The Bible

 

Genesis 1:20

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20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

Commentary

 

Seed

  

'A seed' signifies the ultimate and primary levels in a person. It also signifies good and truth from the Lord. In an opposite sense, it signifies falsity of doctrine and hellish falsity. 'A seed' signifies everyone who constitutes the Lord's spiritual kingdom and faith grounded in charity.

In Genesis 12:7, 8:15, 16, 'a seed' signifies love and everyone who has love.

(References: Arcana Coelestia 1025)


From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #4

Study this Passage

  
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4. As long as the mind confines itself to the sense of the letter alone one cannot possibly see that its contents are such. Take for instance these first sections of Genesis: From the sense of the letter the only subject matter people recognize is the creation of the world, and the Garden of Eden which is called Paradise, and Adam as the first man to be created. Who thinks anything different? The fact that these things contain arcana however which have never been revealed up to now will be sufficiently clear from what follows - especially clear from the fact that the subject of Genesis 1 is, in the internal sense, the NEW CREATION of man, that is, in general his REGENERATION, and in particular the Most Ancient Church. And the subject is presented in such a way that not the smallest part of any expression fails to have a representation, carry a spiritual meaning, or embody something within itself.

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