670. That 'living creature' ¹ means things of the understanding, and 'all flesh' those of the will, becomes clear from what has been stated already, and also from what follows. In the Word 'living creature' means all animal life in general, as in Genesis 1:10, 21, 24; 2:19. Here however, because the phrase 'all flesh' is added immediately after, it means things which belong to the understanding, for the reason given already, that the regeneration of the member of this Church had to begin in the things of the understanding. This also is why in the next verse 'birds' are mentioned first, which mean things of the understanding or the rational, and 'beasts', which are those of the will, second. 'Flesh' in particular means bodily-mindedness which is a feature of the will.

Footnotes:

6185. 'And he said, I will do according to your word' means that it will indeed be done, [for which the Divine has provided.] This is clear from the meaning of 'doing according to someone's word' as it will indeed be done. The reason for the addition of the phrase 'for which the Divine has provided' is that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob represented three entities which however made one. In the highest sense Abraham represented within the Lord the Divine Itself, 'Isaac' the Divine Rational, and 'Jacob' the Divine Natural, 3305 (end), 4615, 6098. But in the relative sense that applies to man they represent what is inmost, which is celestial good; what is relatively internal, which is spiritual good; and what is relatively external, which is natural good. These are what is meant by the three in one sepulchre, for 'a sepulchre' means resurrection into life and regeneration, 2916, 2917, 4621, 5551.