The Bible

 

Hosea 2:12

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12 Und ich werde ihren Weinstock und ihren Feigenbaum verwüsten, von welchen sie sagte: Diese sind mein Lohn, den mir meine Buhlen gegeben haben. Und ich werde dieselben zu einem Walde machen, und die Tiere des Feldes werden sie abfressen.

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #749

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749. 'Male and female' means truth and good. This is clear from what has been stated already at Chapter 6:19 where 'male and female' have reference to birds, but 'male and mate' 1 to beasts. The reason is also stated there, namely, that things of the will are married to those of the understanding, but less so those of the understanding regarded in themselves to those of the will. The former exist as male and mate 1 but the latter as male and female. Now because here the subject first of all is the temptation of that man as regards things of the understanding, as has been stated, the phrase 'male and female' is used, and conflict, or temptation as regards things of the understanding, is meant.

Footnotes:

1. literally, man and wife

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