354. "Come and see," signifies attention and perception. This is evident from the signification of "coming" when anything is presented to be seen, as being to give attention; for in a spiritual sense, "to come" means to draw near with the sight, thus to give attention; all attention also is a presence of the sight in the object. It is evident also from the signification of "to see," as being perception, for "to see" in the Word signifies to understand (See above, n. 11, 260); here it signifies to perceive, because this was out of the inmost heaven, since what comes out of the inmost heaven is perceived, but what comes out of the middle heaven is understood, for the reason that the inmost heaven is in the good of love, but the middle heaven is in the truths therefrom, and all perception is from good, and all understanding is from truths. (On this see above, n. 307; what perception is, see in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 140.)

In Genesis 3:16, this signifies conflict with resulting anxiety. (Arcana Coelestia 261)

In Genesis 42:38, this signifies with no hope of restoration of the church. (Arcana Coelestia 5551) Sorrow signifies the anxieties and combats attending the bringing forth of truths. (Arcana Coelestia 263)

In Exodus 3:7, this signifies immersion in falsities. (Arcana Coelestia 6853)

In Revelation 18:7, this signifies here the fear of evils from hell. (Apocalypse Revealed 884)

(Notae: Arcana Coelestia 5887, 5888)