Arcana Coelestia #983
983. That “be fruitful” signifies the good of charity, and “multiply” the truths of faith, which were now about to be increased, is evident from the signification of these two expressions in the Word, where “to be fruitful” or to produce fruit, is constantly predicated of charity, and “to multiply” of faith, as was shown above, n. 43, 55, and in further confirmation of which we may adduce the following passages from the Word:
Turn, O backsliding sons; I will give you shepherds according to Mine heart, and they shall feed you with knowledge and intelligence and it shall be that ye shall be multiplied and made fruitful in the earth (Jeremiah 3:14-16),
where “to be multiplied” manifestly denotes growth in knowledge and intelligence, that is, in faith, and “to be made fruitful” denotes the goods of charity; for it there treats of the implantation of the church, in which faith or “multiplication” comes first.
Again:
I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all lands whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds, and they shall be fruitful and multiplied (Jeremiah 23:3),
speaking of a church already planted, consequently to be “made fruitful” as to the goods of charity and to be “multiplied” as to the truths of faith.
So in Moses:
Moreover I will look to you, and make you to be fruitful, and I will make you to be multiplied, and establish My covenant with you (Leviticus 26:9), speaking in the internal sense of the celestial church, wherefore “to be fruitful” is predicated of the goods of love and charity, and “to be multiplied” of the goods and truths of faith.
In Zechariah:
I will redeem them, and they shall be multiplied as they have been multiplied (Zechariah 10:8); that “to be multiplied” is here predicated of the truths of faith, is evident from their being to “be redeemed.”
In Jeremiah:
The city shall be builded upon her own heap, and out of them shall proceed confession, and the voice of them that make merry, and I will cause them to be multiplied, and they shall not be diminished; their sons also shall be as aforetime (Jeremiah 30:18-20),speaking of the affections of truth, and of the truths of faith; the former being denoted by “confession, and the voice of them that make merry” and the latter by “being multiplied;” “sons” also here denote truths.
Jeremiah 30
1
The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
2
Thus speaks Yahweh, the God of Israel, saying, Write all the words that I have spoken to you in a book.
3
For, behold, the days come, says Yahweh, that I will turn again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, says Yahweh; and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
4
These are the words that Yahweh spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah.
5
For thus says Yahweh: We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.
6
Ask now, and see whether a man does travail with child: why do I see every man with his hands on his waist, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?
7
Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
8
It shall come to pass in that day, says Yahweh of Armies, that I will break his yoke from off your neck, and will burst your bonds; and strangers shall no more make him their bondservant;
9
but they shall serve Yahweh their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up to them.
10
Therefore don't you be afraid, O Jacob my servant, says Yahweh; neither be dismayed, Israel: for, behold, I will save you from afar, and your seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be quiet and at ease, and none shall make him afraid.
11
For I am with you, says Yahweh, to save you: for I will make a full end of all the nations where I have scattered you, but I will not make a full end of you; but I will correct you in measure, and will in no way leave you unpunished.
12
For thus says Yahweh, Your hurt is incurable, and your wound grievous.
13
There is none to plead your cause, that you may be bound up: you have no healing medicines.
14
All your lovers have forgotten you; they don't seek you: for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the greatness of your iniquity, because your sins were increased.
15
Why do you cry for your hurt? Your pain is incurable: for the greatness of your iniquity, because your sins were increased, I have done these things to you.
16
Therefore all those who devour you shall be devoured; and all your adversaries, everyone of them, shall go into captivity; and those who despoil you shall be a spoil, and all who prey on you will I give for a prey.
17
For I will restore health to you, and I will heal you of your wounds, says Yahweh; because they have called you an outcast, [saying], It is Zion, whom no man seeks after.
18
Thus says Yahweh: Behold, I will turn again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have compassion on his dwelling places; and the city shall be built on its own hill, and the palace shall be inhabited in its own way.
19
Out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of those who make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.
20
Their children also shall be as before, and their congregation shall be established before me; and I will punish all who oppress them.
21
Their prince shall be of themselves, and their ruler shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach to me: for who is he who has had boldness to approach to me? says Yahweh.
22
You shall be my people, and I will be your God.
23
Behold, the storm of Yahweh, [even his] wrath, is gone forth, a sweeping storm: it shall burst on the head of the wicked.
24
The fierce anger of Yahweh will not return, until he has executed, and until he has performed the intentions of his heart. In the latter days you will understand it.
