The Bible

 

Genesis 1:5

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5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first Day.

Commentary

 

Cattle

  
Cattle in a pasture.

Animals in the Bible generally refer to spiritual activity, the things we actually do on a spiritual level. "Cattle," as typically used in the Bible, mean a collection of domesticated animals owned by one person or group (including other animals along with cows). It makes sense, then, that cattle would represent the spiritual activities we "own" and have "domesticated."

What are the good things we like to see in ourselves and encourage? What true ideas do we keep in mind, ponder, and use in our decision-making? These can come in great varieties and from many different sources, just as a variety of animals could be part of "cattle," but the key is that we own them, care for them and use them.

(References: Arcana Coelestia 415, 3786, 4105, 4106, 4391, 4440)

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #60

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60. Verse 31 And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning, a sixth day.

This verse says 'very good', whereas previous verses merely said 'good', for now the things of faith make one with those of love. A marriage has accordingly taken place between spiritual and celestial things.

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