790. That the “waters” here and in the following verses signify falsities, is evident from the passages of the Word adduced at the beginning of this chapter, and at verse 6, where a “flood” or inundation of waters is treated of. It is there shown that inundations of waters signify desolations and temptations, which involve the same as falsities; for desolations and temptations are nothing else than inundations of falsities that are excited by evil spirits. That such “waters” signify falsities, is because in the Word “waters” in general signify what is spiritual, that is, what is of understanding, of reason, and of memory-knowledge [intellectuale, rationale, et scientificum]; and as they signify these they also signify their contraries, for every falsity is a something pertaining to memory-knowledge, and appears as a thing of reason and understanding, because it is of the thought.
[2] That “waters” signify spiritual things, is evident from many passages in the Word; and that they also signify falsities, let the following passages, in addition to those already cited, serve for confirmation.
In Isaiah:
This people hath refused the waters of Shiloah that go softly; therefore behold the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, and he shall go over all his banks (Isaiah 8:6-7)
The “waters that go softly” here denote things spiritual, “waters strong and many” falsities. Again:
Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia; that sendeth ambassadors upon the sea, and in vessels of papyrus upon the waters. Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled (Isaiah 18:1-2),
denoting the falsities which are of the “land shadowing with wings.”
[3] Again:
When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee (Isaiah 43:2).
The “waters” and “rivers” denote difficulties, and also falsities.
In Jeremiah:
What hast thou to do with the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Shihor? And what hast thou to do with the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river? (Jeremiah 2:18),
where “waters” denote falsities from reasonings. Again:
Who is this that riseth up as a river? as the rivers his waters are in commotion. Egypt riseth up as a river, and as the rivers his waters toss themselves; and he said, I will rise up, I will cover the earth, I will destroy the city and the inhabitants thereof (Jeremiah 46:7-8),
where again “waters” denote falsities from reasonings.
[4] In Ezekiel:
Thus saith the Lord Jehovih, When I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited, when I shall bring up the deep upon thee, and the great waters shall cover thee, then will I bring thee down with them that descend into the pit (Ezekiel 26:19-20).
“Waters” here denote evils and the falsities therefrom.
In Habakkuk: Thou didst tread the sea with thine horses, the mire of many waters (Habakkuk 3:15), where “waters” denote falsities.
In John:
And the serpent cast forth after the woman, out of his mouth, water as a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream (Revelation 12:15-16).
Here “waters” denote falsities and lies.
In David:
Send Thine hand from above, rescue me and deliver me out of great waters, out of the hand of the sons of the stranger, whose mouth speaketh a lie, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood (Psalms 144:7-8).
“Great waters” here manifestly denote falsities; the “sons of the stranger” also signify falsities.
