41. Anything that is man's own has no life in it; and when depicted visually it looks like something hard as a bone and black. But anything that comes from the Lord does contain life. It has that which is spiritual and celestial within it, and when depicted visually it looks human and alive. It is perhaps incredible, but nevertheless absolutely true, that every expression, every idea, and every least thought of an angelic spirit is alive. In even the most detailed areas of his thought there is an affection that comes from the Lord, who is life itself. Consequently all that derives from the Lord has life within it, for it contains faith in Him, and is here meant by 'a living creature'. It then has the outward appearance of a body, meant here by that which is moving, or creeping. To man these matters remain arcana, but since the subject here is the living and moving creature, they ought at least to be mentioned here.

6440. 'Benjamin' means the truth of good present in the spiritual Church, which is 'Joseph'. This is clear from the representation of 'Benjamin' as the spiritual of the celestial, dealt with in 4592. Which - the spiritual of the celestial - is the truth of good. In this instance the truth of the good present in the spiritual Church, which is represented by 'Joseph' in this prophetic utterance made by Israel, is meant; for since 'Joseph' represents the spiritual Church, 6417, he also represents the good present in that Church (a Church is a Church by virtue of good). And the truth of that good is 'Benjamin'.