The Bible

 

Genesis 1:23

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23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

Commentary

 

Land

  

'Land' in the Word, denotes the church, for the things which signify the church also signify the things relating to the church, for these constitute the church. The reason why 'land' denotes the church in the Word is because the land of Canaan was the land in which the church had been since the most ancient times. Hence, when 'land' is named in the Word, it means the land of Canaan, which then means the church. For when the expression 'the land' appears there, people in the spiritual world do not concern themselves with the idea of a land, only with the idea of the nation inhabiting it. And yet not with an idea of that nation but with an idea of the essential nature of it.

'Land' or 'earth,' as in Genesis 20:15, signifies the doctrine of love and charity.

'Land' signifies the celestial principle of love in Genesis 24:4.

In Genesis 26:12, 'land' signifies rational things.

In Genesis 28:13, this signifies the good of the natural.

The 'land' represents the divine of the rational principle in Genesis 30:25.

(References: Arcana Coelestia 5577)


From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #2839

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2839. 'On the mountain Jehovah will see [to it]' means charity by means of which provision was made by the Lord for them, that is, for those who are spiritual, to be saved. This is clear from the meaning of 'the mountain' as love and charity, dealt with in 795, 796, 1430. The expression 'Jehovah will see [to it]' is the Lord's Providence, or provision made by the Lord, as has been stated just above in 2837. Here charity is referred to, not love, on account of the difference that exists between charity and love, dealt with in 2023. As regards spiritual people being saved by means of charity, not by means of faith separated from charity, this is clear from many places in the Word. The situation with regard to charity and to faith is this: Charity devoid of faith is not genuine charity, and faith devoid of charity is not faith. For charity to be real, faith must be present; and for faith to be real, charity must be present. The absolute essential however is charity, for that seed which is faith cannot be implanted in any other ground. From their being joined together through each reaching out and responding to the other, the heavenly marriage, that is, the Lord's kingdom, has its being. Unless faith exists implanted in charity it is merely knowledge, for it does not go beyond the memory, there being no affection in the heart to receive it. But when implanted in charity, that is, in life, faith becomes intelligence and wisdom. Charity devoid of faith, like that existing with young children and with gentiles who are upright, is simply the ground in which faith is implanted, if not in this life then in the next life, see 802, 2280, 2289-2309, 2417, 2589-2604.

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