Arcana Coelestia #3623
3623. 'What would life hold for me?' means, and so there would not be any conjunction. This is clear from the meaning of 'life' as conjunction by means of truths and goods. For when it was not possible for any truth from a common stem or genuine source to be joined to natural truth, there could not be any alliance of the natural to the truth of the rational, in which case it seemed to the rational as though its own life were no life, 3493, 3620. This is why here 'what would life hold for me?' means, and so there would not be any conjunction. Here and in other places the word 'life' in the original language is plural, and the reason for this is that in man there are two powers of life. The first is called the understanding and is the receptacle of truth, the second is called the will and is the receptacle of good. These two forms or powers of life make one when the understanding is rooted in the will, or what amounts to the same, when truth is grounded in good. This explains why in Hebrew the noun 'life' is sometimes singular, sometimes plural. The plural form of that noun is used in all the following places, Jehovah God formed the man, dust from the ground; and He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul. Genesis 2:7. Jehovah God caused to spring up out of the ground every tree desirable to the sight and good for food, and the tree of life in the middle of the garden. Genesis 2:9. Behold, I am bringing a flood of waters over the earth, to destroy all flesh in which there is the spirit of life. Genesis 6:17.
They went in to Noah into the ark, two by two from all flesh in which there is the spirit of life. Genesis 7:15 (in 780).
Everything which had the breath of the spirit of life in its nostrils breathed its last. Genesis 7:12.
In David,
I believe [I am going] to see the goodness of Jehovah in the land of the living. Psalms 27:13.
In the same author,
Who is the man who desires life, who loves [many] days, that he may see good? Psalms 34:12
In the same author,
With You, O Jehovah, is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light. Psalms 36:9.
In Malachi,
My covenant with Levi was [a covenant] of life and peace. Malachi 2:5.
In Jeremiah,
Thus said Jehovah, Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. Jeremiah 21:8.
In Moses,
To love Jehovah your God, to obey His voice, and to cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days, so that you may dwell in the land. Deuteronomy 30:20.
In the same author,
It is not an empty word from you; for it is your life, and through this word you will prolong your days in the land. Deuteronomy 32:47.
And in other places too the plural form of the noun 'life' is used in the original language because, as has been stated, there are two kinds of life which yet make one. It is similar with the word 'heavens' in the Hebrew language, in that the heavens are many and yet make one, or like the expression 'waters' above and below, in Genesis 1:7-9 , by which spiritual things in the rational and in the natural are meant which ought to be one through being joined together. As for the plural form of 'life', when this is used both the life of the will and that of the understanding are meant, and therefore both the life of good and that of truth are meant. For man's life consists in nothing else than good and truth which hold life from the Lord within them. Devoid of good and truth, and of the life which these hold within them, no one is human. For devoid of these no one would ever have been able to will or to think anything. Everything that a person wills originates in good or in that which is not good, and everything he thinks originates in truth or in that which is not truth. Consequently man possesses two kinds of life and these make one when his thinking flows from his willing, that is, when truth which is the truth of faith flows from good which is the good of love.
Psalms 68
1
Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
2
As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
3
But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
4
Sing unto God, Sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.
5
A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
6
God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
7
O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:
8
The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9
Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
10
Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
11
The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
12
Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.
13
Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.
14
When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.
15
The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.
16
Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.
17
The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.
18
Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
19
Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
20
He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death.
21
But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.
22
The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:
23
That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.
24
They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.
25
The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.
26
Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.
27
There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
28
Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.
29
Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.
30
Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.
31
Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.
32
Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O Sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:
33
To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.
34
Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.
35
O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.
