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Deuteronomium 32

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1 Neig de oren, gij hemel, en ik zal spreken; en de aarde hore de redenen mijns monds.

2 Mijn leer druipe als een regen, mijn rede vloeie als een dauw; als een stofregen op de grasscheutjes, en als druppelen op het kruid.

3 Want ik zal den Naam des HEEREN uitroepen; geeft onzen God grootheid!

4 Hij is de Rotssteen, Wiens werk volkomen is; want al Zijn wegen zijn gerichte. God is waarheid, en is geen onrecht; rechtvaardig en recht is Hij.

5 Hij heeft het tegen Hem verdorven; het zijn Zijn kinderen niet; de schandvlek is hun; het is een verkeerd en verdraaid geslacht.

6 Zult gij dit den HEERE vergelden, gij, dwaas en onwijs volk! Is Hij niet uw Vader, Die u verkregen, Die u gemaakt en u bevestigd heeft?

7 Gedenk aan de dagen van ouds; merk op de jaren van elk geslacht; vraag uw vader, die zal het u bekend maken, uw ouden, en zij zullen het u zeggen.

8 Toen de Allerhoogste aan de volken de erfenis uitdeelde, toen Hij Adams kinderen vaneen scheidde, heeft Hij de landpalen der volken gesteld naar het getal der kinderen Israels.

9 Want des HEEREN deel is Zijn volk, Jakob is het snoer Zijner erve.

10 Hij vond hem in een land der woestijn, en in een woeste huilende wildernis; Hij voerde hem rondom, Hij onderwees hem, Hij bewaarde hem als Zijn oogappel.

11 Gelijk een arend zijn nest opwekt, over zijn jongen zweeft, zijn vleugelen uitbreidt, ze neemt en ze draagt op zijn vlerken;

12 Zo leidde hem de HEERE alleen, en er was geen vreemd god met hem.

13 Hij deed hem rijden op de hoogten der aarde, dat hij at de inkomsten des velds; en Hij deed hem honig zuigen uit de steenrots, en olie uit den kei der rots;

14 Boter van koeien, en melk van klein vee, met het vet der lammeren en der rammen, die in Bazan weiden, en der bokken, met het vette der nieren van tarwe; en het druivenbloed, reinen wijn, hebt gij gedronken.

15 Als nu Jeschurun vet werd, zo sloeg hij achteruit (gij zijt vet, gij zijt dik, ja, met vet overdekt geworden!); en hij liet God varen, Die hem gemaakt heeft, en versmaadde den Rotssteen zijns heils.

16 Zij hebben Hem tot ijver verwekt door vreemde goden; door gruwelen hebben zij Hem tot toorn verwekt.

17 Zij hebben aan de duivelen geofferd, niet aan God; aan de goden, die zij niet kenden; nieuwe, die van nabij gekomen waren, voor dewelke uw vaders niet geschrikt hebben.

18 Den Rotssteen, Die u gegenereerd heeft, hebt gij vergeten; en gij hebt in vergetenis gesteld den God, Die u gebaard heeft.

19 Als het de HEERE zag, zo versmaadde Hij hen, uit toornigheid tegen zijn zonen en zijn dochteren.

20 En Hij zeide: Ik zal Mijn aangezicht van hen verbergen; Ik zal zien, welk hunlieder einde zal wezen; want zij zijn een gans verkeerd geslacht, kinderen, in welke geen trouw is.

21 Zij hebben Mij tot ijver verwekt door hetgeen geen God is; zij hebben Mij tot toorn verwekt door hun ijdelheden; Ik dan zal hen tot ijver verwekken door diegenen, die geen volk zijn; door een dwaas volk zal Ik hen tot toorn verwekken.

22 Want een vuur is aangestoken in Mijn toorn, en zal bernen tot in de onderste hel, en zal het land met zijn inkomst verteren, en de gronden der bergen in vlam zetten.

23 Ik zal kwaden over hen hopen; Mijn pijlen zal Ik op hen verschieten.

24 Uitgeteerd zullen zij zijn van honger, opgegeten van den karbonkel en bitter verderf; en Ik zal de tanden der beesten onder hen schikken, met vurig venijn van slangen des stofs.

25 Van buiten zal het zwaard beroven, en uit de binnenkameren de verschrikking; ook den jongeling, ook de jonge dochter, het zuigende kind met den grijzen man.

26 Ik zeide: In alle hoeken zoude Ik hen verstrooien; Ik zoude hun gedachtenis van onder de mensen doen ophouden;

27 Ten ware, dat Ik de toornigheid des vijands schroomde, dat niet hun tegenpartijen zich vreemd mochten houden; dat zij niet mochten zeggen: Onze hand is hoog geweest; de HEERE heeft dit alles niet gewrocht.

28 Want zij zijn een volk, dat door raadslagen verloren gaat, en er is geen verstand in hen.

29 O, dat zij wijs waren; zij zouden dit vernemen, zij zouden op hun einde merken.

30 Hoe zoude een enige duizend jagen, en twee tien duizend doen vluchten, ten ware, dat hunlieder Rotssteen hen verkocht, en de HEERE hen overgeleverd had?

31 Want hun rotssteen is niet gelijk onze Rotssteen, zelfs onze vijanden rechters zijnde.

32 Want hun wijnstok is uit den wijnstok van Sodom, en uit de velden van Gomorra; hun wijndruiven zijn vergiftige wijndruiven; zij hebben bittere bezien.

33 Hun wijn is vurig drakenvenijn, en een wreed adderenvergift.

34 Is dat niet bij Mij opgesloten, verzegeld in Mijn schatten?

35 Mijn is de wraak en de vergelding, ten tijde als hunlieder voet zal wankelen; want de dag huns ondergangs is nabij, en de dingen, die hun zullen gebeuren, haasten.

36 Want de HEERE zal aan Zijn volk recht doen, en het zal Hem over Zijn knechten berouwen; want Hij zal zien, dat de hand is weggegaan, en de beslotene en verlatene niets is.

37 Dan zal Hij zeggen: Waar zijn hun goden; de rotssteen, op welken zij betrouwden?

38 Welker slachtofferen vet zij aten, welker drankofferen wijn zij dronken; dat zij opstaan en u helpen, dat er verberging voor u zij.

39 Ziet nu, dat Ik, Ik Die ben, en geen God met Mij, Ik dood en maak levend; Ik versla en Ik heel; en er is niemand, die uit Mijn hand redt!

40 Want Ik zal Mijn hand naar den hemel opheffen, en Ik zal zeggen: Ik leef in eeuwigheid!

41 Indien Ik Mijn glinsterend zwaard wette, en Mijn hand ten gerichte grijpt, zo zal Ik wraak op Mijn tegenpartijen doen wederkeren, en Mijn hateren vergelden.

42 Ik zal Mijn pijlen dronken maken van bloed, en Mijn zwaard zal vlees eten; van het bloed des verslagenen en des gevangenen, van het hoofd af zullen er wraken des vijands zijn.

43 Juicht, gij heidenen, met Zijn volk! want Hij zal het bloed Zijner knechten wreken; en Hij zal de wraak op Zijn tegenpartijen doen wederkeren, en verzoenen Zijn land en Zijn volk.

44 En Mozes kwam, en sprak al de woorden dezes lieds voor de oren des volks, hij en Hosea, de zoon van Nun.

45 Als nu Mozes geeindigd had al die woorden tot gans Israel te spreken;

46 Zo zeide hij tot hen: Zet uw hart op al de woorden, die ik heden onder ulieden betuige, dat gij ze uw kinderen gebieden zult, dat zij waarnemen te doen al de woorden dezer wet.

47 Want dat is geen vergeefs woord voor ulieden; maar het is uw leven; en door ditzelve woord zult gij de dagen verlengen op het land, waar gij over de Jordaan naar toe gaat, om dat te erven.

48 Daarna sprak de HEERE tot Mozes, op dienzelfden dag, zeggende:

49 Klim op den berg Abarim (deze is de berg Nebo, die in het land van Moab is, die tegenover Jericho is), en zie het land Kanaan, dat Ik den kinderen Israels tot een bezitting geven zal;

50 En sterf op dien berg, waarheen gij opklimmen zult, en word vergaderd tot uw volken; gelijk als uw broeder Aaron stierf op den berg Hor, en werd tot zijn volken vergaderd.

51 Omdat gijlieden u tegen Mij vergrepen hebt, in het midden der kinderen Israels, aan het twistwater te Kades, in de woestijn Zin; omdat gij Mij niet geheiligd hebt in het midden der kinderen Israels.

52 Want van tegenover zult gij dat land zien, maar daarheen niet inkomen, in het land, dat Ik den kinderen Israels geven zal.

   

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Arcana Coelestia #9857

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9857. And thou shalt make a breastplate of judgment. That this signifies that which has regard to Divine truth shining forth from Divine good, is evident from the signification of “the breastplate,” as being Divine truth shining forth from the Divine good of the Lord in ultimates (see n. 9823). It is called “a breastplate of judgment,” because it gave answers, and thereby revealed Divine truth. Moreover, by “judgment” in the Word is signified Divine truth, consequently doctrine and life according to doctrine. From this then it is that this breastplate is called “a breastplate of judgment,” and also “judgment,” in what follows in this chapter — “Aaron shall carry the judgment of the sons of Israel upon his heart before Jehovah continually” (verse 30). And when Joshua was chosen to be leader over the people, it is said, “he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of Urim before Jehovah” (Numbers 27:21).

[2] That “judgment” denotes Divine truth and the intelligence thence derived, consequently that it denotes doctrine and life according to doctrine, is evident from many passages in the Word; as from the following, in Isaiah:

The vineyard of Jehovah Zebaoth is the house of Israel. He looked for judgment but behold an abscess; for righteousness, but behold a cry (Isaiah 5:7).

“To look for judgment” denotes intelligence from Divine truth, and a life according to the commandments. Again:

He sat upon a throne in truth, in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment (Isaiah 16:5);

speaking of the coming of the Lord; “the throne upon which He was to sit” denotes the Divine truth proceeding from Him, and hence the spiritual kingdom (see n. 2129, 5313, 6397, 8625, 9039); “to judge judgment” denotes to teach Divine truth, and “to seek judgment” denotes its reception with man.

[3] Again:

In that day shall Jehovah be for a diadem of ornament to the remains of the people; and for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth upon judgment (Isaiah 28:5-6)

“A diadem of ornament,” when said of Jehovah, that is, the Lord, denotes Divine intelligence (see above, n. 9828); and “the spirit of judgment” denotes wisdom from Divine truth (n. 9818); “he that sitteth upon judgment” denotes one who instructs about Divine truth, that is, teaches it. Again:

Jehovah hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness (Isaiah 33:5);

“Zion” denotes the celestial church; “being filled with judgment” denotes intelligence from Divine truth, and “being filled with righteousness” denotes wisdom from Divine good.

[4] Again:

Who hath directed the Spirit of Jehovah? With whom took He counsel, that he might make Him intelligent, and instruct Him in the way of judgment, and teach Him knowledge, and show Him the way of intelligence? (Isaiah 40:13-14);

“the Spirit of Jehovah” denotes the Divine truth (n. 9818); that “instructing Him in the way of judgment” denotes to render Him knowing, intelligent, and wise, is plain.

In Jeremiah:

The stork in heaven knoweth her appointed times, but the people of Jehovah know not the judgment of Jehovah. How say ye, We are wise, and the law of Jehovah is with us? (Jeremiah 8:7-8).

Here “not to know the judgment of Jehovah” denotes not to know Divine truth, from which is wisdom; therefore it is said, “how say ye, We are wise?”

[5] Again:

Woe to him that buildeth his house without righteousness, and his chambers without judgment (Jeremiah 22:13);

“to build chambers without judgment” denotes to be imbued with things not true.

In Hosea:

I will betroth thee to Me forever in righteousness and in judgment, and I will betroth thee to Me in truth (Hosea 2:19-20).

“To betroth in judgment” denotes to conjoin by means of Divine truth, thus by means of faith and a life of faith.

In Amos:

Let judgment flow like water, and righteousness as a mighty torrent (Amos 5:24).

Ye turn judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into wormwood (Amos 6:12); where also “judgment” denotes intelligence from Divine truth, and the consequent life.

[6] In Zephaniah:

In the morning will Jehovah give His judgment for light (Zephaniah 3:5);

“to give judgment for light” denotes to reveal Divine truth.

In Moses:

All the ways of Jehovah are judgment (Deuteronomy 32:4).

In David:

Thy truth, O Jehovah, reacheth unto the skies; Thy righteousness is like the mountains of God; Thy judgments are a great deep (Psalms 36:5-6).

Jehovah shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday (Psalms 37:6).

Hear my voice according to Thy mercy; O Jehovah, quicken me according to Thy judgments (Psalms 119:149).

In these passages “judgment,” and “judgments,” denote Divine truth.

[7] In Luke:

Woe unto you Pharisees, ye pass by judgment and the love of God; these ought ye to do (Luke 11:42).

“To pass by the judgment of God” denotes to pass by Divine truth; and “to pass by the love of God” denotes to pass by Divine good, and the life from both. As life also is meant, it is said “these things ought ye to do.”

In Isaiah:

Jehovah Zebaoth shall be exalted in judgment, and God shall be sanctified in righteousness (Isaiah 5:16).

Upon the throne of David, to establish the kingdom in judgment and in righteousness, from henceforth and even forever (Isaiah 9:7).

Bring forth counsel, do ye judgment; make thy shadow like the night in the midst of the noonday (Isaiah 16:3);

“to do judgment” denotes to act according to Divine truth.

[8] In Jeremiah:

I will raise unto David a righteous branch, and He shall do judgment and righteousness in the earth (Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15).

If a man be righteous, and do judgment and righteousness, and walk in My statutes, and keep My judgments, to do the truth; he is righteous, he shall surely live (Ezekiel 18:5, 9).

Seek ye Jehovah, all ye meek of the earth, who have done His judgment (Zephaniah 2:3).

“To do the judgment of God” denotes to do the Divine truth, that is, to do according to it.

In Isaiah:

I have put My Spirit upon Him, He shall bring forth judgment to the nations. He shall not extinguish, nor break, till He have set Judgment in the earth (Isaiah 42:1, 4);

speaking of the Lord; “to bring forth judgment to the nations,” and “to set judgment in the earth” denotes to teach Divine truth, and set it up in the church.

[9] Again:

A law shall go forth from Me, and I will raise up My judgment for a light of the peoples (Isaiah 51:4); where “judgment” denotes Divine truth, “for a light of the peoples” denotes for enlightenment.

In John:

For judgment I am come into this world, that those who see not may see; and that those who see may become blind (John 9:39).

“To come into the world for judgment” denotes to reveal Divine truth, which causes those to see who are wise from the Lord, and those to be blind who are wise from themselves, thus who pass for being learned.

[10] In Jeremiah:

Swear by the living Jehovah in truth, in judgment, and righteousness (Jeremiah 4:2).

There is none that judgeth judgment for health; thou hast no medicines for recovery (Jeremiah 30:13).

In David:

Righteousness and judgment are the support of Thy throne; mercy and truth are before Thy faces (Psalms 89:14); where “righteousness” denotes the good which is of mercy; and “judgment” the truth which is of faith; wherefore it is said, “mercy and truth.”

In Ezekiel:

Jerusalem hath changed My judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and My statutes more than the lands; therefore I will do judgments on thee in the eyes of the nations, and I will scatter all thy remains (Ezekiel 5:6-8, 10, 15).

“To change judgments” denotes the truths which are of the civil state (that these are signified by “judgments,” when “statutes” also are mentioned, see n. 8972); but “doing judgments” denotes to judge either to death, which is damnation; or to life, which is salvation. Salvation or damnation is also signified by “judgment,” where “the day of judgment,” or “hour of judgment,” is mentioned (Matthew 11:22, 2 11:24; 12:36, 41-42; Luke 10:14; 11:31-32; John 5:28-29; Revelation 14:7; 18:10); the same is also signified by “judgment,” where the office of a judge is treated of (Matthew 5:21-22; 7:1-2; 23:14, 33; John 5:24, 26-27; 7:24; 8:15-16; 12:31, 47-48; Luke 6:37; 12:13-14, 56-57; 19:21-22, 2 19:27; 20:47; 22:30; Mark 12:40; Isaiah 41:1; 3:14; Jeremiah 25:31; 48:21; Joel 3:12; Psalms 7:8-9; 9:4, 7-8; Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 1:16-17; 25:1; Revelation 17:1 18:10; 20:12-13).

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

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Arcana Coelestia #9050

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9050. That “soul” signifies the spiritual life, is evident from the signification of “soul,” as being the life of man, but the life of his faith, which is spiritual life. In the Word throughout mention is made of “the heart” and of “the soul,” and by “the heart” is signified the life of love, and by “the soul” the life of faith. Man has two faculties receptive of life from the Lord, the one called the will, and the other the understanding. To the faculty which is called the will belongs love, for the goods of love make its life. But to the faculty which is called the understanding belongs faith, for the truths of faith make its life. But these two lives with man are nevertheless one, and when they are one, then the things which are of faith are also of love, for they are loved; and on the other hand the things which are of love are also of faith, because they are believed. Such is the life of all in heaven.

[2] The reason why the life of love, or what is the same thing, the will, is called in the Word “the heart;” and why the life of faith, or what is the same thing, the understanding, is called “the soul;” is that they who are in love to the Lord and are called celestial, constitute in the Grand Man or heaven the province of the heart; and they who are in faith in the Lord and thereby in charity toward the neighbor constitute the province of the lungs (see n. 3635, 3883-3896). From this it is that by “heart” in the Word is signified love, which is the life of the will, and by “soul” is signified faith, which is the life of the understanding (n. 2930, 7542, 8910); for in the original tongue “soul” is named from breathing, which is of the lungs.

[3] That faith pertains to the intellectual faculty, is because this faculty is enlightened by the Lord when man receives faith. From this he has light, or a perception of truth, in such things as are of faith, when he reads the Word. And that love pertains to the will faculty, is because this faculty is kindled by the Lord when the man receives love. From this he has the fire of life, and a sensitive perception of good.

[4] From all this it can be seen what is properly meant in the Word by “the heart,” and what by “the soul;” as in the following passages, in Moses:

Thou shalt love Jehovah thy God from all thy heart, and from all thy soul, and from all thy strength (Deuteronomy 6:5).

Thou shalt love Jehovah thy God, and shalt serve Him, from all thy heart and from all thy soul (Deuteronomy 10:12; 11:13).

These statutes and judgments thou shalt keep, and shalt do them, in all thy heart, and in all thy soul (Deuteronomy 26:16).

Jesus said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God from all thy heart, and in all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with thy thought (Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30, 32; Luke 10:27).

“The heart” denotes the life of love; and “the soul,” the life of faith; “the strength,” those things which proceed from the life of love, thus which are from the heart or the will; and “the thought,” those things which proceed from the life of faith, thus which are from the soul, or an enlightened understanding.

[5] In like manner in Isaiah:

A deluded heart maketh him go astray, that he rescue not his soul, and say, Is there not a lie in my right hand? (Isaiah 44:20).

In Jeremiah:

I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in the land, in truth, with all My heart and with all My soul (Jeremiah 32:41);

speaking of Jehovah, that is, of the Lord; “the heart” is predicated of the Divine good, which is of love of mercy; and “the soul” is predicated of the Divine truth, which is of faith with man.

[6] That these things are signified by “heart” and “soul” in the Word, is at this day known to few within the church, for the reason that it has not been considered that man has two faculties distinct from each other, namely, the will and the understanding, and that these two faculties constitute one mind, in order that man may be truly man. Neither has it been considered that all things in the universe, both in heaven and in the world, bear relation to good and truth, and that they must be conjoined together in order that they may be anything, and produce anything. From ignorance of these things it has resulted that they have separated faith from love; for he who is ignorant of these universal laws cannot know that faith bears relation to truth, and love to good, and that unless these are conjoined together they are not anything; for faith without love is not faith, and love without faith is not love, because love has its quality from faith, and faith has its life from love; consequently faith without love is dead, and faith with love is alive. That this is so, can be seen from everything in the Word; for where faith is treated of, there also love is treated of, in order that in this way the marriage of good and truth, that is, that heaven, and in the supreme sense the Lord, may be in each and all things of the Word. (That there is such a marriage, see n. 683, 793, 801, 2516, 2712, 4138, 5138, 5502, 6343, 7945, 8339.) From all this it is now evident why the man of the church has not hitherto known what is meant in the Word by “heart,” and what by “soul.”

[7] That” soul” in the Word denotes the life of faith, can be plainly seen from the passages where “the soul” is mentioned, as in the following.

In Moses:

Thou shalt not take the mill or the upper millstone to pledge; for he taketh the soul to pledge (Deuteronomy 24:6).

It is said that “he who taketh a mill taketh the soul to pledge” because in the internal sense by “a mill” are signified those things which are of faith (n. 7780).

In Isaiah:

It shall be as when a hungry man dreameth, as if he were eating; but when he awaketh, his soul is fasting; or as when a thirsty man dreameth, as if he were drinking; but when he awaketh, behold he is weary, and his soul hath appetite (Isaiah 29:8).

“A fasting soul,” and “a soul that hath appetite,” denote the desire of learning the goods and truths of faith. In the same:

If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and sate the afflicted soul (Isaiah 58:10).

“To draw out thy soul to the hungry” denotes to be desirous to instruct in the truths of faith; and “to sate the afflicted soul” denotes to instruct in the good of faith.

[8] In Jeremiah:

Though thou clothest thyself with double-dyed, though thou deckest thee with ornament of gold, though thou rendest thine eyes with antimony, in vain shalt thou make thyself beauteous; thy lovers will abhor thee, they will seek thy soul (Jeremiah 4:30).

Here “soul” denotes the life of faith, consequently faith itself in man, because this makes his spiritual life. That faith is meant by “soul,” is plain from the particulars in this verse. In the same:

They shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together unto the good of Jehovah, to the wheat, and to the new wine, and to the oil, and to the sons of the flock and of the herd; and their soul shall become as a watered garden; I will water the weary soul, and every sorrowful soul (Jeremiah 31:12, 25).

“The soul” denotes the life of faith in the man of the church, who is said “to become as a garden,” because by “a garden” is signified the intelligence which is from the truths of faith (n. 100, 108, 2702 the soul is said to be “watered,” because by “being watered” is signified to be instructed.

[9] In the same:

We bring our bread with the peril of our souls, because of the sword of the wilderness (Lam. 5:9).

“The peril of souls” denotes the danger of the loss of faith and consequently of spiritual life; for “the sword of the wilderness” denotes falsity fighting against the truths of faith (n. 2799, 4499, 6353, 7102, 8294).

In Ezekiel:

Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, these were thy traders, with the soul of man, and with vessels of brass, they furnished thy trading (Ezekiel 27:13).

“The soul of man” denotes the interior truth of faith from good; “vessels of brass,” exterior truths of faith from good; “vessels” denoting exterior truths or memory-truths (see n. 3068, 3079), and “brass,” the good of the natural (n. 425, 1551). Unless it were known that “the soul of man” denotes faith, it could not be understood what is signified by “trading with the soul of man, and with vessels of brass.”

[10] In the same:

Every living soul that creepeth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live; whence is exceeding much fish; because these waters are come hither, and are healed (Ezekiel 47:9);

speaking of the new temple, that is, of a new spiritual church from the Lord; “the living soul that creepeth” denotes memory-truths which are of faith; “much fish from thence” denotes memory-knowledges (n. 40, 991); “rivers” denote the things that are of intelligence, which are from the truths of faith (n. 2702, 3051). Neither in this passage would it be known without the internal sense what is meant by “much fish” in consequence of the rivers coming thither. In David:

Save me, O God, for the waters are come even unto my soul (Psalms 69:1).

The waters compassed me about, even to my soul (Jon. 2:5).

In these passages “waters” denote falsities, and also temptations which are caused by injected falsities (n. 705, 739, 756, 790, 8137, 8138, 8368).

[11] In Jeremiah:

Jehovah said, Shall not My soul be avenged on such a nation as this? (Jeremiah 5:9, 29).

Admit chastisement, O Jerusalem, lest My soul be turned away from thee, and I make thee a waste (Jeremiah 6:8).

“The soul,” when predicated of the Lord, denotes Divine truth.

In John:

The second angel poured out his vial into the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man, whence every living soul died in the sea (Revelation 16:3).

“The sea” denotes memory-knowledges in the complex (n. 28); “blood,” the truths of faith from good, and in the opposite sense, the truths of faith falsified and profaned (n. 4735, 6978, 7317, 7326); consequently “living soul” denotes life derived from faith.

[12] In Matthew:

Be not anxious for your soul, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink (Matthew 6:25).

“Soul” denotes the truths of faith; “eating” and “drinking” denote to be instructed in the good and truth of faith, for here in the internal sense the subject treated of is spiritual life and its nourishment. Again:

Whoever will find his soul shall lose it, and whoever shall lose his soul for My sake shall find it (Matthew 10:39).

“The soul” denotes the life of faith such as it is with those who believe, and in the opposite sense the life not of faith such as it is with those who do not believe.

In Luke:

In your patience possess ye your souls (Luke 21:19).

“To possess the souls” denotes those things which are of faith and consequently of spiritual life. The signification is similar in very many other passages.

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