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创世记 4

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1 有一日,那和他妻子夏娃同房,夏娃就怀孕,生了该隐(就是得的意思),便耶和华使我得了一个子。

2 又生了该隐兄弟亚伯亚伯是牧的;该隐是种地的。

3 有一日,该隐拿地里的出产为供物献给耶和华

4 亚伯也将他羊群中头生的和的脂油献上。耶和华看中了亚伯和他的供物,

5 只是看不中该隐和他的供物。该隐就大大的发怒,变了脸色。

6 耶和华该隐:你为甚麽发怒呢?你为甚麽变了脸色呢?

7 你若行得好,岂不蒙悦纳?你若行得不好,就伏在前。他必恋慕你,你却要制伏他。

8 该隐与他兄弟亚伯话;二人正在田间。该隐起来打他兄弟亚伯,把他杀了。

9 耶和华该隐:你兄弟亚伯在那里?他:我不知道!我岂是看守我兄弟的麽?

10 耶和华:你作了甚麽事呢?你兄弟的血有声音从地里向我哀告。

11 开了,从你里接受你兄弟的血。现在你必从这地受咒诅。

12 你种不再你效力;你必流离飘荡在上。

13 该隐耶和华:我的刑罚太重,过於我所能当的。

14 你如今赶逐我离开这,以致不见你面;我必流离飘荡在上,凡遇见我的必杀我。

15 耶和华对他:凡杀该隐的,必遭报七倍。耶和华就给该隐立一个记号,免得人遇见他就杀他。

16 於是该隐离开耶和华的面,去在伊甸东边挪得之

17 该隐妻子同房,他妻子就怀孕,生了以诺该隐建造了一座城,就按着他儿子的名将那城以诺

18 以诺生以拿;以拿生米户雅利;米户雅利生玛土撒利;玛土撒利生拉麦。

19 拉麦娶了两个妻:个名叫亚大,个名叫洗拉。

20 亚大生雅八;雅八就是帐棚、牧养牲畜之人的祖师。

21 雅八的兄弟名叫犹八;他是一切弹琴吹箫之人的祖师。

22 洗拉又生了土八该隐;他是打造各样铜利器的(或作:是铜匠匠的祖师)。土八该隐的妹子是拿玛。

23 拉麦对他两个妻子:亚大、洗拉,我的声音;拉麦的妻子,细我的话语:壮年伤我,我把他杀了;少年损我,我把他害了(或作我杀壮士却伤自己,我害幼童却损本身。)

24 若杀该隐,遭报七倍,杀拉麦,必遭报七倍

25 亚当又与妻子同房,他就生了一个儿子,起名塞特,意思另给我立了一个儿子代替亚伯,因为该隐杀了他。

26 塞特也生了一个儿子,起名以挪士。那时候,人才求告耶和华的名。

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #566

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566. 'The face 1 of the ground' means the whole of that area where the Church was. This is clear from the meaning of 'the ground', for in the Word a careful distinction is made between ground (humus) and land or earth (terra). Whenever 'ground' is used it means the Church or some aspect of the Church. This too is the derivation of the name Man or Adam, which means ground. But when 'land' or earth' occurs in the Word it frequently means where the Church or some aspect of the Church does not exist, as in Chapter 1 where the word 'land' alone is used, because the Church or regenerate person did not as yet exist. Not until Chapter 2 is the word 'ground' used because the Church has by now come into being. The same applies in the present verse and in verses 4, 23, of the next chapter, where it is said that every being was to be wiped off the face 1 of the ground, meaning within that area where the Church was; and in verse 7 of the next chapter, where the subject is the Church that is to be created, 'to keep their seed alive on the face 1 of the ground'. 2 The same applies elsewhere in the Word, as in Isaiah,

Jehovah will have compassion on Jacob, and will still choose Israel, and will set them on their own ground. And the peoples will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will inherit them on Jehovah's ground. Isaiah 14:1-2.

This refers to the Church once it has come into being; but when in the same chapter the Church does not exist it is called the land, verses 9, 12, 16, 20, 21, 25, 26.

[2] In the same prophet,

And the ground of Judah will be a terror to Egypt. On that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt which speak the language 3 of Canaan. Isaiah 19:17-18.

Here 'the ground' means where the Church exists, and 'the land' where it does not. In the same prophet,

The land will surely stagger like a drunken man. Jehovah will visit the host of the height on high, and the kings of the ground on the ground. Isaiah 24:20-21.

Here the meaning is similar. In Jeremiah,

Because of the ground which was cracked since there was no rain on the land, the farmers were put to shame, and covered their heads. Even the hind in the field has calved. Jeremiah 14:4-5.

Here 'the land' stands for that which includes the ground, and 'the ground' for that which includes the field.

[3] In the same prophet,

He led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north land and out of all the lands to where I have driven them. And they will dwell on their own ground. Jeremiah 23:8.

Here 'land' and 'lands' mean where Churches do not exist, 'the ground' where the Church or true worship does exist. In the same prophet,

I will render the remnants of Jerusalem, those who are left in this land, and those who are dwelling in the land of Egypt, and I will render them as a horror for evil to all the kingdoms of the land. And 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 24:8-10.

'The ground' stands for doctrine and worship arising out of it. And something similar is found in 25:5 of the same book.

[4] In Ezekiel,

I will gather you out of the lands into which you have been scattered. And you will acknowledge that I am Jehovah when I bring you back to the ground of Israel, into the land which I lifted up My hand to give to your fathers. Ezekiel 20:41-42.

'The ground' stands for internal worship. It is called 'the land' when internal worship does not exist. In Malachi,

I will rebuke the devourer for you, and he will not ruin for you the fruit of the ground, nor will the vine in the field fail you. And all the nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of that which is pleasing. Malachi 3:11-12.

Here 'land' stands for that which includes, and so plainly stands for man who is actually called 'the land', when 'ground' stands for the Church or doctrine.

[5] In Moses,

Sing, O Nations, His people. He will reconcile His ground, His people. Deuteronomy 32:43.

This clearly stands for the Church of the gentiles, which is called 'the ground'. In Isaiah,

Before the boy knows to refuse evil and to choose good, the ground will be deserted which you loathe in the presence of its two kings. Isaiah 7:16.

This refers to the Coming of the Lord. 'The ground will be deserted' stands for the Church or true doctrine of faith. The words 'ground 'and 'field' are clearly used in this way because they are places that are sown, as in Isaiah,

He will give rain for your seed with which you may sow the ground. Oxen and young asses tilling the ground . . . Isaiah 30:23-24.

And in Joel,

The field has been laid waste, and the ground has been mourning because the corn has been laid waste. Joel 1:10.

From these quotations it is now clear that 'man', who in Hebrew is called Adam from the word for ground, means the Church.

Footnotes:

1. literally, faces

2. The Hebrew in Genesis 7:3 in fact means earth or land. cf 722 below.

3. literally, lip.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.