Commentary

 

Reed shaken with the wind

  

'A reed shaken with the wind,' as in Matthew 11:7, signifies the Word when explained at pleasure, because 'a reed' in the internal sense is truth in the extreme, like the Word is in the letter.

(References: Arcana Coelestia 9372; Matthew 11:8)

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #3071

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3071. And I will give thy camels drink also. That this signifies the enlightenment of all memory-knowledges in the natural man therefrom, is evident from the signification of “camels,” as being general memory-knowledges, thus these knowledges in general, or all (see above, n. 3048); and from the signification of “giving to drink,” as being to enlighten. That “drawing water” denotes to instruct, was shown above (n. 3058); thus to “give to drink” denotes to enlighten; for enlightenment comes from instruction.

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