The Bible

 

Genesis 6:16

Study

       

16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.

Commentary

 

The Meaning of Noah and the Flood

By OffTheLeftEye Staff

Is the Noah’s Ark story in the book of Genesis really about God destroying creation? A spiritual Bible interpretation of the story reveals its true meaning.

In this video, host Curtis Childs guides us through the revelations about the Old Testament parable that eighteenth-century philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg had during his spiritual experiences. Swedenborg’s perspectives transcend literal interpretations to provide a hopeful lesson about salvation. While it may seem like the Bible story is about God destroying creation, Swedenborg’s spiritual perspectives suggest that it symbolizes God’s still-ongoing efforts to save us from self-destruction.

Play Video
This video is a product of the Swedenborg Foundation. Follow these links for further information and other videos: www.youtube.com/user/offTheLeftEye and www.swedenborg.com

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #975

Study this Passage

  
/ 10837  
  

975. Finally the subject is the Ancient Church in general. At this point 'Shem' is used to mean internal worship, 'Japheth' external worship corresponding to it, 'Ham' faith separated from charity, and 'Canaan' external worship separated from internal, verses 19-end. Wishing to investigate from itself the truths of faith, and to do so by means of reasonings, that Church first sank into errors and perversities, verses 19-21. As a result of such errors and perversities people whose worship is external separated from internal mock the doctrine of faith itself, verse 22, While those whose worship is both internal and also external deriving from internal place a good interpretation upon such things and make excuses for them, verse 23. People whose worship is external separated from internal are the lowest of all, verses 24-25. But for all that, they are still able to perform inferior types of service within the Church, verses 26-27.

  
/ 10837  
  

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