460. Which can neither see nor hear nor walk. This symbolically means, which do not have in them any spiritual or truly rational life.

This is said because idolaters believe that their idols see and hear, for they make them gods. But still this is not what the statement means. Rather it means that falsities in worship do not have in them any spiritual or truly rational life, as to see and hear means, symbolically, to understand and perceive (nos. 7, 25, 87). To walk, moreover, symbolically means to live (no. 167). Thus the three together symbolize a spiritual and truly rational life.

This is the symbolic meaning because idols symbolize falsities in worship, and these have no spiritual or rational life in them.

The statement that idols do not see, hear, or walk would be too obvious to deserve mention here if it did not have in it some symbolic meaning.

Similar statements regarding idols are made elsewhere in the Word, as in the following places:

They do not know or understand; ...their eyes... do not see; their hearts... do not know... Nor do they have any knowledge or intelligence... (Isaiah 44:9, 18-19)

...they do not speak..., they do not walk... (Jeremiah 10:3-10)

They have mouths, but they do not speak; they have eyes, but they do not see. (Psalms 115:5; 135:15-16)

These statements have a similar symbolic meaning, because idols symbolize falsities in worship, and falsities in worship have in them no life that is real.

793. "No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore." This symbolically means that those caught up in the Roman Catholic religion because of its doctrine and a life in accordance with it are without any understanding of spiritual truth, and so are without any thought of spiritual truth, to the extent that they are left to themselves.

In the spiritual sense of the Word, a craftsman symbolizes an intelligent person and a thinking one by virtue of his intellect - in a good sense, someone who uses his intellect to think thoughts that are true, which are heavenly, and in a bad sense, someone who uses his intellect to think thoughts that are false, which are infernal. Moreover, because all of these thoughts are of many kinds, and each kind consists of many varieties, and each variety again of many kinds and varieties, but which we call particulars and specifics, therefore the text says, "no craftsman of any craft."

By virtue of their arts and crafts, too, and the correspondence of these, craftsmen symbolize such things as have to do with wisdom, intelligence and knowledge. We say, by virtue of their correspondence, because a person's every work, likewise his every undertaking, corresponds to such things as have to do with the intelligence of angels, provided it is of some use. But the works of craftsmen in gold, silver and precious stones correspond to some matters or objects of angelic intelligence, the works of craftsmen in bronze, iron, wood and stone to others, and the works of craftsmen in other valuable endeavors, such as the making of cloth, linens, garments and clothing of various kinds, to still others. All of these arts and crafts have, as we said, a correspondence, because they are works.

It can be seen from this that no craftsman of any art being found in Babylon does not mean that there will be no craftsman there, but that there will be no understanding of spiritual truth and so no thought of spiritual truth. But this is the case only with those who are caught up in the Roman Catholic religion because of its doctrine and a life in accordance with it, and this to the extent that they are left to themselves.

[2] That a craftsman symbolizes people who have an understanding of truth and so think thoughts that are true can be seen from this, that Bezaleel and Aholiab were to make the Tabernacle, because they were filled with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge (Exodus 31:3; 36:1-2). Also from the following:

All the wise-hearted among those doing the work made (the dwelling place) with the work of a craftsman... (Exodus 36:8)

You shall make the dwelling place... of fine woven linen and blue, purple, and double-dyed scarlet...(and) cherubim; with the work of a craftsman you shall make them. (Exodus 26:1)

You shall make a veil (in the same manner) with the work of a craftsman. (Exodus 26:31; 36:35)

So, too, the ephod with the work of a craftsman, and also the breastpiece (Exodus 28:6; 39:8). The word for craftsman there is one that also means a thinker.

With the work of a craftsman in gems..., you shall engrave the two stones... which you shall put... on the shoulders of the ephod... (Exodus 28:11, 12)

[3] In an opposite sense, the work of a craftsman symbolizes the kind of work that is the product of one's own intelligence, from which comes only falsity. This is meant by the work of a craftsman in the following passages:

In their intelligence they will make... a molten image... of their silver..., all of it the work of craftsmen. (Hosea 13:2)

A craftsman pours the image, and the founder covers it with gold and forges chains of silver... He seeks... a wise craftsman... (Isaiah 40:19-20)

...one cuts wood from a forest, the work of the hands of the workman... Silver... is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of a craftsman...; blue and purple their clothing, all the work of wise men. (Jeremiah 10:3, 9)

See also Deuteronomy 27:15.

That idols symbolize falsities in worship and religion originating from people's own intelligence may be seen in no. 459, 460 above.