9324. And I will take away disease from the midst of thee. That this signifies protection from falsifications of truth and adulterations of good, is evident from the signification of “taking away from the midst of thee,” when said of the falsified truths and adulterated goods which are signified by “disease,” as being to protect, for when the Lord protects from these, He takes them away (see n. 9313); and from the signification of “disease,” as being falsified truth and adulterated good. These are the diseases of the spiritual life; for the spiritual life comes forth and subsists through the truths which are of faith and the goods which are of love. When these are falsified and perverted the man sickens; but when they are denied at heart, he spiritually dies. (That “diseases” denote and correspond to such things, see n. 4958, 5711-5727, 8364, 9031)

4958. That “to hunger” is from affection to desire good, is because “bread” in the internal sense is the good of love and of charity, and “food” in general is good (n. 2165, 2177, 3478, 4211, 4217, 4735). That “to thirst” is from affection to desire truth, is because “wine” and also “water” denote the truth of faith (that it is so with “wine,” see above n. 1071, 1798; and with “water,” n. 2702). That a “stranger” is one who is willing to be instructed, may also be seen above (n. 1463, 4444). That the “naked” means one who acknowledges that there is nothing of good or truth in himself, the “sick” one who acknowledges that he is in evil, and the “bound,” or he that is “in prison,” one who acknowledges that he is in falsity, is plain from the many passages in the Word in which they are mentioned.