The Bible

 

Postanak 7

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1 Onda Jahve reče Noi: "Uđi ti i sva tvoja obitelj u korablju, jer sam uvidio da si ti jedini preda mnom pravedan u ovom vremenu.

2 Uzmi sa sobom od svih čistih životinja po sedam parova: mužjaka i njegovu ženku.

3 Isto tako od ptica nebeskih po sedam parova - mužjaka i ženku - da im se sjeme sačuva na zemlji.

4 Jer ću do sedam dana pustiti dažd po zemlji četrdeset dana i četrdeset noći te ću istrijebiti s lica zemlje svako živo biće što sam ga načinio."

5 Noa učini sve kako mu je Jahve naredio.

6 Noi bijaše šest stotina godina kad je potop došao na zemlju.

7 I pred vodama potopnim uđu s Noom u korablju njegovi sinovi, njegova žena i žene sinova njegovih.

8 Od čistih životinja i od životinja koje nisu čiste, od ptica, od svega što zemljom puzi,

9 uđe po dvoje - mužjak i ženka - u korablju s Noom, kako je Bog naredio Noi.

10 A sedmoga dana zapljušte potopne vode po zemlji.

11 U dan onaj - šestote godine Noina života, mjeseca drugog, dana u mjesecu sedamnaestog - navale svi izvori bezdana, rastvore se ustave nebeske.

12 I udari dažd na zemlju da pljušti četrdeset dana i četrdeset noći.

13 Onog dana uđe u korablju Noa i njegovi sinovi: Šem, Ham i Jafet, Noina žena i tri žene Noinih sinova s njima;

14 oni, pa sve vrste životinja: stoka, gmizavci što po tlu gmižu, ptice i svakovrsna krilata stvorenja,

15 uđu u korablju s Noom, po dvoje od svih bića što u sebi imaju dah života.

16 Što uđe, sve bijaše par, mužjak i ženka od svih bića, kako je Bog naredio Noi. Onda Jahve zatvori za njim vrata.

17 Pljusak je na zemlju padao četrdeset dana; vode sveudilj rasle i korablju nosile: digla se visoko iznad zemlje.

18 Vode su nad zemljom bujale i visoko rasle, a korablja plovila površinom.

19 Vode su sve silnije navaljivale i rasle nad zemljom, tako te prekriše sva najviša brda pod nebom.

20 Petnaest lakata dizale se vode povrh potonulih brda.

21 Izgiboše sva bića što se po zemlji kreću: ptice, stoka, zvijeri, svi gmizavci i svi ljudi.

22 Sve što u svojim nosnicama imaše dah života - sve što bijaše na kopnu - izgibe.

23 Istrijebi se svako biće s površja zemaljskog: čovjek, životinje, gmizavci i ptice nebeske, sve se izbrisa sa zemlje. Samo Noa ostade i oni što bijahu s njim u korablji.

24 Stotinu pedeset dana vladahu vode zemljom.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #790

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790. 'Waters' here and in what follows means falsities. This becomes clear from the places in the Word quoted in the preliminary section of this chapter 1 and from those at verse 6 of this chapter, where the flood or inundation of waters is the subject. In those places it was shown that 'inundations of waters' meant desolations and temptations, which entail the same thing as falsities, for desolations and temptations are nothing else than inundations of falsities that have been activated by evil spirits. The reason why such waters mean falsities is that generally 'waters' in the Word means that which is spiritual, that is, that which is intellectual, rational, and factual. And since waters mean these they also mean their opposites, for every falsity is a factual matter, and seemingly rational and intellectual since it is a matter belonging to thought.

[2] That 'waters' means spiritual things is clear from very many places in the Word. But that 'waters' also means falsities, let the passages that follow, in addition to those quoted already, serve to confirm the point. In Isaiah,

This people have refused the waters of Shiloah that go out gently. Therefore, behold the Lord is causing to rise up over them the waters of the river, mighty and many. And it will rise up over all its channels and go over all its banks. Isaiah 8:6-7.

Here 'waters that go out gently' stands for spiritual things, 'waters mighty and many' for falsities. In the same prophet,

Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Cush, sending ambassadors to the sea, and in vessels of papyrus over the face' of the waters! Go, you swift ambassadors, to a nation marked out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled. Isaiah 18:1-2.

This stands for falsities, which belong to 'the land shadowing with wings'.

[3] In the same prophet,

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. Isaiah 43:2.

'Waters' and 'rivers' stand for difficulties, and also for falsities. In Jeremiah,

What have you to do with the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of Shihor? And what have you to do with the way to Asshur, to drink the waters of the River? Jeremiah 2:18.

'Waters' stands for falsities arising out of reasonings. In the same prophet,

Who is this coming up like a river, like the rivers his waters are tossed about? Egypt comes up like the river, and like the rivers his waters are tossed about. And he said, I will go up, I will cover the earth, I will destroy the city and those who dwell in it. Jeremiah 46:7-8.

'Waters' stands for falsities arising out of reasonings.

[4] In Ezekiel,

Thus said the Lord Jehovah, When I make you a city laid waste, like the cities that are not inhabited, when I shall cause the deep to come up over you, and many waters have covered you, I will cause you to go down with those who go down into the Pit. Ezekiel 16:19, 20.

'Waters' stands for evils and derivative falsities. In Habakkuk,

You did trample the sea with Your horses, the mud of many waters. Habakkuk 3:15.

'Waters' stands for falsities. In John,

The dragon poured water like a stream out of his mouth after the woman, to swallow her up in the river. Revelation 11:15, 16.

Here 'waters' stands for falsities and lies. In David,

Send forth Your hands from on high, rescue me, and deliver me from the many waters, from the hands of sons of the foreigner, whose mouths speak lies, and whose right hands are right hands of falsity. Psalms 144:7-8.

Here 'many waters' clearly stands for falsities, and 'sons of the foreigner also means falsities.

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