your sons; your destroyers and your devastators shall depart from you, etc. - The establishment of a New Church by the Lord is treated of in these words. By "the sons whom they shall hasten, and whom they shall bring in their bosom", and by "the daughters whom they shall carry upon their shoulder", are understood all who are in Truths and in the affection thereof and abstractedly from persons, Truths themselves, and their affections, with those who will be of the New Church. "Your destroyers and your devastators" signify the falsities of evil; that these will be removed is signified: by "they shall depart from you." Apocalypse Explained 724.

18. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all these gather themselves together, they come to you. As I live, says Jehovah, surely you shalt clothe yourself with them all, as with an ornament; and shalt bind them on you, as a bride [her jewels],

19. For your wastes and your desolate places, and the land of your destruction, shall even now be too narrow for the inhabitants; and they that swallowed you up shall be far away.

20. The sons, of whom you wast bereaved, shall yet say in thine ears, This place is too narrow for me; make room for me that I may dwell.

21. And you shalt say in thine heart, Who has begotten me these? I was bereaved [of my sons], and solitary; an exile, and an outcast; and these, who has nourished them up? Lo! I was forsaken, and alone; these, where were they?

Verses 18, 20, 21. These words treat of "Zion", or of the celestial church and of its fructification after vastation. The "sons of bereavement." stand for Truths, of which in vastation she was deprived, but which were afterwards restored and immensely increased. (Arcana Coelestia 5536 Arcana Coelestia 5536[1-5])

In the whole of this chapter the desolation of those who are regenerated is treated of, and of their regeneration and fructification after desolation and at length, [in verse 26] of the punishment of those who desolate or oppress. Arcana Coelestia 5376.

22. Thus says the Lord Jehovih, Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations, and to the peoples will I exalt My standard: and they shall bring your sons in their bosom, and your daughters shall be borne on their shoulder.

Verses 22, 23. These words treat of the Lord, and of those who worship and adore Him. To "lift up the hand to the nations and to the peoples a standard", is to bring to Himself all who are in the Goods of love and in Truths hence derived; of them it is said that "they should bring their sons in the bosom, and their daughters on the shoulder"; "sons" are the affections of Truth, and "daughters" are affections of Good; of them it is also said that "kings should be their nursing fathers [or nourishers], and their queens [or princesses]their nursing mothers"; "kings" are the veriest Truths and "queens" their Goods; and because man is regenerated and also nourished by these Truths and Goods, it is said they shall be your nourishers and your nurses [giving suck]. This is the internal sense of these words; who, without that sense, could understand them? That man is regenerated by Truths, and by a life according to them, see Chapter 1:2; 8:3, the Exposition. Apocalypse Explained 175.

The whole of this chapter treats of the advent of the Lord and of the salvation of those who receive Him, as is evident from verses 6-9; consequently it is not the salvation of the Jews which is here treated of much less their restoration to the land of Canaan. That the Jewish nation was not understood in the passages here adduced, may also appear from this circumstance, that it was the worst, of all nations, and idolatrous in heart; and that they were not introduced into the land of Canaan on account of any goodness and justice of heart, but on account of the promise made to their fathers; likewise that there were no Truths and Goods of the church with them, but falsities and evils; and that they were therefore rejected and expelled from the land of Canaan, as may appear from all those passages in the Word wherever that nation is described. Apocalypse Explained 433. See Chapter 66:20, 22, the Exposition.

Verse 22. For the meaning of a "standard", see Chapter 13:2, the Exposition.

23. And kings shall be your nursing fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers: with their faces to the earth they shall bow down unto you, and shall lick the dust of your feet; and you shalt know that I am Jehovah, and that they who trust in Me shall not be ashamed.

Verse 23. Because "kings" signify those who are in Truths derived from the Good of love to the Lord, therefore it became a custom from ancient times that "kings", when they were crowned; should be distinguished by certain insignia, which signify Truths derived from Good, as that a "king" should be anointed with oil, that he should wear a crown of gold, that he should hold a sceptre in his right hand, that he should be clothed with a purple robe, that he should sit upon a throne of silver, and that he should ride with his insignia upon a white horse; for "oil" signifies Good, from which is Truth, see Arcana Coelestia 886 Arcana Coelestia 886[1-2], 4638; a "crown of gold" upon the head [is wisdom, and] has a similar signification, n. 9930; a "sceptre", which is a staff, is the power of Truth from Good, Arcana Coelestia 4581, 4876; the "robe", divine Truths in the spiritual kingdom, 9825; and "purple", the spiritual love of Good, 9467 ; a "throne", the kingdom of Truth derived from Good, 5315, 6397; "silver", that Truth itself, 1551, 1552; and a "white horse", the understanding illustrated therefrom, as may be seen in the work concerning the White Horse 1-5. (See also above, Chapter 31:1, the Exposition.) That rituals about the coronation of "kings" involve such things, but that the knowledge thereof is at this day lost, see also Arcana Coelestia 4581, 4966. Apocalypse Explained 31.

24. Shall the prey be taken away from the mighty? or shall the captivity of the just be delivered?

25. Yea, thus says Jehovah, Even the captivity of the mighty shall be taken away, and the spoil of the terrible shall be delivered: for with him that contends with you I will contend, and your sons I will save.

Verses 24, 25. These words treat of the Lord, and of the bringing back of the sons of Zion from captivity, but by the "sons of Zion" are meant those who are in love to the Lord, and thence in Truths. That they were secluded from Truths by those who strenuously confirmed falsities, and that still they were liberated by the Lord, is signified by " Shall the prey be taken away from the mighty? or shall the captivity of the just be delivered? Yea, thus says Jehovah, Even the captivity of the mighty shall be taken away, and the spoil of the terrible shall be delivered: for with him that contends with you I will contend, and your sons I will save." Apocalypse Explained 811.

[The "prey of the mighty", the "captivity of the just", and the "spoil of the terrible", would seem specifically to denote those who are held captive in the lower earth of the spiritual world, or in vastations, to whom the Lord, after His resurrection, "went to preach"; (1 Peter 3:19) and whom He delivered from those who are here called the "mighty" and the "terrible", that is, the evils and falsities by which they had been held captive. The "captivity of the just" denotes those who, although in false principles, were nevertheless in good intentions, of which "justice" is here predicated. See, as to the further meaning of "vastations", and the nature of those who undergo them, Chapter 24:22, the Exposition.]

26. And I will feed thine oppressors with their own flesh; and with their own blood, as with new wine, shall they be drunken: and all flesh shall know that I Jehovah am your Saviour, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

Verse 26. That by "flesh", in a bad sense, is signified the proprium of man's will which, viewed in itself, is evil, may appear from the above and from the following passages:

"A man shall eat the flesh of his own arm." (Isaiah 9:20)

And in Jeremiah:

"I will feed you with the flesh of their sons, and with the flesh of their daughters; and they shall devour every man the flesh of his companion." (Jeremiah 19:9)

And in Zechariah: "The rest shall eat everyone the flesh of another." (Zechariah 11:9) Apocalypse Explained 1082. See Chapter 9:19-21, the Exposition.

To "feed oppressors with their own flesh" is to feed thrm with their own evil. Arcana Coelestia 8409.

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Isaiah Chapter 49.

1. ATTEND, O islands, unto Me; and hearken, you peoples, from afar: Jehovah has called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother has He made mention of my name.

2. And He has set my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand has He concealed me, and He has made me a polished shaft; in His quiver has He hid me;

3. And He has said unto me, You art My servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.

4. And I said, I have laboured in vain; for nought, and for vanity, I have spent my strength: nevertheless my judgment is with Jehovah, and the recompense of my work with my God.

5. And now [thus] says Jehovah, my Former from the womb to be His servant, to bring back Jacob unto Him, and that Israel unto Him may be gathered: then shall I be glorious in the eyes of Jehovah, and my God will be my strength:

6. And He said, It is a light thing that You should be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: [but] I will also give You for a light to the nations, to be My salvation to the end of the earth.

7. Thus says Jehovah, the Redeemer of Israel, his Holy One; to Him who is despised in soul, whom the nation abhorreth; to the Servant of rulers: Kings shall see Him, and shall rise up; princes also, and they shall bow themselves down; for the sake of Jehovah, who is faithful; of the Holy One of Israel, for He has chosen You.

8. Thus says Jehovah, In the time of acceptance have I answered You, and in the day of salvation have I helped You; and I will preserve You, and give You for a covenant of the people; to restore the land, to give possession of the desolate heritages:

9. Saying to the prisoners, Go forth; to those that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and on all the eminences shall be their pasture.

10. They shall not hunger, neither shall they thirst; neither shall, the heat nor the sun smite them: for He that has mercy on them shall lead them, and, shall guide them to springs of water.

11. And I will make all My mountains a way, and My highways shall be exalted.

12. Lo! these shall come from afar; and lo! these from the north and from the sea; and these from the land of Sinim.

13. Sing, O you heavens; and rejoice, O earth; you mountains, break forth into song: for Jehovah has comforted His people, and will have mercy on His afflicted.

14. But Zion says, Jehovah has forsaken me, and the Lord has forgotten me,

15. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, these may forget; but I will not forget you.

16. Behold, on the palms of My hands have I graven you; your walls are continually before Me.

17. They shall hasten your sons; your destroyers and your devastators shall depart from you.

18. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all these gather themselves together, they come to you. As I live, says Jehovah, surely you shalt clothe yourself with them all, as with an ornament; and shalt bind them on you, as a bride [her jewels],

19. For your wastes and your desolate places, and the land of your destruction, shall even now be too narrow for the inhabitants; and they that swallowed you up shall be far away.

20. The sons, of whom you wast bereaved, shall yet say in thine ears, This place is too narrow for me; make room for me that I may dwell.

21. And you shalt say in thine heart, Who has begotten me these? I was bereaved [of my sons], and solitary; an exile, and an outcast; and these, who has nourished them up? Lo! I was forsaken, and alone; these, where were they?

22. Thus says the Lord Jehovih, Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations, and to the peoples will I exalt My standard: and they shall bring your sons in their bosom, and your daughters shall be borne on their shoulder.

23. And kings shall be your nursing fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers: with their faces to the earth they shall bow down unto you, and shall lick the dust of your feet; and you shalt know that I am Jehovah, and that they who trust in Me shall not be ashamed.

24. Shall the prey be taken away from the mighty? or shall the captivity of the just be delivered?

25. Yea, thus says Jehovah, Even the captivity of the mighty shall be taken away, and the spoil of the terrible shall be delivered: for with him that contends with you I will contend, and your sons I will save.

26. And I will feed thine oppressors with their own flesh; and with their own blood, as with new wine, shall they be drunken: and all flesh shall know that I Jehovah am your Saviour, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

2799. 'And he took in his hand the fire and the knife' means the good of love and the truth of faith. This is clear from the meaning of 'the fire' as the good of love, dealt with in 934, and from the meaning of 'the knife' as the truth of faith. As regards 'the knife' used on the victims in sacrifices meaning the truth of faith, this may be seen from the meaning of 'a sword' or 'a small sword' in the Word, for the expression 'small sword' is used instead of 'knife'. Both have the same meaning, the only difference being that 'a knife' which was used on sacrificial victims meant the truth of faith, whereas 'a sword' meant truth engaged in conflict. Now since the word 'knife' occurs but rarely in the Word, for a hidden reason given below, ¹ let the meaning of 'a sword' be shown. In the internal sense 'a sword' means the truth of faith engaged in conflict, and also the vastation of truth; and in the contrary sense it means falsity engaged in conflict and the punishment of falsity.

[2] A sword means the truth of faith engaged in conflict This becomes clear from the following places: In David,

Gird Your sword on Your thigh, O Mighty One; prosper in Your glory and honour, ride on the word of truth, and Your right hand will teach You marvellous things. Psalms 45:3-4.

This refers to the Lord. 'Sword' stands for truth engaged in conflict. In the same author,

The merciful will exalt in glory, they will sing on their beds. The high praises of God will be in their throats and an extremely sharp sword in their hand. Psalms 149:5-6.

In Isaiah,

Jehovah called Me from the womb, from My mother's body ² He made mention of My name, and made My mouth like a sharp sword, and made Me into a polished arrow. Isaiah 49:1-2.

'A sharp sword' stands for truth engaged in conflict, 'a polished arrow' for the truth of doctrine, see 2686, 2709. In the same prophet,

Asshur will fall by a sword, not of man (vir); a sword, not of man (homo), will devour him; and he will flee before the sword, and his young men will become tributary. Isaiah 31:8.

'Asshur' stands for reasoning in Divine things, 119, 1186, 'a sword, not of man (vir)' and 'not of man (homo)' stand for falsity, 'the sword before which he will flee' stands for truth engaged in conflict.

[3] In Zechariah,

Turn to the stronghold, O prisoners of hope; even today I declare I will render double to you - I who have bent for Myself Judah as a bow, I have filled Ephraim, and have roused your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Javan; and I will set you as the sword of one who is mighty, and Jehovah will appear over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning. Zechariah 9:12-14.

'The sword of one who is mighty' stands for truth engaged in conflict. In John,

In the midst of the seven lampstands one like the Son of Man was holding in His right hand seven stars; out of His mouth a sharp two-edged sword was going forth, and His countenance was like the sun shining in full strength. Revelation 1:13, 16.

And further on,

These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword, I will come to you quickly and engage in conflict with them with the sword of My mouth. Revelation 2:12, 16.

'A sharp two-edged sword' plainly stands for truth engaged in conflict, which was therefore represented as 'a sword going out of His mouth'.

[4] In the same book,

Out of the mouth of Him who sat on the white horse went forth a sharp sword, and with it He is to smite the nations. And they were slain by the sword of Him sitting on the horse, which went out of His mouth. Revelation 19:15, 21.

Here it is plain that 'a sword going out of His mouth' means truth engaged in conflict. The one 'sitting on the white horse' is the Word, and thus the Lord who is the Word; see above 2760-2763. This explains what the Lord says in Matthew,

Do not think that I have come to bring peace on to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. Matthew 10:34.

And in Luke,

Now he who has a purse, let him take it, and likewise a bag. But he who has none, let him sell his garments and buy a sword. They said to Him, Behold, Lord, here are two swords. And Jesus said, It is enough. Luke 22:36-38.

'A sword' here is used to mean nothing else than the truth, from which and for which they were to engage in conflict.

[5] In Hosea,

I will make for them a covenant on that day with the wild animals of the field, and with the birds of the air, and the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish ³ the bow, and the sword, and war from the land, and I will make them lie down in safety. Hosea 2:18.

Here the subject is the Lord's kingdom. 'Abolishing the bow, the sword, and war' means the absence of any conflict there over doctrine and truth. In Joshua,

Joshua lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, a man was standing before him, with a sword drawn in his hand. He said to Joshua, I am the Prince of the army of Jehovah; and Joshua fell on his face to the earth. Joshua 5:13-14.

These words, which refer to the time when Joshua together with the children of Israel entered the land of Canaan, are used to mean the entry - of those who have faith - into the Lord's kingdom. Truth engaged in conflict, which is the Church's, is 'the sword drawn in the hand of the Prince of the army of Jehovah'.

[6] But as for 'small swords' or 'knives' meaning the truth of faith, this becomes clear from the fact that they were used not only in sacrifices but also in circumcision. Those used in circumcision were made of flint and were called 'small swords of flint', as is evident in Joshua,

Jehovah said to Joshua, Make small swords of flint for yourself; and again, circumcise the children of Israel a second time. And Joshua made small swords of flint for himself, and circumcised the children of Israel on the hill of the foreskins. Joshua 5:2-3.

'Circumcision' was a representative of purification from self-love and love of the world, see 2039, 2632. And because such purification is achieved by means of the truths of faith, 'small swords of flint' were therefore used, 2039 (end), 2046 (end).

[7] II A sword means the vastation of truth This is clear from the following places: In Isaiah,

These two will happen to you; who is to condole with you? Vastation and demolition, and famine and sword; who is to comfort you? Your sons fainted, they lay at the head of every street. Isaiah 51:19-20.

'Famine' stands for vastation of good, and 'sword' for vastation of truth. 'Lying at the head of every street' stands for being deprived of all truth. 'Street' means truth, 2336; and for what vastation is, see 301-304, 407, 408, 410, 411. In the same prophet,

I will destine ⁴ you for the sword, and all of you will bow down to the slaughter, because I called but you did not answer, I spoke but you did not listen. Isaiah 65:12.

[8] In the same prophet,

By fire Jehovah will judge, and by sword, all flesh; and the slain of Jehovah will be many. Isaiah 66:16.

'The slain of Jehovah' stands for those who have undergone vastation. In Jeremiah,

On all the hills in the wilderness those who cause devastation have come, for the sword of Jehovah is devouring from one end of the land even to the other end of the land. There is no peace for any flesh. They have sown wheat and reaped thorns. Jeremiah 12:12-13.

'The sword of Jehovah' plainly stands for the vastation of truth. In the same prophet,

They have lied against Jehovah and said, It is not He; and no evil will come upon us; neither shall we see sword and famine. And the prophets will become wind, and there is no utterance in them. Jeremiah 5:12-13.

[9] In the same prophet,

I am visiting them; the young men will die by the sword; their sons and their daughters will die by famine. Jeremiah 11:22.

In the same prophet,

When they offer burnt offering and minchah I will not accept them, for I am consuming them by sword and by famine and by pestilence. And I said, Ah, Lord Jehovih, behold, the prophets say to them, You will not see the sword, nor will you have famine. Jeremiah 14:12-13.

In the same prophet,

The city has been given into the hand of the Chaldeans fighting against it, in face of the sword, and famine, and pestilence. Jeremiah 32:24, 36.

In the same prophet,

I will send sword, famine, and pestilence upon them, until they are consumed from the ground which I gave to them and their fathers. Jeremiah 24:10.

[10] In these places vastation is described as 'sword, famine, and pestilence'. 'Sword' describes the vastation of truth, 'famine' the vastation of good, and 'pestilence' preying upon even to destruction. In Ezekiel,

Son of man, Take a sharp sword, use it as a barber's razor and pass it over your head and over your beard. And you are to take balances and you are to divide the hair. A third part you are to burn with fire in the midst of the city; a third part you are to strike with the sword round about it; and a third part you are to scatter to the wind, and I will unsheathe the sword after them. A third part will die of pestilence, and be consumed with famine in the midst [of you], and a third part will fall by the sword round about [you], and a third part I will scatter to every wind; and I will unsheathe the sword after them. Ezekiel 5:1-2, 12, 17.

This refers to the vastation of natural truth, which is described in this fashion. In the same prophet,

The sword is without, and pestilence and famine within; he that is in the field will die by the sword, and him that is in the city famine and pestilence will devour. Ezekiel 7:15.

[11] In the same prophet,

Say to the land of Israel, Thus said Jehovah, Behold, I am against you, and will draw My sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked. Because I will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked, therefore My sword will go out of its sheath against all flesh from south to north; and all flesh will know that I Jehovah have drawn My sword out of its sheath, and it will not return any more. The word of Jehovah came to me, saying, Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus said Jehovah, Say: A sword, a sword has been sharpened and also polished, sharpened, for great slaughter, so that it is polished to flash like lightning! Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus said the Lord Jehovih against the children of Ammon, and against their reproach, Say: A sword, a sword is bared for the slaughter, and polished to consume because [polished to shine like] lightning - while they see vanity for you, while they divine a lie for you. Ezekiel 21:3-5, 8-20, 28-29.

Here 'a sword' means nothing other than vastation, as is evident in the internal sense from each detail included here.

[12] In the same prophet,

The king of Babel will destroy your towers with his swords. By reason of the abundance of horses their dust will cover you; by reason of the noise of horsemen, and wheels, and chariots, your walls will be shaken. With the hoofs of his horses he will trample all your streets. Ezekiel 26:9-11.

What 'Babel' is, see 1326, and that it causes vastation, 1327. In David, If he does not turn back God will whet His sword, bend His bow, and make it ready. Psalms 7:12.

In Jeremiah,

I said, Ah, Lord, truly You have utterly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, You will have peace; but the sword has reached even to the soul. Jeremiah 4:10.

[13] In the same prophet,

Declare in Egypt, and cause it to be heard in Migdol, Stand up and prepare yourself, for the sword will devour round about you. Jeremiah 46:14.

In the same prophet,

A sword over the Chaldeans and against the inhabitants of Babel, and against her rulers, and against her wise men! A sword against the boasters, and they will become insane! A sword against her mighty men, and they will be dismayed! A sword against her horses, and against her chariots, and against the whole mingled crowd in her midst, and they will become as women! A sword against her treasures, and they will be plundered! A drought on her waters, and they will dry up! Jeremiah 50:35-38.

'A sword' plainly stands for the vastation of truth, for it is said to be 'a sword against the wise men, against the boasters, against the mighty men, against the horses and chariots, against the treasures', and that there will be 'a drought on the waters and they will dry up'.

[14] In the same prophet,

We have given the hand to Egypt, to Asshur to be satisfied with bread. Slaves have had dominion over us; there is nobody to free us from their hand. In [peril of] our souls we acquired our bread, in face of the sword of the wilderness. Lamentations 5:6, 8-9.

In Hosea,

He will not return to the land of Egypt, and Asshur will be his king, because they have refused to return to Me. And the sword will come down on his cities, and consume his bars, and devour because of their counsels. Hosea 11:5-6.

In Amos.

I have sent the pestilence upon you in the way of Egypt, I have slain your young men with the sword, along with your captured horses. ⁵ Amos 4:10.

'In the way of Egypt' stands for the facts which cause vastation when, on the basis of these, people reason in Divine things. 'Captured horses' stands for the understanding when stripped of its own inherent qualities.

[15] III A sword in the contrary sense means falsity engaged in conflict. This becomes clear in David,

As to my soul, I lie in the midst of lions setting on fire the children of men; their teeth are spear and arrows, and their tongues a sharp sword. Psalms 57:4.

In the same author,

Behold, they belch out with their mouths, swords are in their lips - for who hears? Psalms 59:7.

In Isaiah,

You are cast out from your sepulchre like an abominable stock, a garment of the slain pierced by the sword, who go down to the stones of the pit like a dead body trodden underfoot. Isaiah 14:19

This refers to Lucifer. In Jeremiah,

In vain have I smitten your sons, they took no correction Your own sword is devouring your prophets, like a ravaging lion. O generation, observe the Word of Jehovah, Have I been a wilderness to Israel? Jeremiah 2:30-31.

[16] In the same prophet,

Do not go out into the field, and do not walk on the road, for the enemy has a sword, terror is all around. Jeremiah 6:25-26.

In the same prophet,

Take the cup of the wine of wrath and make all the nations to which I send you drink it. And they will drink and reel, and go mad in face of the sword which I am sending among them. Drink and get drunk, and vomit, and fall, and do not get up again in face of the sword. Jeremiah 25:15-16, 27.

In the same prophet,

Go up, O horses; rage, O chariots; let the mighty men go forth, Cush and Put, that handle the shield, and the Ludim that handle and bend the bow. And that day is to the Lord Jehovih of hosts a day of vengeance. And the sword will devour, and be sated, and become drunk on their blood. Jeremiah 46:9-10.

[17] In Ezekiel,

They will strip you of your garments, and take the jewels ⁶ of your glory, and leave you naked and bare. And they will bring up an assembly upon you, and they will stone you with stones; they will run you through with their swords. Ezekiel 16:39-40.

This refers to the abominations of Jerusalem. In Zechariah,

Woe to the worthless shepherd, the deserter of the flock! The sword will fall upon his arm and upon his right eye. His arm will be wholly withered, and his right eye utterly darkened. Zechariah 11:17.

In Hosea,

They thought what was evil against Me. Their princes will fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue. This will be their derision in the land of Egypt. Hosea 7:15-16.

[18] In Luke,

There will be great distress over the earth, and wrath on that people; for they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive among all the gentiles; ⁷ at length Jerusalem will be trodden down by the gentiles. ⁷ Luke 21:23-24.

Here the Lord was referring to the close of the age - in the sense of the letter to the dispersion of the Jews and the destruction of Jerusalem, but in the internal sense to the final state of the Church. 'Falling by the edge of the sword' means that there was no truth any longer, but merely falsity. 'All the gentiles' means every kind of evil among which 'they will be led captive'. 'The gentiles' - or 'the nations' - means evils, see 1259, 1260, 1849, 1868, and 'Jerusalem' means the Church, 2117, which will be so 'trodden down' by them.

[19] IV A sword also means the punishment of falsity

This is clear in Isaiah,

On that day Jehovah will make a visitation with His hard and great and strong sword upon Leviathan the full-length serpent, ⁸ and upon Leviathan the twisting serpent, and He will slay the monsters that are in the sea. Isaiah 27:1.

This refers to those who by means of reasonings based on sensory evidence and factual knowledge enter into the mysteries of faith. 'The hard, great, and strong sword' stands for the punishments of the falsity that results from those reasonings.

[20] When one reads about people being put to, and being slain by, the edge of the sword, sometimes including 'both men and women, young people and old, oxen, sheep, and asses', the meaning in the internal sense is punishment consisting in the condemnation of falsity, as in Joshua 6:21; 8:24-25; 10:28, 30, 37, 39; 11:10-12, 14; 13:22; 19:47; Judges 1:8, 25; 4:15-16; 18:27; 20:37; 1 Samuel 15:8; 2 Kings 10:25; and elsewhere. This also explains why it was commanded to put to the sword any city which worshipped other gods, and to destroy it utterly and to burn it with fire, and to let it remain a heap for ever, Deuteronomy 13:12-18. 'The sword' stands for the punishment of falsity, 'fire' for the punishment of evil. The angel of Jehovah with a drawn sword who stood in the path against Balaam, Numbers 22:22, 31, meant the truth which stood in the way of the falsity which possessed Balaam. For that reason also he was slain with a sword, Numbers 31:8.

[21] The meaning of 'a sword' in the genuine sense as truth engaged in conflict, and in the contrary sense as falsity engaged in it, also the vastation of truth and the punishment of falsity, has its origin in the representatives that occur in the next life. For in that life, when anyone utters that which he knows to be false, daggers so to speak instantly come down over his head and strike terror, while truth engaged in conflict is represented there as well by objects which have sharp points like the tips of swords; for such is the nature of truth if it is devoid of good, but if it exists together with good it is rounded and gentle. Such being the origin of the meaning of a sword, therefore with angels, whenever a knife, spear, small sword, or sword is mentioned in the Word, truth engaged in conflict comes to mind.

[22] The reason why a knife is hardly mentioned at all in the Word is that in the next life there are evil spirits who are called 'knifers'. They seem to have knives hanging by their sides, and the reason for this is that they possess so brutal a nature that they wish to cut everyone's throat with their knife. This is why knives are not mentioned, but small swords and swords, for the latter being implements normally used in battle give rise to the idea of war and so of truth engaged in conflict.

[23] Because it was well known to the ancients that a small sword, a lance, and a knife meant truth, the gentiles, who received the practice through tradition, were therefore accustomed during sacrifices to stab and slash themselves, even until they bled, with small swords, lances, or knives, as one reads of the priests of Baal,

The priests of Baal cried out with a loud voice and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until blood gushed out. 1 Kings 18:28.

As regards all weapons of war in the Word meaning things that have to do with spiritual conflict, each one having some specific meaning, see 2686.

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