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Hosea 11

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1 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

2 As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto the Baals, and burned incense to graven images.

3 And I it was that taught Ephraim to walk, -- He took them upon his arms, -- but they knew not that I healed them.

4 I drew them with bands of a man, with cords of love; and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I gently caused them to eat.

5 He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king; for they refused to return [to me];

6 and the sword shall turn about in his cities, and shall consume his bars, and devour [them], because of their own counsels.

7 Yea, my people are bent upon backsliding from me: though they call them to the Most High, none at all exalteth [him].

8 How shall I give thee over, Ephraim? [how] shall I deliver thee up, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? [how] shall I set thee as Zeboim? My heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.

9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am ùGod, and not man, -- the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not come in anger.

10 They shall walk after Jehovah; he shall roar like a lion; when he shall roar, then the children shall hasten from the west:

11 they shall hasten as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria; and I will cause them to dwell in their houses, saith Jehovah.

12 Ephraim encompasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit; but Judah yet walketh with ùGod, and with the holy things of truth.

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Revealed #624

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624. 14:5 And in their mouth was found no deceit. This symbolically means that they do not speak with cunning or with a purpose to persuade people of falsity and evil.

A mouth symbolizes speech, preaching, and doctrine (no. 452). And deceit symbolizes a persuasion to evil by means of falsity, especially with cunning and purpose. For someone who urges something with cunning or deceit also does so on purpose. Indeed, cunning or deceit proposes it to itself, conceals it, and acts on it when given the opportunity.

A lie in the Word symbolizes falsity and false speaking. Deceit symbolizes each of these on purpose. Lying and deceit are both mentioned in the following passages:

(Jesus said of Nathanael,) "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" (John 1:47)

The remnant of Israel shall... not speak a lie, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth. (Zephaniah 3:13)

...He did no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. (Isaiah 53:9)

Her rich men are full of violence, her inhabitants speak falsehood, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. (Micah 6:12)

You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; Jehovah abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. (Psalms 5:6)

Deliver my soul, O Jehovah, from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue. (Psalms 120:2-3)

They have taught their tongue to speak lies... Your dwelling is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they have refused to know Me. (Jeremiah 9:5-6)

Ephraim has encircled Me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit. (Hosea 11:12)

But if someone purposes to kill his neighbor by deceit, you shall take him from My altar and he will die. (Exodus 21:14)

Cursed is he who does the work of Jehovah deceitfully... (Jeremiah 48:10)

And so on elsewhere, as for instance in Jeremiah 5:26-27; 8:5; 14:14; 23:26; Job 13:7; 27:4.

Deceitful people are symbolically meant in the Word by poisonous reptiles, such as crocodiles and vipers, and their deceit by the reptiles' poison.

  
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Many thanks to the General Church of the New Jerusalem, and to Rev. N.B. Rogers, translator, for the permission to use this translation.

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