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Ezekiel 40

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1 καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ πέμπτῳ καὶ εἰκοστῷ ἔτει τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας ἡμῶν ἐν τῷ πρώτῳ μηνὶ δεκάτῃ τοῦ μηνὸς ἐν τῷ τεσσαρεσκαιδεκάτῳ ἔτει μετὰ τὸ ἁλῶναι τὴν πόλιν ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἐγένετο ἐπ' ἐμὲ χεὶρ κυρίου καὶ ἤγαγέν με

2 ἐν ὁράσει θεοῦ εἰς τὴν γῆν τοῦ ισραηλ καὶ ἔθηκέν με ἐπ' ὄρους ὑψηλοῦ σφόδρα καὶ ἐπ' αὐτοῦ ὡσεὶ οἰκοδομὴ πόλεως ἀπέναντι

3 καὶ εἰσήγαγέν με ἐκεῖ καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀνήρ καὶ ἡ ὅρασις αὐτοῦ ἦν ὡσεὶ ὅρασις χαλκοῦ στίλβοντος καὶ ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ ἦν σπαρτίον οἰκοδόμων καὶ κάλαμος μέτρου καὶ αὐτὸς εἱστήκει ἐπὶ τῆς πύλης

4 καὶ εἶπεν πρός με ὁ ἀνήρ ἑώρακας υἱὲ ἀνθρώπου ἐν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς σου ἰδὲ καὶ ἐν τοῖς ὠσίν σου ἄκουε καὶ τάξον εἰς τὴν καρδίαν σου πάντα ὅσα ἐγὼ δεικνύω σοι διότι ἕνεκα τοῦ δεῖξαί σοι εἰσελήλυθας ὧδε καὶ δείξεις πάντα ὅσα σὺ ὁρᾷς τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ ισραηλ

5 καὶ ἰδοὺ περίβολος ἔξωθεν τοῦ οἴκου κύκλῳ καὶ ἐν τῇ χειρὶ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς κάλαμος τὸ μέτρον πηχῶν ἓξ ἐν πήχει καὶ παλαιστῆς καὶ διεμέτρησεν τὸ προτείχισμα πλάτος ἴσον τῷ καλάμῳ καὶ τὸ ὕψος αὐτοῦ ἴσον τῷ καλάμῳ

6 καὶ εἰσῆλθεν εἰς τὴν πύλην τὴν βλέπουσαν κατὰ ἀνατολὰς ἐν ἑπτὰ ἀναβαθμοῖς καὶ διεμέτρησεν τὸ αιλαμ τῆς πύλης ἴσον τῷ καλάμῳ

7 καὶ τὸ θεε ἴσον τῷ καλάμῳ τὸ μῆκος καὶ ἴσον τῷ καλάμῳ τὸ πλάτος καὶ τὸ αιλαμ ἀνὰ μέσον τοῦ θαιηλαθα πηχῶν ἓξ καὶ τὸ θεε τὸ δεύτερον ἴσον τῷ καλάμῳ τὸ πλάτος καὶ ἴσον τῷ καλάμῳ τὸ μῆκος καὶ τὸ αιλαμ πήχεων πέντε

8 καὶ τὸ θεε τὸ τρίτον ἴσον τῷ καλάμῳ τὸ πλάτος καὶ ἴσον τῷ καλάμῳ τὸ μῆκος

9 καὶ τὸ αιλαμ τοῦ πυλῶνος πλησίον τοῦ αιλαμ τῆς πύλης πηχῶν ὀκτὼ καὶ τὰ αιλευ πηχῶν δύο καὶ τὸ αιλαμ τῆς πύλης ἔσωθεν

10 καὶ τὰ θεε τῆς πύλης θεε κατέναντι τρεῖς ἔνθεν καὶ τρεῖς ἔνθεν καὶ μέτρον ἓν τοῖς τρισὶν καὶ μέτρον ἓν τοῖς αιλαμ ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν

11 καὶ διεμέτρησεν τὸ πλάτος τῆς θύρας τοῦ πυλῶνος πηχῶν δέκα καὶ τὸ εὖρος τοῦ πυλῶνος πηχῶν δέκα τριῶν

12 καὶ πῆχυς ἐπισυναγόμενος ἐπὶ πρόσωπον τῶν θεϊμ ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν καὶ τὸ θεε πηχῶν ἓξ ἔνθεν καὶ πηχῶν ἓξ ἔνθεν

13 καὶ διεμέτρησεν τὴν πύλην ἀπὸ τοῦ τοίχου τοῦ θεε ἐπὶ τὸν τοῖχον τοῦ θεε πλάτος πήχεις εἴκοσι πέντε αὕτη πύλη ἐπὶ πύλην

14 καὶ τὸ αἴθριον τοῦ αιλαμ τῆς πύλης ἑξήκοντα πήχεις εἴκοσι θεϊμ τῆς πύλης κύκλῳ

15 καὶ τὸ αἴθριον τῆς πύλης ἔξωθεν εἰς τὸ αἴθριον αιλαμ τῆς πύλης ἔσωθεν πηχῶν πεντήκοντα

16 καὶ θυρίδες κρυπταὶ ἐπὶ τὰ θεϊμ καὶ ἐπὶ τὰ αιλαμ ἔσωθεν τῆς πύλης τῆς αὐλῆς κυκλόθεν καὶ ὡσαύτως τοῖς αιλαμ θυρίδες κύκλῳ ἔσωθεν καὶ ἐπὶ τὸ αιλαμ φοίνικες ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν

17 καὶ εἰσήγαγέν με εἰς τὴν αὐλὴν τὴν ἐσωτέραν καὶ ἰδοὺ παστοφόρια καὶ περίστυλα κύκλῳ τῆς αὐλῆς τριάκοντα παστοφόρια ἐν τοῖς περιστύλοις

18 καὶ αἱ στοαὶ κατὰ νώτου τῶν πυλῶν κατὰ τὸ μῆκος τῶν πυλῶν τὸ περίστυλον τὸ ὑποκάτω

19 καὶ διεμέτρησεν τὸ πλάτος τῆς αὐλῆς ἀπὸ τοῦ αἰθρίου τῆς πύλης τῆς ἐξωτέρας ἔσωθεν ἐπὶ τὸ αἴθριον τῆς πύλης τῆς βλεπούσης ἔξω πήχεις ἑκατόν τῆς βλεπούσης κατ' ἀνατολάς καὶ εἰσήγαγέν με ἐπὶ βορρᾶν

20 καὶ ἰδοὺ πύλη βλέπουσα πρὸς βορρᾶν τῇ αὐλῇ τῇ ἐξωτέρᾳ καὶ διεμέτρησεν αὐτήν τό τε μῆκος αὐτῆς καὶ τὸ πλάτος

21 καὶ τὰ θεε τρεῖς ἔνθεν καὶ τρεῖς ἔνθεν καὶ τὰ αιλευ καὶ τὰ αιλαμμω καὶ τοὺς φοίνικας αὐτῆς καὶ ἐγένετο κατὰ τὰ μέτρα τῆς πύλης τῆς βλεπούσης κατὰ ἀνατολὰς πηχῶν πεντήκοντα τὸ μῆκος αὐτῆς καὶ πηχῶν εἴκοσι πέντε τὸ εὖρος αὐτῆς

22 καὶ αἱ θυρίδες αὐτῆς καὶ τὰ αιλαμμω καὶ οἱ φοίνικες αὐτῆς καθὼς ἡ πύλη ἡ βλέπουσα κατὰ ἀνατολάς καὶ ἐν ἑπτὰ κλιμακτῆρσιν ἀνέβαινον ἐπ' αὐτήν καὶ τὰ αιλαμμω ἔσωθεν

23 καὶ πύλη τῇ αὐλῇ τῇ ἐσωτέρᾳ βλέπουσα ἐπὶ πύλην τοῦ βορρᾶ ὃν τρόπον τῆς πύλης τῆς βλεπούσης κατὰ ἀνατολάς καὶ διεμέτρησεν τὴν αὐλὴν ἀπὸ πύλης ἐπὶ πύλην πήχεις ἑκατόν

24 καὶ ἤγαγέν με κατὰ νότον καὶ ἰδοὺ πύλη βλέπουσα πρὸς νότον καὶ διεμέτρησεν αὐτὴν καὶ τὰ θεε καὶ τὰ αιλευ καὶ τὰ αιλαμμω κατὰ τὰ μέτρα ταῦτα

25 καὶ αἱ θυρίδες αὐτῆς καὶ τὰ αιλαμμω κυκλόθεν καθὼς αἱ θυρίδες τοῦ αιλαμ πηχῶν πεντήκοντα τὸ μῆκος αὐτῆς καὶ πηχῶν εἴκοσι πέντε τὸ εὖρος αὐτῆς

26 καὶ ἑπτὰ κλιμακτῆρες αὐτῇ καὶ αιλαμμω ἔσωθεν καὶ φοίνικες αὐτῇ εἷς ἔνθεν καὶ εἷς ἔνθεν ἐπὶ τὰ αιλευ

27 καὶ πύλη κατέναντι πύλης τῆς αὐλῆς τῆς ἐσωτέρας πρὸς νότον καὶ διεμέτρησεν τὴν αὐλὴν ἀπὸ πύλης ἐπὶ πύλην πήχεις ἑκατὸν τὸ εὖρος πρὸς νότον

28 καὶ εἰσήγαγέν με εἰς τὴν αὐλὴν τὴν ἐσωτέραν τῆς πύλης τῆς πρὸς νότον καὶ διεμέτρησεν τὴν πύλην κατὰ τὰ μέτρα ταῦτα

29 καὶ τὰ θεε καὶ τὰ αιλευ καὶ τὰ αιλαμμω κατὰ τὰ μέτρα ταῦτα καὶ θυρίδες αὐτῇ καὶ τῷ αιλαμμω κύκλῳ πήχεις πεντήκοντα τὸ μῆκος αὐτῆς καὶ τὸ εὖρος πήχεις εἴκοσι πέντε

31 καὶ αιλαμμω εἰς τὴν αὐλὴν τὴν ἐξωτέραν καὶ φοίνικες τῷ αιλευ καὶ ὀκτὼ κλιμακτῆρες

32 καὶ εἰσήγαγέν με εἰς τὴν πύλην τὴν βλέπουσαν κατὰ ἀνατολὰς καὶ διεμέτρησεν αὐτὴν κατὰ τὰ μέτρα ταῦτα

33 καὶ τὰ θεε καὶ τὰ αιλευ καὶ τὰ αιλαμμω κατὰ τὰ μέτρα ταῦτα καὶ θυρίδες αὐτῇ καὶ τῷ αιλαμμω κύκλῳ πήχεις πεντήκοντα μῆκος αὐτῆς καὶ εὖρος πήχεις εἴκοσι πέντε

34 καὶ αιλαμμω εἰς τὴν αὐλὴν τὴν ἐσωτέραν καὶ φοίνικες ἐπὶ τοῦ αιλευ ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν καὶ ὀκτὼ κλιμακτῆρες αὐτῇ

35 καὶ εἰσήγαγέν με εἰς τὴν πύλην τὴν πρὸς βορρᾶν καὶ διεμέτρησεν κατὰ τὰ μέτρα ταῦτα

36 καὶ τὰ θεε καὶ τὰ αιλευ καὶ τὰ αιλαμμω καὶ θυρίδες αὐτῇ κύκλῳ καὶ τῷ αιλαμμω αὐτῆς πήχεις πεντήκοντα μῆκος αὐτῆς καὶ εὖρος πήχεις εἴκοσι πέντε

37 καὶ τὰ αιλαμμω εἰς τὴν αὐλὴν τὴν ἐξωτέραν καὶ φοίνικες τῷ αιλευ ἔνθεν καὶ ἔνθεν καὶ ὀκτὼ κλιμακτῆρες αὐτῇ

38 τὰ παστοφόρια αὐτῆς καὶ τὰ θυρώματα αὐτῆς καὶ τὰ αιλαμμω αὐτῆς ἐπὶ τῆς πύλης

39 τῆς δευτέρας ἔκρυσις ὅπως σφάζωσιν ἐν αὐτῇ τὰ ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτίας καὶ ὑπὲρ ἀγνοίας

40 καὶ κατὰ νώτου τοῦ ῥόακος τῶν ὁλοκαυτωμάτων τῆς βλεπούσης πρὸς βορρᾶν δύο τράπεζαι πρὸς ἀνατολὰς καὶ κατὰ νώτου τῆς δευτέρας καὶ τοῦ αιλαμ τῆς πύλης δύο τράπεζαι κατὰ ἀνατολάς

41 τέσσαρες ἔνθεν καὶ τέσσαρες ἔνθεν κατὰ νώτου τῆς πύλης ἐπ' αὐτὰς σφάξουσι τὰ θύματα κατέναντι τῶν ὀκτὼ τραπεζῶν τῶν θυμάτων

42 καὶ τέσσαρες τράπεζαι τῶν ὁλοκαυτωμάτων λίθιναι λελαξευμέναι πήχεος καὶ ἡμίσους τὸ πλάτος καὶ πήχεων δύο καὶ ἡμίσους τὸ μῆκος καὶ ἐπὶ πῆχυν τὸ ὕψος ἐπ' αὐτὰς ἐπιθήσουσιν τὰ σκεύη ἐν οἷς σφάζουσιν ἐκεῖ τὰ ὁλοκαυτώματα καὶ τὰ θύματα

43 καὶ παλαιστὴν ἕξουσιν γεῖσος λελαξευμένον ἔσωθεν κύκλῳ καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς τραπέζας ἐπάνωθεν στέγας τοῦ καλύπτεσθαι ἀπὸ τοῦ ὑετοῦ καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς ξηρασίας

44 καὶ εἰσήγαγέν με εἰς τὴν αὐλὴν τὴν ἐσωτέραν καὶ ἰδοὺ δύο ἐξέδραι ἐν τῇ αὐλῇ τῇ ἐσωτέρᾳ μία κατὰ νώτου τῆς πύλης τῆς βλεπούσης πρὸς βορρᾶν φέρουσα πρὸς νότον καὶ μία κατὰ νώτου τῆς πύλης τῆς πρὸς νότον βλεπούσης δὲ πρὸς βορρᾶν

45 καὶ εἶπεν πρός με ἡ ἐξέδρα αὕτη ἡ βλέπουσα πρὸς νότον τοῖς ἱερεῦσι τοῖς φυλάσσουσι τὴν φυλακὴν τοῦ οἴκου

46 καὶ ἡ ἐξέδρα ἡ βλέπουσα πρὸς βορρᾶν τοῖς ἱερεῦσι τοῖς φυλάσσουσι τὴν φυλακὴν τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου ἐκεῖνοί εἰσιν οἱ υἱοὶ σαδδουκ οἱ ἐγγίζοντες ἐκ τοῦ λευι πρὸς κύριον λειτουργεῖν αὐτῷ

47 καὶ διεμέτρησεν τὴν αὐλὴν μῆκος πήχεων ἑκατὸν καὶ εὖρος πήχεων ἑκατὸν ἐπὶ τὰ τέσσαρα μέρη αὐτῆς καὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον ἀπέναντι τοῦ οἴκου

48 καὶ εἰσήγαγέν με εἰς τὸ αιλαμ τοῦ οἴκου καὶ διεμέτρησεν τὸ αιλ τοῦ αιλαμ πηχῶν πέντε τὸ πλάτος ἔνθεν καὶ πηχῶν πέντε ἔνθεν καὶ τὸ εὖρος τοῦ θυρώματος πηχῶν δέκα τεσσάρων καὶ ἐπωμίδες τῆς θύρας τοῦ αιλαμ πηχῶν τριῶν ἔνθεν καὶ πηχῶν τριῶν ἔνθεν

49 καὶ τὸ μῆκος τοῦ αιλαμ πηχῶν εἴκοσι καὶ τὸ εὖρος πηχῶν δώδεκα καὶ ἐπὶ δέκα ἀναβαθμῶν ἀνέβαινον ἐπ' αὐτό καὶ στῦλοι ἦσαν ἐπὶ τὸ αιλαμ εἷς ἔνθεν καὶ εἷς ἔνθεν

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Apocalypse Revealed #194

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194. "'And the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem.'" This symbolically means that they will have the doctrine of the New Church engraved on their hearts.

The New Jerusalem symbolizes the New Church, and when it is called a city, it symbolizes the New Church in respect to its doctrine. Therefore to "write on him the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem," means, symbolically, that they will have the doctrine of the New Church engraved on their hearts.

To be shown that Jerusalem symbolizes the church, and that as a city it means the church in respect to its doctrine, see nos. 880, 881, below.

A city symbolizes doctrine because a land, and particularly the land of Canaan, symbolizes a church in its entirety; and the inheritances into which the land of Canaan was divided consequently symbolized various components of the church, and the cities in it doctrines. Because of this, when cities are mentioned in the Word, the angels understand them to mean nothing else. I have also had this attested for me through a good deal of experience.

The case with this is the same as with the symbolic meanings of mountains, hills, valleys, springs, and rivers, all of which symbolize such things as have to do with the church.

[2] That cities symbolize doctrines can be seen to some extent from the following passages:

The land shall be... emptied..., the land shall be turned upside down..., the land shall be profaned... The empty city shall be broken down... What is left in the city shall be waste, and the gate shall be stricken even to its destruction. (Isaiah 3; 4; 5; 10; 11; 12)

The lion has come up from his thicket..., to make your land a wasteland. Your cities will be destroyed... I beheld... Carmel a wilderness, and all its cities desolate... ...the land shall mourn... The whole city shall flee..., forsaken... (Jeremiah 4:7, 26-29)

The land there is the church, and the city is its doctrine. The devastation of the church by doctrinal falsities is described in this way.

The despoiler shall come upon every city, so that no city escapes. The valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed... (Jeremiah 48:8)

Likewise:

Behold, I have made you this day as a fortified city... against the whole land... (Jeremiah 1:18)

This was addressed to the prophet because a prophet symbolizes the doctrine of the church (no. 8).

On that day they will sing... in the land of Judah: "We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks." (Isaiah 26:1-2)

...the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. (Revelation 16:18-19)

(The prophet saw) on a very high mountain... the structure of a city to the south... (And an angel measured the wall, the gates, their chambers, and the vestibule of the gate,) and the name of the city... shall be JEHOVAH IS THERE. (Ezekiel 40:1ff., 48:35)

There is a river whose streams have made glad the city of God? (Psalms 46:4-5)

I will embroil Egypt with Egypt, so that... city (fights) against city, and kingdom against kingdom. (Isaiah 19:2)

Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city... divided against itself will not stand. (Matthew 12:25)

Cities in these passages mean, in the spiritual sense, doctrines, as is the case also in Isaiah 6:11; 14:4, 17, 21; 19:18-19; 25:1-3; 33:8-9; 54:3; 64:10, and elsewhere.

[3] From the symbolic meaning of a city it can be seen what cities mean in this parable of the Lord:

A... nobleman (going) into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom..., delivered to (his servants) minas (with which to) do business... ...when he returned..., he (called the) servants... The first came, saying, ."..your mina has earned ten minas," and he said to him, ."..good servant..., you shall have authority over ten cities." And the second came, saying, ."..your mina has earned five minas." And he said... to him, "You also be over five cities." (Luke 19:12-19)

Cities here likewise symbolize doctrines or doctrinal truths, and to be over them is to be intelligent and wise. Thus to give power over them is to impart intelligence and wisdom. Ten symbolizes much, and five some. It is apparent that to do business and earn a profit means to acquire intelligence for oneself by making use of one's abilities.

[4] That the holy city Jerusalem symbolizes the doctrine of the New Church is clearly apparent from its description in chapter 21 of the book of Revelation, for it is described in respect to its dimensions, its gates, and its wall and foundations, and inasmuch as Jerusalem symbolizes the church, these can symbolize nothing other than matters having to do with its doctrine. Neither is the church a church on any other basis.

Because the city Jerusalem means the church in respect to doctrine, it is therefore called the City of Truth (Zechariah 8:3-4), and in many places a holy city, and this because holiness is predicated of truths derived from the Lord (no. 173).

  
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Many thanks to the General Church of the New Jerusalem, and to Rev. N.B. Rogers, translator, for the permission to use this translation.