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:

9880. 'With the work of slender rope' means an indissoluble joining together. This is clear from the meaning of 'slender rope' as a joining together, dealt with above in 9854. The reason why an indissoluble joining together is meant is that a slender rope made from twisted and intertwined work, as is evident from the original language in which a cord such as this is called slender rope. What is made from twisted and intertwined work means in the spiritual sense something indissoluble.