383. "For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them." (7:17) This symbolically means that the Lord alone will teach them.

The Lamb in the midst of the throne symbolizes the Lord in respect to His Divine humanity in the inmost of heaven and thus in everything connected with it (no. 44). The throne is heaven (no. 14), and the Lamb is the Lord in respect to His Divine humanity (nos. 269, 291). And He who is in the inmost of heaven and thus in everything connected with it is the only one who shepherds all people, that is, who teaches them.

If a question is raised as to how He alone can shepherd all, be it known that it is because He is God, and because He is present in the whole of heaven like the soul in its body; for heaven, arising from Him, is like a single person.

To shepherd means to teach because in the Word the church is called a flock, and the people in the church are called sheep and lambs. Therefore to shepherd means, symbolically, to teach, and the shepherd one who teaches, and this in many places, as for example:

On that day your flocks will graze in a broad meadow. (Isaiah 33:23)

He will feed His flock like a shepherd. (Isaiah 40:11)

They shall graze along the roads, and have their pasture on all the hillsides. (Isaiah 49:9)

(Israel) shall graze on Carmel and Bashan. (Jeremiah 50:19)

...I will seek out My sheep... I will feed them in good pasture, and... in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. (Ezekiel 34:12-14)

You, Bethlehem Ephrathah, it is a small thing that you are among the thousands of Judah. Out of you shall come forth to Me One who will be Ruler in Israel... He shall stand and graze in the strength of Jehovah... (Micah 5:2, 4)

Feed Your people... Let them graze in Bashan and Gilead... (Micah 7:14)

The remnant of Israel... shall graze and lie down... (Zephaniah 3:13)

Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in pastures of tender grass. (Psalms 23:1-2)

(The Lord) chose David... to shepherd Jacob... and Israel... and he shepherded them... (Psalms 78:70-72)

Jesus said to Peter, "Feed My lambs." And a second and third time He said, "Feed my sheep." (John 21:15-17)

45. Clothed with a long robe. This symbolizes the emanating Divinity which is Divine truth.

A long robe symbolizes the emanating Divinity which is Divine truth because garments in the Word symbolize truths. Thus a long robe, being an outer garment, symbolizes, when said of the Lord, Divine truth emanating.

Garments in the Word symbolize truths because people in heaven are clothed in accordance with the truths emanating from their goodness, on which subject see the book Heaven and Hell (London, 1758), nos. 177-182.

In subsequent explanations we will see that garments in the Word mean nothing else in its spiritual sense, accordingly that nothing else is meant by the Lord's garments when He was transfigured, which appeared as white as the light (Matthew 17:1-4, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36). So, too, neither is anything else meant by the Lord's garments which the soldiers divided (John 19:23-24).

In Arcana Coelestia (The Secrets of Heaven), published in London, it may be seen that the like was represented and so symbolized by Aaron's garments (nos. 9814 10067); in particular, by the ephod (nos. 9477 9824, 10005), the robe (nos. 9825 10005), the tunic (nos. 9826 9942), and the turban (no. 9827). For Aaron represented the Lord's priestly function.

Regarding the symbolism of garments in the Word, see nos. 166 and 328 below.