The Bible

 

Genesis 8

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1 Rozpomenul se pak Bůh na Noé, i všecky živočichy a všecka hovada, kteráž byla s ním v korábu; pročež uvedl Bůh vítr na zemi, i zastavily se vody.

2 A zavříny jsou studnice propasti i průduchové nebeští, a zastaven jest příval s nebe.

3 I navrátily se vody se svrchku země, odcházejíce zase, a opadly vody po stu a padesáti dnech,

4 Tak že odpočinul koráb sedmého měsíce, v sedmnáctý den toho měsíce na horách Ararat.

5 Když pak vody odcházely a opadaly až do desátého měsíce, prvního dne téhož desátého měsíce ukázali se vrchové hor.

6 I stalo se po čtyřidcíti dnech, otevřev Noé okno v korábu, kteréž byl udělal,

7 Vypustil krkavce. Kterýžto vyletuje zase se vracoval, dokudž nevyschly vody na zemi.

8 Potom vypustil holubici od sebe, aby věděl, již-li by opadly vody se svrchku země.

9 Kterážto když nenašla, kde by odpočinula noha její, navrátila se k němu do korábu; nebo vody byly po vší zemi. On pak vztáhna ruku svou, vzal ji, a vnesl k sobě do korábu.

10 A počekal ještě sedm dní jiných, a opět vypustil holubici z korábu.

11 I přiletěla k němu holubice k večerou, a aj, list olivový utržený v ústech jejích. Tedy poznal Noé, že opadly vody se svrchku země.

12 I čekal ještě sedm dní jiných, a opět vypustil holubici, kterážto nevrátila se k němu více.

13 I stalo se šestistého prvního léta, v první den měsíce prvního, že vyschly vody na zemi. I odjal Noé přikrytí korábu a uzřel, ano již oschl svrchek země.

14 Druhého pak měsíce, v dvadcátý sedmý den téhož měsíce oschla země.

15 I mluvil Bůh k Noé, řka:

16 Vyjdi z korábu, ty i žena tvá, a synové tvoji, i ženy synů tvých s tebou.

17 Všecky živočichy, kteříž jsou s tebou ze všelikého těla, tak z ptactva jako z hovad a všelikého zeměplazu, kterýž se hýbe na zemi, vyveď s sebou; ať se v hojnosti rozplozují na zemi, a rostou a množí se na zemi.

18 I vyšel Noé a synové jeho, i žena jeho a ženy synů jeho s ním;

19 Každý živočich, každý zeměplaza všecko ptactvo, všecko, což se hýbe na zemi, po pokoleních svých vyšlo z korábu.

20 Tedy vzdělal Noé oltář Hospodinu, a vzav ze všech hovad čistých i ze všeho ptactva čistého, obětoval zápaly na tom oltáři.

21 I zachutnal Hospodin vůni tu příjemnou, a řekl Hospodin v srdci svém: Nebudu více zlořečiti zemi pro člověka, proto že myšlení srdce lidského zlé jest od mladosti jeho; aniž budu více bíti všeho, což živo jest, jako jsem učinil.

22 Nýbrž dokavadž země trvati bude, setí a žeň, studeno i horko, léto a zima, den také a noc nepřestanou.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #925

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925. And Jehovah smelled an odor of rest. That this signifies that worship therefrom was grateful to the Lord, that is, worship from charity and the faith of charity, which is signified by “burnt-offering” has been stated under the preceding verse. It is often said in the Word that Jehovah “smelled an odor of rest” especially from burnt-offerings; and this always means what is grateful or acceptable; as that He “smelled an odor of rest” from burnt-offerings (Exodus 29:18, 25, 41; Leviticus 1:9, 13, 17; 23:12-13, 18; Numbers 28:6, 8, 13; 29:2, 6, 8, 13, 36), and also from other sacrifices (Leviticus 2:2, 9; 6:15, 21; 8:21, 28; 15:3, 7). They are also called “made by fire for an odor of rest unto Jehovah” by which is signified that they are from love and charity. “Fire” in the Word and “made by fire” when predicated of the Lord and of the worship of Him, signifies love. So also does “bread” and for this reason representative worship by burnt-offerings and sacrifices is called “the bread of the offering made by fire for an odor of rest” (Leviticus 3:11, 16).

[2] That an “odor” signifies what is grateful and acceptable, and thus that an odor in the Jewish Church was a representative of what is grateful, and is ascribed to Jehovah or the Lord, is because the good of charity and the truth of faith from charity correspond to sweet and delightful odors. The fact of this correspondence and the nature of it is demonstrable from the spheres of spirits and angels in heaven, where there are spheres of love and faith which are plainly perceived. The spheres are such that when a good spirit or angel, or a society of good spirits or of angels, comes near, then, whenever the Lord pleases, it is at once perceived, even at a distance, but more sensibly on a nearer approach, what is the quality in respect to love and faith of that spirit, angel, or society. This is incredible, yet is perfectly true. Such is the communication in the other life, and such is the perception. Wherefore, when it pleases the Lord, there is no need to explore in many ways the quality of a soul or spirit; for it may be known at his first approach. To these spheres correspond the spheres of odors in the world. That they do so correspond is evident from the fact that when it pleases the Lord the spheres of love and faith in the world of spirits are turned into spheres of sweet and pleasing odors, and are plainly perceived.

[3] From these things it is now evident whence and why “an odor of rest” signifies what is grateful, and why an odor became representative in the Jewish Church, and why “an odor of rest” is here ascribed to Jehovah or the Lord. An odor of rest is one of peace, or a grateful sense of peace. Peace taken in the complex embraces all things of the Lord’s kingdom both in general and in particular, for the state of the Lord’s kingdom is a state of peace, and in a state of peace there come forth all the happy states that result from love and faith in the Lord. From what has now been said it is plain not only how it is with representatives, but also why in the Jewish Church incense was used, for which there was an altar before the veil and the mercy-seat; why there were offerings of frankincense in the sacrifices; also why so many spices were used in the incense, in the frankincense, and in the oil for anointing; and thus what is signified in the Word by “an odor of rest” “incense” and “spices” namely, the celestial things of love and the spiritual things of faith therefrom; in general, whatever is grateful from love and faith.

[4] As in Ezekiel:

In the mountain of My holiness, in the mountain of the height of Israel, there shall all the house of Israel in the whole land serve Me; there will I accept them, and there will I seek your oblations and the first fruits of your gifts, with all your holy things; as an odor of rest will I accept you (Ezekiel 20:40-41).

Here “an odor of rest” is predicated of burnt-offerings and gifts, that is, of worship from charity and its faith, which is signified by the burnt-offerings and gifts, and is consequently acceptable, which is meant by the “odor.”

In Amos:

I hate, I have rejected your feasts, and I will not receive the odor of your holidays, for if ye shall offer Me your burnt-offerings and gifts, they shall not be acceptable (Amos 5:21-22).

Here “odor” manifestly signifies what is grateful or acceptable. Of Isaac when blessing Jacob instead of Esau it is said:

And Jacob came near, and he kissed him; and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which Jehovah hath blessed (Genesis 27:27).

The “smell of his raiment” signifies natural good and truth, which is grateful from its agreement with celestial and spiritual good and truth, the gratefulness of which is described by the “smell of a field.”

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