The Bible

 

Jeremiah 39

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1 ο- A--NSM λογος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM γιγνομαι-VB--AMPNSM παρα-P κυριος-N2--GSM προς-P *ιερεμιας-N1T-ASM εν-P ο- A--DSM ενιαυτος-N2--DSM ο- A--DSM δεκατος-A1--DSM ο- A--DSM βασιλευς-N3V-DSM *σεδεκιας-N1T-DSM ουτος- D--NSM ενιαυτος-N2--NSM οκτωκαιδεκατος-A1--NSM ο- A--DSM βασιλευς-N3V-DSM *ναβουχοδονοσορ-N---GSM βασιλευς-N3V-DSM *βαβυλων-N3W-GSF

2 και-C δυναμις-N3I-NSF βασιλευς-N3V-GSM *βαβυλων-N3W-GSF χαρακοω-VAI-AAI3S επι-P *ιερουσαλημ-N---ASF και-C *ιερεμιας-N1T-NSM φυλασσω-V1I-IMI3S εν-P αυλη-N1--DSF ο- A--GSF φυλακη-N1--GSF ος- --NSF ειμι-V9--PAI3S εν-P οικος-N2--DSM ο- A--GSM βασιλευς-N3V-GSM

3 εν-P ος- --DSF κατακλειω-VAI-AAI3S αυτος- D--ASM ο- A--NSM βασιλευς-N3V-NSM *σεδεκιας-N1T-NSM λεγω-V1--PAPNSM δια-P τις- I--ASN συ- P--NS προφητευω-V1--PAI2S λεγω-V1--PAPNSM ουτως-D ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ιδου-I εγω- P--NS διδωμι-V8--PAI1S ο- A--ASF πολις-N3I-ASF ουτος- D--ASF εν-P χειρ-N3--DPF βασιλευς-N3V-GSM *βαβυλων-N3W-GSF και-C λαμβανω-VF--FMI3S αυτος- D--ASF

4 και-C *σεδεκιας-N1T-NSM ου-D μη-D σωζω-VC--APS3S εκ-P χειρ-N3--GSF ο- A--GPM *χαλδαιος-N2--GPM οτι-C παραδοσις-N3I-DSF παραδιδωμι-VC--FPI3S εις-P χειρ-N3--APF βασιλευς-N3V-GSM *βαβυλων-N3W-GSF και-C λαλεω-VF--FAI3S στομα-N3M-NSN αυτος- D--GSM προς-P στομα-N3M-ASN αυτος- D--GSM και-C ο- A--NPM οφθαλμος-N2--NPM αυτος- D--GSM ο- A--APM οφθαλμος-N2--APM αυτος- D--GSM οραω-VF--FMI3P

5 και-C ειςερχομαι-VF--FMI3S *σεδεκιας-N1T-NSM εις-P *βαβυλων-N3W-ASF και-C εκει-D καταιζω-VF2-FMI3S

6 και-C λογος-N2--NSM κυριος-N2--GSM γιγνομαι-VCI-API3S προς-P *ιερεμιας-N1T-ASM λεγω-V1--PAPNSM

7 ιδου-I *αναμεηλ-N---NSM υιος-N2--NSM *σαλωμ-N---GSM αδελφος-N2--GSM πατηρ-N3--GSM συ- P--GS ερχομαι-V1--PMI3S προς-P συ- P--AS λεγω-V1--PAPNSM κταομαι-VA--AMD2S σεαυτου- D--DSM ο- A--ASM αγρος-N2--ASM εγω- P--GS ο- A--ASM εν-P *αναθωθ-N---DPF οτι-C συ- P--DS κριμα-N3M-ASN παραλαμβανω-VB--AAN εις-P κτησις-N3I-ASF

8 και-C ερχομαι-VBI-AAI3S προς-P εγω- P--AS *αναμεηλ-N---NSM υιος-N2--NSM *σαλωμ-N---GSM αδελφος-N2--GSM πατηρ-N3--GSM εγω- P--GS εις-P ο- A--ASF αυλη-N1--ASF ο- A--GSF φυλακη-N1--GSF και-C ειπον-VBI-AAI3S εγω- P--DS κταομαι-VA--AMD2S ο- A--ASM αγρος-N2--ASM εγω- P--GS ο- A--ASM εν-P γη-N1--DSF *βενιαμιν-N---GSM ο- A--ASM εν-P *αναθωθ-N---DPF οτι-C συ- P--DS κριμα-N3M-ASN κταομαι-VA--AMN και-C συ- P--NS πρεσβυτερος-A1A-NSMS και-C γιγνωσκω-VZI-AAI1S οτι-C λογος-N2--NSM κυριος-N2--GSM ειμι-V9--PAI3S

9 και-C κταομαι-VAI-AMI1S ο- A--ASM αγρος-N2--ASM *αναμεηλ-N---GSM υιος-N2--GSM αδελφος-N2--GSM πατηρ-N3--GSM εγω- P--GS και-C ιστημι-VAI-AAI1S αυτος- D--DSM επτα-M σικλος-N2--APM και-C δεκα-M αργυριον-N2N-GSN

10 και-C γραφω-VAI-AAI1S εις-P βιβλιον-N2N-ASN και-C σφραγιζω-VAI-AMI1S και-C διαμαρτυρεω-VAI-AMI1S μαρτυς-N3--APM και-C ιστημι-VAI-AAI1S ο- A--ASN αργυριον-N2N-ASN εν-P ζυγος-N2--DSM

11 και-C λαμβανω-VBI-AAI3P ο- A--ASN βιβλιον-N2N-ASN ο- A--GSF κτησις-N3I-GSF ο- A--ASN σφραγιζω-VTI-XMPASN και-C ο- A--ASN αναγιγνωσκω-VT--XMPASM

12 και-C διδωμι-VAI-AAI1S αυτος- D--ASN ο- A--DSM *βαρουχ-N---DSM υιος-N2--DSM *νηριος-N2--GSM υιος-N2--GSM *μαασαιας-N1T-GSM κατα-P οφθαλμος-N2--APM *αναμεηλ-N---GSM υιος-N2--GSM αδελφος-N2--GSM πατηρ-N3--GSM εγω- P--GS και-C κατα-P οφθαλμος-N2--APM ο- A--GPM ιστημι-VXI-XAPGPM και-C γραφω-V1--PAPGPM εν-P ο- A--DSN βιβλιον-N2N-DSN ο- A--GSF κτησις-N3I-GSF και-C κατα-P οφθαλμος-N2--APM ο- A--GPM *ιουδαιος-N2--GPM ο- A--GPM εν-P ο- A--DSF αυλη-N1--DSF ο- A--GSF φυλακη-N1--GSF

13 και-C συντασσω-VAI-AAI1S ο- A--DSM *βαρουχ-N---DSM κατα-P οφθαλμος-N2--APM αυτος- D--GPM λεγω-V1--PAPNSM

14 ουτως-D ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM παντοκρατωρ-N3 -NSM λαμβανω-VB--AAD2S ο- A--ASN βιβλιον-N2N-ASN ο- A--GSF κτησις-N3I-GSF ουτος- D--ASN και-C ο- A--ASN βιβλιον-N2N-ASN ο- A--ASN αναγιγνωσκω-VT--XMPASN και-C τιθημι-VF--FAI2S αυτος- D--ASN εις-P αγγειον-N2N-ASN οστρακινος-A1--ASN ινα-C διαμενω-VA--AAS3S ημερα-N1A-GSF πολυς-A3C-NPM

15 οτι-C ουτως-D ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ετι-D κταομαι-VC--FPI3P αγρος-N2--NPM και-C οικια-N1A-NPF και-C αμπελων-N3W-NPM εν-P ο- A--DSF γη-N1--DSF ουτος- D--DSF

16 και-C προςευχομαι-VA--AMI1S προς-P κυριος-N2--ASM μετα-P ο- A--ASN διδωμι-VO--AAN εγω- P--AS ο- A--ASN βιβλιον-N2N-ASN ο- A--GSF κτησις-N3I-GSF προς-P *βαρουχ-N---ASM υιος-N2--ASM *νηριου-N---GSM λεγω-V1--PAPNSM

17 ω-I κυριος-N2--VSM συ- P--NS ποιεω-VAI-AAI2S ο- A--ASM ουρανος-N2--ASM και-C ο- A--ASF γη-N1--ASF ο- A--DSF ισχυς-N3U-DSF συ- P--GS ο- A--DSF μεγας-A1--DSF και-C ο- A--DSM βραχιων-N3N-DSM συ- P--GS ο- A--DSM υψηλος-A1--DSM και-C ο- A--DSM μετεωρος-A1B-DSM ου-D μη-D αποκρυπτω-VD--APS3S απο-P συ- P--GS ουδεις-A3--ASN

18 ποιεω-V2--PAPNSM ελεος-N3E-ASN εις-P χιλιας-N3D-APF και-C αποδιδωμι-V8--PAPNSM αμαρτια-N1A-APF πατηρ-N3--GPM εις-P κολπος-N2--APM τεκνον-N2N-GPN αυτος- D--GPM μετα-P αυτος- D--APM ο- A--NSM θεος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM μεγας-A1P-NSM και-C ισχυρος-A1A-NSM

19 κυριος-N2--NSM μεγας-A1--GSF βουλη-N1--GSF και-C δυνατος-A1--NSM ο- A--DPN εργον-N2N-DPN ο- A--NSM θεος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM μεγας-A1P-NSM ο- A--NSM παντοκρατωρ-N3 -NSM και-C μεγαλωνυμος-A1B-NSM κυριος-N2--NSM ο- A--NPM οφθαλμος-N2--NPM συ- P--GS εις-P ο- A--APF οδος-N2--APF ο- A--GPM υιος-N2--GPM ο- A--GPM ανθρωπος-N2--GPM διδωμι-VO--AAN εκαστος-A1--DSM κατα-P ο- A--ASF οδος-N2--ASF αυτος- D--GSM

20 ος- --NSM ποιεω-VAI-AAI2S σημειον-N2N-APN και-C τερας-N3T-ASN εν-P γη-N1--DSF *αιγυπτος-N2--DSF εως-P ο- A--GSF ημερα-N1A-GSF ουτος- D--GSF και-C εν-P *ισραηλ-N---DSM και-C εν-P ο- A--DPM γηγενης-A3H-DPM και-C ποιεω-VAI-AAI2S σεαυτου- D--DSM ονομα-N3M-ASN ως-C ο- A--NSF ημερα-N1A-NSF ουτος- D--NSF

21 και-C εκαγω-VBI-AAI2S ο- A--ASM λαος-N2--ASM συ- P--GS *ισραηλ-N---ASM εκ-P γη-N1--GSF *αιγυπτος-N2--GSF εν-P σημειον-N2--DPN και-C εν-P τερας-N3T-DPN και-C εν-P χειρ-N3--DSF κραταιος-A1A-DSF και-C εν-P βραχιων-N3N-DSM υψηλος-A1--DSM και-C εν-P οραμα-N3M-DPN μεγας-A1--DPN

22 και-C διδωμι-VAI-AAI2S αυτος- D--DPM ο- A--ASF γη-N1--ASF ουτος- D--ASF ος- --ASF ομνυμι-VAI-AAI2S ο- A--DPM πατηρ-N3--DPM αυτος- D--GPM γη-N1--ASF ρεω-V2--PAPASF γαλα-N3--ASN και-C μελι-N3--ASN

23 και-C ειςερχομαι-VBI-AAI3P και-C λαμβανω-VBI-AAI3P αυτος- D--ASF και-C ου-D ακουω-VAI-AAI3P ο- A--GSF φωνη-N1--GSF συ- P--GS και-C εν-P ο- A--DPN προσταγμα-N3M-DPN συ- P--GS ου-D πορευομαι-VCI-API3P απας-A3--APN ος- --APN εντελλομαι-VAI-AMI2S αυτος- D--DPM ου-D ποιεω-VAI-AAI3P και-C ποιεω-VAI-AAI2S συνβαινω-VZ--AAN αυτος- D--DPM πας-A3--APN ο- A--APN κακος-A1--APN ουτος- D--APN

24 ιδου-I οχλος-N2--NSM ηκω-V1--PAI3S εις-P ο- A--ASF πολις-N3I-ASF ουτος- D--ASF συνλαμβανω-VB--AAN αυτος- D--ASF και-C ο- A--NSF πολις-N3I-NSF διδωμι-VCI-API3S εις-P χειρ-N3--APF *χαλδαιος-N2--GPM ο- A--GPM πολεμεω-V2--PAPGPM αυτος- D--ASF απο-P προσωπον-N2N-GSN μαχαιρα-N1--APF και-C ο- A--GSM λιμος-N2--GSM ως-C λαλεω-VAI-AAI2S ουτως-D γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S

25 και-C συ- P--NS λεγω-V1--PAI2S προς-P εγω- P--AS κταομαι-VA--AMD2S σεαυτου- D--DSM αγρος-N2--ASM αργυριον-N2N-GSN και-C γραφω-VAI-AAI1S βιβλιον-N2N-ASN και-C σφραγιζω-VAI-AMI1S και-C επιμαρτυρεω-VAI-AMI1S μαρτυς-N3--APM και-C ο- A--NSF πολις-N3I-NSF διδωμι-VCI-API3S εις-P χειρ-N3--APF *χαλδαιος-N2--GPM

26 και-C γιγνομαι-VBI-AMI3S λογος-N2--NSM κυριος-N2--GSM προς-P εγω- P--AS λεγω-V1--PAPNSM

27 εγω- P--NS κυριος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM θεος-N2--NSM πας-A1S-GSF σαρξ-N3K-GSF μη-D απο-P εγω- P--GS κρυπτω-VD--FPI3S τις- I--ASN

28 δια-P ουτος- D--ASN ουτως-D ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM θεος-N2--NSM *ισραηλ-N---GSM διδωμι-VC--APPNSF παραδιδωμι-VC--FPI3S ο- A--NSF πολις-N3I-NSF ουτος- D--NSF εις-P χειρ-N3--APF βασιλευς-N3V-GSM *βαβυλων-N3W-GSF και-C λαμβανω-VF--FMI3S αυτος- D--ASF

29 και-C ηκω-VF--FAI3P ο- A--NPM *χαλδαιος-N2--GPM πολεμεω-V2--PAPNPM επι-P ο- A--ASF πολις-N3I-ASF ουτος- D--ASF και-C καιω-VF--FAI3P ο- A--ASF πολις-N3I-ASF ουτος- D--ASF εν-P πυρ-N3--DSN και-C κατακαιω-VF--FAI3P ο- A--APF οικια-N1A-GSF εν-P ος- --DPF θυμιοω-VAI-AAI3P επι-P ο- A--GPN δωμα-N3M-GPN αυτος- D--GPM ο- A--DSF *βααλ-N---DSF και-C σπενδω-V1I-IAI3P σπονδη-N1--APF θεος-N2--DPM ετερος-A1A-DPM προς-P ο- A--ASN παραπικραινω-VA--AAN εγω- P--AS

30 οτι-C ειμι-V9--IAI3P ο- A--NPM υιος-N2--NPM *ισραηλ-N---GSM και-C ο- A--NPM υιος-N2--NPM *ιουδα-N---GSM μονος-A1--NPM ποιεω-V2--PAPNPM ο- A--ASN πονηρος-A1A-ASN κατα-P οφθαλμος-N2--APM εγω- P--GS εκ-P νεοτης-N3T-GSF αυτος- D--GPM

31 οτι-C επι-P ο- A--ASF οργη-N1--ASF εγω- P--GS και-C επι-P ο- A--ASM θυμος-N2--ASM εγω- P--GS ειμι-V9--IAI3S ο- A--NSF πολις-N3I-NSF ουτος- D--NSF απο-P ος- --GSF ημερα-N1A-GSF οικοδομεω-VAI-AAI3P αυτος- D--ASF και-C εως-P ο- A--GSF ημερα-N1A-GSF ουτος- D--GSF αποαλλασσω-VA--AAN αυτος- D--ASF απο-P προσωπον-N2N-GSN εγω- P--GS

32 δια-P πας-A1S-APF ο- A--APF πονηρια-N1A-APF ο- A--GPM υιος-N2--GPM *ισραηλ-N---GSM και-C *ιουδα-N---GSM ος- --GPM ποιεω-VAI-AAI3P πικραινω-VZ--AAN εγω- P--AS αυτος- D--NPM και-C ο- A--NPM βασιλευς-N3V-NPM αυτος- D--GPM και-C ο- A--NPM αρχων-N3--NPM αυτος- D--GPM και-C ο- A--NPM ιερευς-N3V-NPM αυτος- D--GPM και-C ο- A--NPM προφητης-N1M-NPM αυτος- D--GPM ανηρ-N3--NPM *ιουδα-N---GSM και-C ο- A--NPM καταοικεω-V2--PAPNPM *ιερουσαλημ-N---ASF

33 και-C επιστρεφω-VAI-AAI3P προς-P εγω- P--AS νωτον-N2N-ASN και-C ου-D προσωπον-N2N-ASN και-C διδασκω-VAI-AAI1S αυτος- D--APM ορθρος-N2--GSM και-C διδασκω-VAI-AAI1S και-C ου-D ακουω-VAI-AAI3P επιλαμβανω-VB--AAN παιδεια-N1A-ASF

34 και-C τιθημι-VAI-AAI3P ο- A--APN μιασμα-N3M-APN αυτος- D--GPM εν-P ο- A--DSM οικος-N2--DSM ος- --GSM επικαλεω-VCI-API3S ο- A--ASN ονομα-N3M-ASN εγω- P--GS επι-P αυτος- D--DSM εν-P ακαθαρσια-N1A-DPF αυτος- D--GPM

35 και-C οικοδομεω-VAI-AAI3P ο- A--APM βωμος-N2--APM ο- A--DSF *βααλ-N---DSF ο- A--APM εν-P φαραγξ-N3G-DSF υιος-N2--GSM *εννομ-N---GSM ο- A--GSN αναφερω-V1--PAN ο- A--APM υιος-N2--APM αυτος- D--GPM και-C ο- A--APF θυγατηρ-N3--APF αυτος- D--GPM ο- A--DSM *μολοχ-N---DSM βασιλευς-N3V-DSM ος- --APN ου-D συντασσω-VAI-AAI1S αυτος- D--DPM και-C ου-D αναβαινω-VZI-AAI3S επι-P καρδια-N1A-ASF εγω- P--GS ο- A--GSN ποιεω-VA--AAN ο- A--ASN βδελυγμα-N3M-ASN ουτος- D--ASN προς-P ο- A--ASN επιαμαρτανω-VB--AAN ο- A--ASM *ιουδας-N1T-ASM

36 και-C νυν-D ουτως-D ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM ο- A--NSM θεος-N2--NSM *ισραηλ-N---GSM επι-P ο- A--ASF πολις-N3I-ASF ος- --ASF συ- P--NS λεγω-V1--PAI2S παραδιδωμι-VC--FPI3S εις-P χειρ-N3--APF βασιλευς-N3V-GSM *βαβυλων-N3W-GSF εν-P μαχαιρα-N1A-DSF και-C εν-P λιμος-N2--DSM και-C εν-P αποστολη-N1--DSF

37 ιδου-I εγω- P--NS συναγω-V1--PAI1S αυτος- D--APM εκ-P πας-A1S-GSF ο- A--GSF γη-N1--GSF ος- --GSM διασπειρω-VAI-AAI1S αυτος- D--APM εκει-D εν-P οργη-N1--DSF εγω- P--GS και-C ο- A--DSM θυμος-N2--DSM εγω- P--GS και-C παροξυσμος-N2--DSM μεγας-A1--DSM και-C επιστρεφω-VF--FAI1S αυτος- D--APM εις-P ο- A--ASM τοπος-N2--ASM ουτος- D--ASM και-C καταιζω-VF2-FAI1S αυτος- D--APM πειθω-VX--XAPAPM

38 και-C ειμι-VF--FMI3P εγω- P--DS εις-P λαος-N2--ASM και-C εγω- P--NS ειμι-VF--FMI1S αυτος- D--DPM εις-P θεος-N2--ASM

39 και-C διδωμι-VF--FAI1S αυτος- D--DPM οδος-N2--ASF ετερος-A1A-ASF και-C καρδια-N1A-ASF ετερος-A1A-ASF φοβεω-VC--APN εγω- P--AS πας-A1S-APF ο- A--APF ημερα-N1A-APF εις-P αγαθος-A1--ASM αυτος- D--DPM και-C ο- A--DPN τεκνον-N2N-DPN αυτος- D--GPM μετα-P αυτος- D--APM

40 και-C διατιθημι-VF--FMI1S αυτος- D--DPM διαθηκη-N1--ASF αιωνιος-A1A-ASF ος- --ASF ου-D μη-D αποστρεφω-VF--FAI1S οπισθεν-D αυτος- D--GPM και-C ο- A--ASM φοβος-N2--ASM εγω- P--GS διδωμι-VF--FAI1S εις-P ο- A--ASF καρδια-N1A-ASF αυτος- D--GPM προς-P ο- A--ASN μη-D αποιστημι-VH--AAN αυτος- D--APM απο-P εγω- P--GS

41 και-C επισκεπτω-VF--FMI1S ο- A--GSN αγαθοω-VA--AAN αυτος- D--APM και-C φυτευω-VA--AAS1S αυτος- D--APM εν-P ο- A--DSF γη-N1--DSF ουτος- D--DSF εν-P πιστις-N3I-DSF και-C εν-P πας-A1S-DSF καρδια-N1A-DSF και-C εν-P πας-A1S-DSF ψυχη-N1--DSF

42 οτι-C ουτως-D ειπον-VBI-AAI3S κυριος-N2--NSM καθα-D επιαγω-VBI-AAI3P επι-P ο- A--ASM λαος-N2--ASM ουτος- D--ASM πας-A3--APN ο- A--APN κακος-A1--APN ο- A--APN μεγας-A1--APN ουτος- D--APN ουτως-D εγω- P--NS επιαγω-VF--FAI1S επι-P αυτος- D--APM πας-A3--APN ο- A--APN αγαθος-A1--APN ος- --APN λαλεω-VAI-AAI1S επι-P αυτος- D--APM

43 και-C κταομαι-VC--FPI3P ετι-D αγρος-N2--NPM εν-P ο- A--DSF γη-N1--DSF ος- --DSF συ- P--NS λεγω-V1--PAI2S αβατος-A1B-NSM ειμι-V9--PAI3S απο-P ανθρωπος-N2--GPM και-C κτηνος-N3E-GSN και-C παραδιδωμι-VCI-API3P εις-P χειρ-N3--APF *χαλδαιος-N2--GPM

44 και-C κταομαι-VF--FMI3P αγρος-N2--APM εν-P αργυριον-N2N-DSN και-C γραφω-VF--FAI2S βιβλιον-N2N-ASN και-C σφραγιζω-VF2-FMI2S και-C διαμαρτυρομαι-V1--PAS3S μαρτυς-N3--APM εν-P γη-N1--DSF *βενιαμιν-N---GSM και-C κυκλος-N2--DSM *ιερουσαλημ-N---DSF και-C εν-P πολις-N3I-DPF *ιουδα-N---GSM και-C εν-P πολις-N3I-DPF ο- A--GSN ορος-N3E-GSN και-C εν-P πολις-N3I-DPF ο- A--GSF *σεφηλα-N---GSF και-C εν-P πολις-N3I-DPF ο- A--GSF *ναγεβ-N---GSF οτι-C αποστρεφω-VF--FAI1S ο- A--APF αποικια-N1A-APF αυτος- D--GPM

   

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Apocalypse Explained #608

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608. And sware by him that liveth unto the ages of the ages.- That this signifies truth from His own Divine, is evident from the signification of swearing, as denoting asseveration and confirmation, and when stated of the Lord, as denoting truth, of which we shall speak presently; and from the signification of, "him that liveth unto the ages of the ages," as denoting the Divine from eternity, which alone lives, and which is the source of life to all in the universe, both to angels and men. That this is the signification of him that liveth unto the ages of the ages, may be seen above (n.289, 291, 349). That to swear signifies asseveration and confirmation, but, in the present case, truth, because from the angel, by whom the Lord is meant, is evident from this fact, that to swear is to assert and confirm the truth of a statement, and when done by the Lord, means Divine verity. For oaths are taken only by those who are not interiorly in truth itself, that is, by those who are not interior but only exterior men; therefore they are never taken by angels, and much less therefore by the Lord. But the reason why He is said to swear in the Word, and why the sons of Israel were allowed to swear by God, is, that they were merely exterior men, and because when the asseveration and confirmation of the internal man, comes into the external, it takes the form of an oath. And in the Israelitish church all things were external, and these represented and signified things internal. The case is similar also in regard to the Word in the sense of the letter. It is therefore evident that by the angel swearing by Him that liveth unto the ages of the ages, is not meant that he thus sware, but that he said in himself that it was the truth, and that this falling into the natural sphere, became, according to correspondences, changed into the form of an oath.

[2] Now because to swear is only an external act corresponding to the confirmation of the mind of the internal man, and consequently signifies it, therefore in the Word of the Old Testament it is said to be lawful to swear by God, and even God Himself is said to take an oath. That this signifies confirmation, asseveration, and the absolute truth, or that a thing is true, is evident from the following passages.

Thus in Isaiah:

"Jehovah hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength" (62:8).

And in Jeremiah:

"Jehovah of hosts hath sworn by his soul" (51:14; Amos 6:8).

And again, in Amos:

"The Lord Jehovih hath sworn by his holiness" (4:2).

And again, in the same prophet:

"The Lord Jehovah hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob" (8:7).

And in Jeremiah:

"Behold, I have sworn by my great name" (44:26).

Jehovah swearing by His right hand, by His soul, by His holiness, and by His name, signifies by the Divine Truth; for the right hand of Jehovah, the arm of His strength, His holiness, His name, and His soul, mean the Lord as to Divine Truth, thus Divine Truth proceeding from the Lord. The signification of the excellency of Jacob is similar, for the mighty one of Jacob means the Lord as to Divine Truth.

[3] That to swear, when stated of Jehovah, signifies confirmation from Himself, or from His Divine, is evident in Isaiah:

"By myself have I sworn, the word has gone out of my mouth, and shall not be recalled" (45:23).

And in Jeremiah:

"I swear by myself, saith Jehovah, that this house shall become a desolation" (22:5).

Because swearing, when stated of Jehovah, signifies Divine Truth, therefore it is said in David,

"Jehovah hath sworn in truth unto David; He will not turn from it" (Psalm 132:11).

[4] Jehovah God, or the Lord, never swears, for it does not belong to God Himself, or the Divine Truth, to swear; but when God, or the Divine Truth, wills to have anything confirmed before men, then that confirmation, passing into the natural sphere, becomes an oath or takes the solemn formula of an oath in the world. It is therefore evident, that although God never swears, yet in the sense of the letter of the Word, which is the natural sense, it may be said that He swears. This therefore is the signification of swearing when stated of Jehovah or the Lord in the preceding passages, and also in the following.

Thus in Isaiah:

"Jehovah of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass" (14:24).

And in David:

"I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant. O Lord, thou swearest unto David in truth" (Psalm 89:3, 35, 49).

And again:

"Jehovah hath sworn, and will not repent" (Psalm 110:4).

And in Ezekiel:

"I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, and thou becamest mine" (16:8).

And in David:

"Unto whom I sware in my anger" (Psalm 95:11).

And in Isaiah:

"I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth" (54:9).

And in Luke:

"To remember his holy covenant; the oath which he sware to our father Abraham" (1:72, 73).

And in David:

"He was mindful of his covenant which he made with Abraham, and his oath with Isaac" (Psalm 105:8, 9).

And in Jeremiah:

"That I may establish the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers" (11:5 32:22).

"The land which I sware to give to your fathers" (Deuteronomy 1:35 10:11; 11:9, 21; 26:3, 15; 31:20; 34:4).

[5] From these things it is evident what is meant by the angel lifting up his hand to heaven, and swearing by Him that liveth unto the ages of the ages.

Similarly in Daniel:

"I heard the man (vir) clothed in linen, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto the heavens, and sware by him that liveth unto the ages of the ages" (12:7).

This signifies affirmation before the angels concerning the state of the church, that what follows is Divine Truth.

[6] Since the church instituted with the sons of Israel was a representative church, in which all things that were commanded were natural things, representing and consequently signifying spiritual things, therefore the sons of Israel, with whom the church was, were allowed to swear by Jehovah, and by His name, also by the holy things of the church, and this represented, and therefore signified, internal confirmation, and also truth. This will be evident from the following passages.

Thus in Isaiah:

"He who blesseth himself in the earth let him bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth let him swear by the God of truth" (65:16).

And in Jeremiah:

"Swear by the living Jehovah, in truth, in judgment, and in justice" (4:2).

And in Moses:

"Thou shalt fear Jehovah thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear in his name" (Deuteronomy 6:13; 10:20).

And in Isaiah:

"In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt swear to Jehovah of hosts" (19:18).

And in Jeremiah:

"If in learning they will learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, Jehovah liveth" (12:16).

And in David:

"Every one that sweareth by" God "shall glory, but the mouth of them that speak a lie shall be stopped" (Psalm 63:11).

To swear by God, signifies to speak truth, for it follows, "but the mouth of them that speak a lie shall be stopped." That they swore by God, see also Genesis 21:23, 24, 31; Joshua 2:12; 9:20; Judges 21:7; 1 Kings 1:17.

[7] Since the ancients were allowed to swear by Jehovah God, it therefore follows that it is a most serious evil to swear falsely or to lie; as is evident from these passages.

Thus in Malachi:

"I will be a witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers" (3:5).

And in Moses:

"Thou shall not swear a lie by my name, so that thou profane the name of thy God," and "thou shalt not take the name of thy God in vain" (Deuteronomy 5:11; Leviticus 19:12; Zech. 5:4).

And in Jeremiah:

"Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see if there be those that say, By the living Jehovah; surely they swear falsely. Thy sons have destroyed me, and sworn by no god" (5:1, 2, 7).

And in Hosea:

"Israel, swear not, Jehovah liveth" (4:15).

And in Zephaniah:

"And I will cut off them that swear by Jehovah, and that swear by their king; and them that are turned back from Jehovah" (1:4, 5, 6).

And in Zechariah:

"Love not the oath of a lie" (8:17).

And in Isaiah:

"Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which swear by the name of Jehovah, not in truth, nor in justice" (48:1).

And in David:

"He that hath clean hands and a pure heart, who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully" (Psalm 24:4).

[8] From these passages it is clear, that the ancients, who were in the representatives and significatives of the church, were allowed to swear by Jehovah God, in order to testify truth, and by that oath it was signified that they thought what was true, and willed what was good. But it was more especially permitted to the sons of Jacob, since they were altogether natural and external men, and not internal and spiritual; and mere external or natural men desire to have the truth attested and confirmed by oaths, whereas internal or spiritual men do not desire it, yea, are averse from oaths, and account them horrible, especially those in which God and the holy things of heaven and the church are appealed to, and they are satisfied with saying and with having it said, that a thing is true, or that it is so.

[9] Since swearing is not of the internal or spiritual man, and since the Lord, when He came into the world, taught men to be internal or spiritual, and to that end afterwards abrogated the external things of the church, and opened the internal things of it, therefore he also forbad swearing by God and by the holy things of heaven and the church. This is clear from his own words in Matthew:

"Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shall not swear, but shall perform unto the Lord thine oaths; I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne; neither by the earth; for it is his footstool; neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black" (5:33-36).

In this passage those holy things which must not be made use of in taking oaths are mentioned, namely, heaven and earth, Jerusalem and the head. And heaven means the angelic heaven, wherefore it is called the throne of God (that by the throne of God is meant that heaven, may be seen above, n. 253, 462, 477); the earth means the church (see above, n. 29, 304, 413, 417), it is therefore called the footstool of God's feet (that the footstool of God's feet means the church, see above, n. 606); Jerusalem means the doctrine of the church, it is therefore called the city of the great God (Dei) (that a city denotes doctrine, may be seen above, n. 223); and the head means intelligence therefrom (see above, n. 553, 577); it is therefore said, "thou canst not make one hair white or black," which signifies, that man can understand nothing of himself.

[10] Again, in the same Evangelist:

"Woe unto you, ye blind guides, because ye say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! Ye fools and blind; for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? And whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. Ye fools and blind; for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? Whosoever therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. And whosoever shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by Him that dwelleth therein. And he that sweareth by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by Him that sitteth thereon" (23:16-22).

The reason why they were not to swear by the temple and by the altar, is, that to swear by them, was to swear by the Lord, by heaven, and by the church. For the temple, in the highest sense, means the Lord as to Divine Truth, and, in the respective sense, heaven and the church as to the same, also all worship from Divine Truth (see above, n. 220). And the altar signifies the Lord as to Divine Good, and, in the respective sense, heaven and the church as to that good, also all worship from Divine Good (see above, n. 391). And because by the Lord are meant all Divine things which proceed from Him, for He Himself is in them, and they are of Him, therefore he who swears by Him, swears by all things that are of Him. Similarly, he who swears by heaven and by the church, swears by all the holy things which pertain to them, for heaven embraces and contains them; and similarly the church; it is therefore said, that the temple is greater than the gold of the temple, because the temple sanctifies the gold, and that the altar is greater than the gift which is upon it, because the altar sanctifies the gift.

  
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Translation by Isaiah Tansley. Many thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.