The Bible

 

Jezekilj 48:30

Study

       

30 A ovo su krajevi gradu: sa severne strane četiri hiljada i pet stotina lakata da bude mera;

Commentary

 

Name

  

According to Swedenborg, a person's name in the Bible represents his or her entire spiritual nature, their whole state of love (good or evil) and thought (from heavenly wisdom to infernal insanity). This is why the name of the Lord is so important; it represents and embodies His perfect love and perfect wisdom, which is everything that we should worship and follow. It's easy to see that names are important in the Bible. Jehovah changed Abram and Sarai to Abraham and Sarah, changed Jacob to Israel and included in the Ten Commandments the order that believers "shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain." In the New Testament, Zacharias was told to name John the Baptist "John," and both Joseph (Matthew 1:21) and Mary (Luke 1:31) were told to name Jesus "Jesus." Jesus himself renamed Simon as Peter, and included the phrase "hallowed be thy name" in the Lord's prayer.

(References: Luke 1)


From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #5956

Study this Passage

  
/ 10837  
  

5956. 'And five changes of garments' means much truth from the natural. This is clear from the meaning of 'five' as much, dealt with in 5708; and from the meaning of 'changes of garments' as truths brought in touch with good. The reason this truth is from the natural is that 'garments' are spoken of in reference to the natural. The reason why truth from the natural was the intermediary, which was represented by 'Benjamin', is that to be an intermediary it must derive from the internal and from the external, 5822. Its derivation from the internal is described by the imparting to the intermediary of a complete amount of truth from good, which is meant by 'three hundred pieces of silver', dealt with immediately above in 5955. The derivation of the intermediary from the external is described by much truth received from the natural, meant by 'five changes of garments'.

  
/ 10837  
  

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