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Ezekiel 22

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1 καί-C γίγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S λόγος-N2--NSM κύριος-N2--GSM πρός-P ἐγώ- P--AS λέγω-V1--PAPNSM

2 καί-C σύ- P--NS υἱός-N2--VSM ἄνθρωπος-N2--GSM εἰ-C κρίνω-VF2-FAI2S ὁ- A--ASF πόλις-N3I-ASF ὁ- A--GPN αἷμα-N3M-GPN καί-C παραδεικνύω-VA--AAD2S αὐτός- D--DSF πᾶς-A1S-APF ὁ- A--APF ἀνομία-N1A-APF αὐτός- D--GSF

3 καί-C εἶπον-VF2-FAI2S ὅδε- D--APN λέγω-V1--PAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM κύριος-N2--NSM ὦ-I πόλις-N3I-NSF ἐκχέω-V2--PAPNSF αἷμα-N3M-APN ἐν-P μέσος-A1--DSM αὐτός- D--GSF ὁ- A--GSN ἔρχομαι-VB--AAN καιρός-N2--ASM αὐτός- D--GSF καί-C ποιέω-V2--PAPNSF ἐνθύμημα-N3M-APN κατά-P ἑαυτοῦ- D--GSF ὁ- A--GSN μιαίνω-V1--PAN αὐτός- D--ASF

4 ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPN αἷμα-N3M-DPN αὐτός- D--GPM ὅς- --DPN ἐκχέω-VAI-AAI2S παραπίπτω-VX--XAI2S καί-C ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPN ἐνθύμημα-N3M-DPN σύ- P--GS ὅς- --DPN ποιέω-V2I-IAI2S μιαίνω-V1I-IMI2S καί-C ἐγγίζω-VAI-AAI2S ὁ- A--APF ἡμέρα-N1A-APF σύ- P--GS καί-C ἄγω-VBI-AAI2S καιρός-N2--ASM ἔτος-N3E-GPN σύ- P--GS διά-P οὗτος- D--ASN δίδωμι-VX--XAI1S σύ- P--AS εἰς-P ὄνειδος-N3E-ASN ὁ- A--DPN ἔθνος-N3E-DPN καί-C εἰς-P ἐμπαιγμός-N2--ASM πᾶς-A1S-DPF ὁ- A--DPF χώρα-N1A-DPF

5 ὁ- A--DPF ἐγγίζω-V1--PAPDPF πρός-P σύ- P--AS καί-C ὁ- A--DPF μακράν-D ἀποἔχω-V1--PAPDPF ἀπό-P σύ- P--GS καί-C ἐνπαίζω-VF--FMI3P ἐν-P σύ- P--DS ἀκάθαρτος-A1B-NSF ὁ- A--NSF ὀνομαστός-A1--NSF καί-C πολύς-A1--NSF ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPF ἀνομία-N1A-DPF

6 ἰδού-I ὁ- A--NPM ἀποἡγέομαι-V2--PMPNPM οἶκος-N2--GSM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM ἕκαστος-A1--NSM πρός-P ὁ- A--APM συγγενής-A3H-APM αὐτός- D--GSM συν ἀναφύρω-V1I-IMI3P ἐν-P σύ- P--DS ὅπως-C ἐκχέω-V2--PAS3P αἷμα-N3M-ASN

7 πατήρ-N3--ASM καί-C μήτηρ-N3--ASF κακαλογέω-V2I-IAI3P ἐν-P σύ- P--DS καί-C πρός-P ὁ- A--ASM προσήλυτος-N2--ASM ἀναστρέφω-V1I-IMI3P ἐν-P ἀδικία-N1A-DPF ἐν-P σύ- P--DS ὀρφανός-A1--ASM καί-C χήρα-N1A-ASF καταδυναστεύω-V1I-IAI3P ἐν-P σύ- P--DS

8 καί-C ὁ- A--APN ἅγιος-A1A-APN ἐγώ- P--GS ἐκοὐδενέω-V2I-IAI3P καί-C ὁ- A--APN σάββατον-N2N-APN ἐγώ- P--GS βεβηλόω-V4I-IAI3P ἐν-P σύ- P--DS

9 ἀνήρ-N3--NPM λῃστής-N1M-NPM ἐν-P σύ- P--DS ὅπως-C ἐκχέω-V2--PAS3P ἐν-P σύ- P--DS αἷμα-N3M-ASN καί-C ἐπί-P ὁ- A--GPN ὄρος-N3E-GPN ἐσθίω-VAI-AAI3P ἐν-P σύ- P--DS ἀνόσιος-A1A-APN ποιέω-V2I-IAI3P ἐν-P μέσος-A1--DSM σύ- P--GS

10 αἰσχύνη-N1--ASF πατήρ-N3--GSM ἀποκαλύπτω-VAI-AAI3P ἐν-P σύ- P--DS καί-C ἐν-P ἀκαθαρσία-N1A-DPF ἀπο καταἧμαι-V5--PMPASF ταπεινόω-V4I-IAI3P ἐν-P σύ- P--DS

11 ἕκαστος-A1--NSM ὁ- A--ASF γυνή-N3K-ASF ὁ- A--GSM πλησίον-D αὐτός- D--GSM ἀνομέω-VAI-AAI3P καί-C ἕκαστος-A1--NSM ὁ- A--ASF νύμφη-N1--ASF αὐτός- D--GSM μιαίνω-V1I-IAI3S ἐν-P ἀσέβεια-N1A-DSF καί-C ἕκαστος-A1--NSM ὁ- A--ASF ἀδελφή-N1--ASF αὐτός- D--GSM θυγάτηρ-N3--ASF ὁ- A--GSM πατήρ-N3--GSM αὐτός- D--GSM ταπεινόω-V4I-IAI3P ἐν-P σύ- P--DS

12 δῶρον-N2N-APN λαμβάνω-VAI-AAI3P ἐν-P σύ- P--DS ὅπως-C ἐκχέω-V2--PAS3P αἷμα-N3M-ASN τόκος-N2--ASM καί-C πλεονασμός-N2--ASM λαμβάνω-VAI-AAI3P ἐν-P σύ- P--DS καί-C συντελέω-VAI-AMI2S συντέλεια-N1A-ASF κακία-N1A-GSF σύ- P--GS ὁ- A--ASF ἐν-P καταδυναστεία-N1--DSF ἐγώ- P--GS δέ-X ἐπιλανθάνω-VBI-AMI2S λέγω-V1--PAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM

13 ἐάν-C δέ-X πατάσσω-VF--FAI1S χείρ-N3--ASF ἐγώ- P--GS πρός-P χείρ-N3--ASF ἐγώ- P--GS ἐπί-P ὅς- --DPM συντελέω-VM--XMI2S ὅς- --DPM ποιέω-VAI-AAI2S καί-C ἐπί-P ὁ- A--DPN αἷμα-N3M-DPN σύ- P--GS ὁ- A--DPN γίγνομαι-VM--XMPDPN ἐν-P μέσος-A1--DSM σύ- P--GS

14 εἰ-C ὑποἵστημι-VF--FMI3S ὁ- A--NSF καρδία-N1A-NSF σύ- P--GS εἰ-C κρατέω-VF--FAI3P ὁ- A--NPF χείρ-N3--NPF σύ- P--GS ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPF ἡμέρα-N1A-DPF ὅς- --DPF ἐγώ- P--NS ποιέω-V2--PAI1S ἐν-P σύ- P--DS ἐγώ- P--NS κύριος-N2--NSM λαλέω-VX--XAI1S καί-C ποιέω-VF--FAI1S

15 καί-C διασκορπίζω-VF2-FAI1S σύ- P--AS ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPN ἔθνος-N3E-DPN καί-C διασπείρω-VF2-FAI1S σύ- P--AS ἐν-P ὁ- A--DPF χώρα-N1A-DPF καί-C ἐκλείπω-VF--FAI3S ὁ- A--NSF ἀκαθαρσία-N1A-NSF σύ- P--GS ἐκ-P σύ- P--GS

16 καί-C κατακληρονομέω-VF--FAI1S ἐν-P σύ- P--DS κατά-P ὀφθαλμός-N2--APM ὁ- A--GPN ἔθνος-N3E-GPN καί-C γιγνώσκω-VF--FMI2P διότι-C ἐγώ- P--NS κύριος-N2--NSM

17 καί-C γίγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S λόγος-N2--NSM κύριος-N2--GSM πρός-P ἐγώ- P--AS λέγω-V1--PAPNSM

18 υἱός-N2--VSM ἄνθρωπος-N2--GSM ἰδού-I γίγνομαι-VX--XAI3P ἐγώ- P--DS ὁ- A--NSM οἶκος-N2--NSM *ἰσραήλ-N---GSM ἀναμίγνυμι-VK--XMPNPM πᾶς-A3--NPM χαλκοῦς-A1C-DSM καί-C σίδηρος-N2--DSM καί-C κασσίτερος-N2--DSM καί-C μόλιβος-N2--DSM ἐν-P μέσος-A1--DSM ἀργύριον-N2N-GSN ἀναμίγνυμι-VK--XMPNSM εἰμί-V9--PAI3S

19 διά-P οὗτος- D--ASN εἶπον-VB--AAD2S ὅδε- D--APN λέγω-V1--PAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM ἀντί-P ὅς- --GPM γίγνομαι-VBI-AMI2P πᾶς-A3--NPM εἰς-P σύγκρασις-N3I-ASF εἷς-A1A-ASF διά-P οὗτος- D--ASN ἐγώ- P--NS εἰςδέχομαι-V1--PMI1S σύ- P--AP εἰς-P μέσος-A1--ASM *ἰερουσαλήμ-N---GSF

20 καθώς-D εἰςδέχομαι-V1--PMI3S ἄργυρος-N2--NSM καί-C χαλκός-N2--NSM καί-C σίδηρος-N2--NSM καί-C κασσίτερος-N2--NSM καί-C μόλιβος-N2--NSM εἰς-P μέσος-A1--ASM κάμινος-N2--GSF ὁ- A--GSN ἐκφυσάω-VA--AAN εἰς-P αὐτός- D--ASN πῦρ-N3--ASN ὁ- A--GSN χωνεύω-VC--APN οὕτως-D εἰςδέχομαι-VF--FMI1S σύ- P--AP ἐν-P ὀργή-N1--DSF ἐγώ- P--GS καί-C συνἄγω-VF--FAI1S καί-C χωνεύω-VF--FAI1S σύ- P--AP

21 καί-C ἐκφυσάω-VF--FAI1S ἐπί-P σύ- P--AP ἐν-P πῦρ-N3--DSN ὀργή-N1--GSF ἐγώ- P--GS καί-C χωνεύω-VC--FPI2P ἐν-P μέσος-A1--DSM αὐτός- D--GSF

22 ὅς- --ASM τρόπος-N2--ASM χωνεύω-V1--PMI3S ἀργύριον-N2N-ASN ἐν-P μέσος-A1--DSM κάμινος-N2--GSF οὕτως-D χωνεύω-VC--FPI2P ἐν-P μέσος-A1--DSM αὐτός- D--GSF καί-C ἐπιγιγνώσκω-VF--FMI2P διότι-C ἐγώ- P--NS κύριος-N2--NSM ἐκχέω-VAI-AAI1S ὁ- A--ASM θυμός-N2--ASM ἐγώ- P--GS ἐπί-P σύ- P--AP

23 καί-C γίγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S λόγος-N2--NSM κύριος-N2--GSM πρός-P ἐγώ- P--AS λέγω-V1--PAPNSM

24 υἱός-N2--VSM ἄνθρωπος-N2--GSM εἶπον-VB--AAD2S αὐτός- D--DSF σύ- P--NS εἰμί-V9--PAI2S γῆ-N1--NSF ὁ- A--NSF οὐ-D βρέχω-V1--PMPNSF οὐδέ-C ὑετός-N2--NSM γίγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S ἐπί-P σύ- P--AS ἐν-P ἡμέρα-N1A-DSF ὀργή-N1--GSF

25 ὅς- --GSF ὁ- A--NPM ἀποἡγέομαι-V2--PMPNPM ἐν-P μέσος-A1--DSM αὐτός- D--GSF ὡς-C λέων-N3--NPM ὠρύομαι-V1--PMPNPM ἁρπάζω-V1--PAPNPM ἅρπαγμα-N3M-APN ψυχή-N1--APF καταἐσθίω-V1--PAPNPM ἐν-P δυναστεία-N1A-DSF τιμή-N1--APF λαμβάνω-V1--PAPNPM ἐν-P ἀδικία-N1A-DSF καί-C ὁ- A--NPF χήρα-N1A-NPF σύ- P--GS πληθύνω-VCI-API3P ἐν-P μέσος-A1--DSM σύ- P--GS

26 καί-C ὁ- A--NPM ἱερεύς-N3V-NPM αὐτός- D--GSF ἀθετέω-VAI-AAI3P νόμος-N2--ASM ἐγώ- P--GS καί-C βεβηλόω-V4I-IAI3P ὁ- A--APN ἅγιος-A1A-APN ἐγώ- P--GS ἀνά-P μέσος-A1--ASM ἅγιος-A1A-GSM καί-C βέβηλος-A1B-GSN οὐ-D διαστέλλω-V1I-IAI3P καί-C ἀνά-P μέσος-A1--ASM ἀκάθαρτος-A1B-GSM καί-C ὁ- A--GSM καθαρός-A1A-GSM οὐ-D διαστέλλω-V1I-IAI3P καί-C ἀπό-P ὁ- A--GPN σάββατον-N2N-GPN ἐγώ- P--GS παρακαλύπτω-V1I-IAI3P ὁ- A--APM ὀφθαλμός-N2--APM αὐτός- D--GPM καί-C βεβηλόω-V4I-IMI1S ἐν-P μέσος-A1--DSM αὐτός- D--GPM

27 ὁ- A--NPM ἄρχων-N3--NPM αὐτός- D--GSF ἐν-P μέσος-A1--DSM αὐτός- D--GSF ὡς-C λύκος-N2--NPM ἁρπάζω-V1--PAPNPM ἅρπαγμα-N3M-APN ὁ- A--GSN ἐκχέω-VA--AAN αἷμα-N3M-ASN ὅπως-C πλεονεξία-N1A-DSF πλεονεκτέω-V2--PAS3P

28 καί-C ὁ- A--NPM προφήτης-N1M-NPM αὐτός- D--GSF ἀλείφω-V1--PAPNPM αὐτός- D--APM πίπτω-VF2-FMI3P ὁράω-V3--PAPNPM μάταιος-A1A-APN μαντεύομαι-V1--PMPNPM ψευδής-A3H-APN λέγω-V1--PAPNPM ὅδε- D--APN λέγω-V1--PAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM καί-C κύριος-N2--NSM οὐ-D λαλέω-VX--XAI3S

29 λαός-N2--ASM ὁ- A--GSF γῆ-N1--GSF ἐκπιέζω-V1--PAPNPM ἀδικία-N1A-DSF καί-C διαἁρπάζω-V1--PAPNPM ἅρπαγμα-N3M-APN πτωχός-N2--ASM καί-C πένης-N3T-ASM καταδυναστεύω-V1--PAPNPM καί-C πρός-P ὁ- A--ASM προσήλυτος-N2--ASM οὐ-D ἀναστρέφω-V1--PMPNPM μετά-P κρίμα-N3M-GSN

30 καί-C ζητέω-V2I-IAI3P ἐκ-P αὐτός- D--GPM ἀνήρ-N3--ASM ἀναστρέφω-V1--PMPASM ὀρθῶς-D καί-C ἵστημι-VXI-XAPASM πρό-P πρόσωπον-N2N-GSN ἐγώ- P--GS ὁλοσχερῶς-D ἐν-P καιρός-N2--DSM ὁ- A--GSF γῆ-N1--GSF ὁ- A--GSN μή-D εἰς-P τέλος-N3E-ASN ἐκἀλείφω-VA--AAN αὐτός- D--ASF καί-C οὐ-D εὑρίσκω-VB--AAI3P

31 καί-C ἐκχέω-VAI-AAI1S ἐπί-P αὐτός- D--ASF θυμός-N2--ASM ἐγώ- P--GS ἐν-P πῦρ-N3--DSN ὀργή-N1--GSF ἐγώ- P--GS ὁ- A--GSN συντελέω-VA--AAN ὁ- A--APF ὁδός-N2--APF αὐτός- D--GPM εἰς-P κεφαλή-N1--APF αὐτός- D--GPM δίδωμι-VX--XAI1S λέγω-V1--PAI3S κύριος-N2--NSM κύριος-N2--NSM

   

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #4926

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4926. 'And she said, Why have you made a breach upon yourself?' means this truth's apparent separation from good. This is clear from the meaning of 'a breach' as an infringement upon and perversion of truth through its separation from good, dealt with below. Here 'making a breach' plainly means pulling away the twice-dyed thread from the hand and so separating good; for good is meant by 'twice-dyed', 4922. As regards this separation being an apparent one, this follows from the fact that it appeared to the midwife that a separation had taken place; but in reality it was not the twin with the twice-dyed thread who came out but his brother, who represents truth. On these matters, see what has been shown immediately above in 4925, where it is shown that good is in actual fact the firstborn but that truth appears to be such. This can be illustrated further still from the functions and members within the human body. The appearance is that the members and organs are first and that the functions these perform are subsequent; for the organs and members present themselves to the eye and are also known before their functions are seen or known. But in spite of this appearance the functions are prior to the members and organs since these derive their existence from the functions they serve and so receive their own forms to accord with these functions. Indeed the function itself gives them these forms and accommodates them to itself. If this were not so, all the individual parts of the human body could not possibly act together in so harmonious a way that they make a single whole. The same may be said about good and truth. The appearance is that truth is first, but in reality good is, in that good gives truths the forms they take and accommodates them to itself. Therefore regarded essentially truths are nothing else than goods which have been given form, that is, they are the forms good takes. In relation to good, truths are also like the internal organs and the fibres of the body in relation to the functions these perform. Also, regarded essentially good is nothing else than the function.

[2] The meaning of 'a breach' as an infringement upon truth and a perversion of it through its separation from good is also clear from other places in the Word, as in David,

Our storehouses are full, yielding food and still more food; our flocks are thousands, and ten thousands in our streets, our oxen are laden; there is no breach. Psalms 144:13-14.

This refers to the Ancient Church as it was in its youth. 'The food' with which 'the storehouses are full' stands for spiritual food, that is, for truth and good. 'Flocks' and 'oxen' stand for forms of good, internal and external. 'There is no breach' stands for the fact that truth has not suffered any infringement upon it or perversion of it through separation from good.

[3] In Amos,

I will raise up the tent of David that is fallen down, and I will close up their breaches, and I will restore its destroyed places; and I will build it as in the days of old. Amos 9:11.

This refers to a Church where good is present. 'The tent of David that is fallen down' means the good of love and charity received from the Lord. For 'a tent' meaning that good, see 414, 1102, 2145, 2152, 3312, 4128, 4391, 4599, and 'David' the Lord, 1888. 'Closing up the breaches' stands for correcting falsities which have entered in through the separation of truth from good. 'Building it as in the days of old' stands for as the state of the Church was in ancient times. In the Word that state at that time is called 'the days of eternity', 'the days of old', and also 'of generation upon generation'.

[4] In Isaiah,

He that is of you is building the waste places of old; raise up the foundations of generation upon generation, and may you be called the one repairing the breach, the one restoring paths to dwell in. Isaiah 58:12.

This refers to a Church where charity and life are the essential thing. 'Repairing the breach' again stands for correcting falsities which have crept in through the separation of good from truth, the origin of all falsity. 'Restoring paths to dwell in' stands for truths which are linked to good, for 'paths' or ways are truths, 627, 2333, and 'dwelling in' is used in reference to good, 2268, 2451, 2712, 3613.

[5] In the same prophet,

You saw that the breaches of the city of David were very many, and you collected the waters of the lower pool. Isaiah 22:9.

'The breaches of the city of David' stands for falsities of doctrine. 'The waters of the lower pool' stands for traditions by which they introduced blemishes into the truths contained in the Word, Matthew 15:1-6; Mark 7:1-13. In Ezekiel,

You have not gone up into the breaches and made a hedge for the house of Israel, so that you might stand in war on the day of Jehovah. Ezekiel 13:5.

In the same prophet,

I sought from among them a man making a hedge and standing in the breach before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none. Ezekiel 22:30.

'Standing in the breach' stands for defending and guarding against the intrusion of falsities. In David,

Jehovah said He would destroy the people, unless Moses His chosen had stood in the breach before Him. Psalms 106:23.

'Standing in the breach' again means guarding against the intrusion of falsities; 'Moses' here meaning the Word - see Preface to Chapter 18 of Genesis, and 4859 (end).

[6] In Amos,

They will drag out the last of you with fish-hooks; you will go out through the breaches, every one from her own region; and you will cast down the palace. Amos 4:2-3.

'Going out through the breaches' stands for doing so through falsities resulting from reasonings. 'The palace' means the Word and consequently the truth of doctrine that is grounded in good. And because 'breaches' means falsity which arises through the separation of good from truth, the same is also meant in the representative sense by 'strengthening and repairing the breaches of the house of Jehovah', 2 Kings 12:5, 7-8, 12; 22:5. In the second Book of Samuel,

It grieved David that Jehovah had made a breach into Uzzah; therefore he called that place Perez Uzzah. 2 Samuel 6:8.

This refers to Uzzah, who died because he touched the ark. 'The ark' represented heaven, or in the highest sense the Lord, and therefore Divine Good. But 'Uzzah' represented that which ministers, and so represents truth since truth ministers to good. This separation is meant by 'a breach into Uzzah'.

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

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #4925

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4925. 'That behold, his brother came out' means the truth of good. This is clear from the meaning of 'brother' as that which is kindred, by virtue of good, dealt with in 3815, 4267, and so the truth of good. The truth of good is that truth which is rooted in good, or that faith which is rooted in charity. Dealt with here in the internal sense is the birthright in the case of those who are being born again or regenerated by the Lord, and therefore the birthright within the Church. It has been a matter of argument since most ancient times as to which is the firstborn, whether this is the good of charity or whether it is the truth of faith. Unseen while a person is being born again and becoming a Church, good conceals itself within the interior man and reveals itself solely within some affection which does not pass into the conscious feelings of the external or natural man until he has been born again. But truth reveals itself, for this does enter his conscious feelings and lodges in the memory belonging to the external or natural man. This explains why many have fallen into the error that truth is the firstborn, and at length even thinking that truth is the vital element of the Church, so vital that truth which is called faith can save a person without the good of charity.

[2] From this one error very many others have been derived which have infected not only what is taught but also life, such as the error that no matter what kind of life a person leads he can be saved provided he has faith. A further derivative error is that very wicked people are accepted into heaven provided that in the final hour before they die they declare their belief in those things which are matters of faith; and another such error is that, irrespective of the kind of life one has led, one is accepted into heaven solely by grace. Because people hold to this teaching they fail at length to know what charity is or to have any concern about what it is, till in the end they do not believe in the existence of it, or consequently in the existence of heaven and hell. The reason for this is that faith without charity, or truth without good, teaches a person nothing; and the more it departs from good, the more foolish it makes him. For good is what the Lord flows into and through which He flows, imparting intelligence and wisdom and consequently a superior ability to see, and also perception whether something is really true or not.

[3] From these considerations one may now see the position with regard to the birthright, namely that in actual fact it belongs to good but appears to belong to truth. This is what the birth of Tamar's two sons is used to describe in the internal sense. 'The twice-dyed thread' which the midwife bound on the hand that came out means good, as shown in 4922; 'coming out first' means priority of place, 4923; 'withdrawing the hand' means that good concealed its own power, as stated immediately above [in 4924]; 'his brother came out' means truth; 'you have made a breach upon yourself means this truth's apparent separation from good; 'afterwards his brother came out' means that good is in actual fact first; and 'on whose hand was the twice-dyed thread' means the acknowledgement that good is first. For it is not until after a person has been born again that good is acknowledged to be first, at which point that person's actions spring from good, and his view of truth and what this is like springs from the same.

[4] These are the matters contained within the internal sense, in which teaching is given regarding the good and truth with a person who is being born anew, namely that good in actual fact occupies first place but truth appears to do so, and that good is not seen to occupy the first place while a person is being regenerated but is plainly seen to do so once he has been regenerated. But there is no need to explain these matters any further since they have been explained already - see 3324, 3325, 3494, 3539, 3548, 3556, 3563, 3570, 3576, 3603, 3701, 4243, 4244, 4247, 4337; and the fact that controversy has taken place since ancient times over whether the birthright belonged to good or to truth, that is, to charity or to faith, 2435.

[5] Because in the highest sense the Lord is the firstborn, and therefore love to Him and charity towards the neighbour are the firstborn, the law was for that reason laid down in the representative Church that firstborn things were Jehovah's: in Moses,

Sanctify to Me all the firstborn, that which opens the womb among the children of Israel; with man and with beast let them be Mine. Exodus 13:2.

You shall make over to Jehovah all that opens the worm', and every firstling of a beast; however many males you have they shall be Jehovah's. Exodus 13:12.

All that opens the womb is Mine; therefore among all your cattle, you shall give the male. that among oxen and small cattle which opens [the womb]. Exodus 34:19.

All that opens the womb among all flesh which they bring to Jehovah, from men and from beasts, shall be yours. Nevertheless you shall surely redeem all the firstborn of men. Numbers 18:15.

Behold, I Myself have taken the Levites from the midst of the children of Israel, instead of every firstborn, that which opens the womb, from the children of Israel, so that the Levites may be Mine. Numbers 3:12.

[6] Because the firstborn is the one that opens the womb, the expression 'that which opens the womb' is therefore added, when the firstborn is mentioned in these places, so as to mean good. It is evident that this expression means good from the specific details contained in the internal sense, especially from those which are recorded regarding the sons of Tamar: Zerah is said to have opened the womb with his hand, and 'Zerah' represents good, as is also clear from the twice-dyed thread placed on his hand, dealt with in 4922. In addition to this 'the womb', to which the expression 'opened' is applied, means the place where good and truth, consequently the Church, lie, see 4918, while 'opening the womb' means supplying the power which enables truth to be born.

[7] Because the Lord is the only firstborn - He being Good itself, and His Good being the source of all truth - Jacob, who was not the firstborn, was therefore allowed to purchase the birthright from Esau his brother so that he might represent Him. Also, because this was not sufficient, he was called Israel, so that by this name he might represent the good of truth; for 'Israel' in the representative sense means good which comes through truth, 3654, 4286, 4598.

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

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