The Bible

 

Γένεση 30:15

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15 Η δε ειπε προς αυτην, Μικρον πραγμα ειναι, οτι ελαβες τον ανδρα μου; και θελεις να λαβης και τους μανδραγορας του υιου μου; και η Ραχηλ ειπε, Λοιπον ας κοιμηθη μετα σου ταυτην την νυκτα, δια τους μανδραγορας του υιου σου.

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #3929

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3929. Verses 9-11 And Leah saw that she had stopped bearing, and she took Zilpah her servant-girl, and gave her to Jacob as his wife. And Zilpah, Leah's servant-girl, bore Jacob a son. And Leah said, A troop comes! And she called his name Gad.

'Leah saw that she had stopped bearing' means that no other external truths had been acknowledged. 'And she took Zilpah her servant-girl' means an affirmative means through which [the external man and the internal] could be joined together. 'And gave her to Jacob as his wife' means that this means joined the two together. 'And Zilpah, Leah's servant-girl, bore Jacob a son' means acknowledgement. 'And Leah said, A troop comes!' in the highest sense means Omnipotence and Omniscience, in the internal sense the good of faith, and in the external sense works. 'And she called his name Gad' means the essential nature of it.

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

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #145

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145. In the Word too 'name' means the essential nature of a real thing, and 'seeing and calling by name' knowing characters, as in Isaiah,

I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoarded riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, Jehovah, the one calling you by name, the God of Israel. For the sake of My servant Jacob, and of Israel My chosen, and I have called you by name, I have surnamed you, but you do not know Me. Isaiah 45:3-4.

Here 'calling by name' and 'surnaming' mean knowing his character beforehand. In the same prophet,

You will be called by a new name which the mouth of Jehovah will declare. Isaiah 62:2.

This stands for his becoming a different person, as is clear from what precedes and what follows these words. In the same prophet,

O Israel, fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name, you are Mine. Isaiah 43:1.

This stands for knowing character. Again in the same prophet,

Lift up your eyes on high and see; who created these? He who brings out their host by number; He will call them all by name. Isaiah 40:26.

This stands for His knowing them all. In Revelation,

You have a few names in Sardis, who have not soiled their garments. He who conquers will be clad in white garments and I will not blot his name out of the book of life; and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. Revelation 3:4-5.

Elsewhere in the same book,

Whose names have not been written in the book of life of the Lamb. Revelation 13:8.

In these places 'names' is in no way used to mean names but people's characters. Nor in heaven do they know anyone's name, only his character.

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