8876. “我必追讨自父及子的罪” 表随之源于邪恶的虚假的繁衍. 这从 “追讨父的罪” 和 “子” 的含义清楚可知. “追讨父的罪” 是指邪恶的繁衍; “追讨” 之所以表示繁衍, 是因为此处论述的主题是那些完全弃绝神性的人, 因而是那些不同支接受良善, 而是接受邪恶, 并且常常如此的人, 邪恶不断在这类人身上增长, 这就是它的繁衍; “父” 表示良善, 在反面意义上表示邪恶 (参看3703, 5902, 6050, 7833, 7834节). “子” 是指真理 (1147, 2623, 3373节), 因而在反面意义上是指虚假. 就最接近文字的意义而言, “追讨自父及子的罪” 并非表示儿子要为父亲的罪孽受惩罚, 因为这违反神性 (申命记 24:16); 相反, 就这层意义而言, 意思是邪恶在父亲那里增加, 进而通过遗传传给孩子; 于是, 邪恶便代代累积增加 (2910, 3701, 4317, 8550, 8551节). 然而, 就灵义而言, “父” 并非表示父亲, 而是表示邪恶; “子” 也并非给儿子, 而是表示虚假; 因此, 这些话表示源于邪恶的虚假的不断繁衍.

A 'sword,' as in Ezekiel 21:9-15, signifies a person so desolated that he can see nothing good and true, but only falsities and contradictions. A 'sword,' in the Word, signifies the truth of faith combating and the vastation of truth. In an opposite sense, it signifies falsity combating and the punishment of falsity.

The 'sword,' in Revelation 1:16, represents a dispersion of falsities by the Lord because the sword came out from His mouth, which means it comes from the Word. Because the Word is understood by doctrine taken from it, this is also symbolically meant. It is called a sharp two-edged sword because it pierces the heart and soul.

A 'flaming sword which turned every way,' as in Genesis 3:24, signifies divine truth in extremes, which, like the Word in its literal sense, can be turned.

(Reference: Arcana Coelestia 2799)