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From Swedenborg's Works

 

Secrets of Heaven #1288

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1288. The fact that the same words means that a single detailed view of doctrine existed can be seen from what was said above. A language, [a lip, or speech] symbolizes doctrine in general, as shown, but words symbolize doctrine in particular, that is, particular doctrinal teachings. As noted [§1285:2], the specifics do not matter as long as they focus on a united goal, which is to love the Lord above all and to love our neighbor as ourselves, since the specific teachings then fit with these general principles.

[2] A word symbolizes the whole body of doctrine concerning neighborly love and the faith that grows out of it, while words in the plural symbolize different aspects of the doctrine. This can be seen in David:

I will acclaim you in uprightness of heart, while I learn the judgments of your justice. Your statutes I will keep. With what will a youth purify his course, to keep it, in accord with your word? With my whole heart I have sought you; please do not make me stray from your commandments. In my heart have I hidden your word, to prevent my sinning against you. A blessing on you, Jehovah; teach me your statutes. With my lips I have recounted all the judgments of your mouth. In the path of your testimonies I have rejoiced. On your requirements I meditate, and I gaze on your paths. In your statutes I take pleasure. I do not forget your word. (Psalms 119:7-16)

A word stands for the broad outlines of doctrine. The commandments, judgments, testimonies, requirements, statutes, path, and lips there are distinguished from each other, as is evident, and they are all different types of "word," or doctrinal teaching. Everywhere else in the Word, too, they symbolize distinctly different entities.

[3] In the same author:

A love song: My heart ponders a good word. My tongue is the pen of a rapid scribe. More beautiful are you than the children of humankind. Grace is poured out on your lips. Ride on the word of truth and gentle justice; your right hand will teach you marvelous things. (Psalms 45: heading, 1, 2, 4)

Riding on the word of truth and gentle justice is teaching a doctrine of truth and goodness. As in other places in the Word, a word, mouth, lip, and tongue symbolize different things here. They all have to do with teachings concerning charity, because the psalm is called a song of "loves." 1 Those teachings are portrayed as having more beauty than the children of humankind, and grace on the lips, and a right hand that teaches marvelous things.

[4] In Isaiah:

Jehovah has sent word against Jacob, and it has fallen on Israel. (Isaiah 9:8)

The word stands for teachings having to do with inward and outward worship; Jacob here stands for outward worship and Israel for inward. In Matthew:

Jesus said, "Humankind does not live on bread alone but on every word that has come out of God's mouth." (Matthew 4:4)

In the same author:

When anyone hears the word concerning the kingdom and pays no attention, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in the person's heart. (Matthew 13:19)

(Verses 20, 21, 22, 23 there also mention "the word.") In the same author:

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (Matthew 24:35)

The word in these passages stands for the doctrine concerning the Lord, while words in the plural stand for various parts of that doctrine.

[5] Since words stand for all the precepts of a doctrine, the Ten Commandments are called words in Moses:

Jehovah wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant — the ten words. (Exodus 34:28)

In the same author:

He declared his covenant to you, which he commanded you to do: the ten words. And he wrote them on two stone tablets. (Deuteronomy 4:13; 10:4)

In the same author:

Be careful, and guard your soul intently to keep from forgetting the words [things] that your eyes have seen. (Deuteronomy 4:9)

There are other passages as well.

Footnotes:

1. The Hebrew word for "love" in the heading of the psalm is plural (יְדִידֹת [yǝḏîḏōṯ]), and Swedenborg uses a Latin plural here (amorum), though he has not used a plural in his translation of the heading ("A love song"). [LHC]

  
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Many thanks to the Swedenborg Foundation and its New Century Edition team.

The Bible

 

Deuteronomy 10:4

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4 And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me.

The Bible

 

Genesis 11

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1 The whole earth was of one language and of one speech.

2 It happened, as they traveled east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they lived there.

3 They said one to another, "Come, let's make bricks, and burn them thoroughly." They had brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar.

4 They said, "Come, let's build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top reaches to the sky, and let's make ourselves a name, lest we be scattered abroad on the surface of the whole earth."

5 Yahweh came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men built.

6 Yahweh said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is what they begin to do. Now nothing will be withheld from them, which they intend to do.

7 Come, let's go down, and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech."

8 So Yahweh scattered them abroad from there on the surface of all the earth. They stopped building the city.

9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there Yahweh confused the language of all the earth. From there, Yahweh scattered them abroad on the surface of all the earth.

10 This is the history of the generations of Shem. Shem was one hundred years old and became the father of Arpachshad two years after the flood.

11 Shem lived five hundred years after he became the father of Arpachshad, and became the father of sons and daughters.

12 Arpachshad lived thirty-five years and became the father of Shelah.

13 Arpachshad lived four hundred three years after he became the father of Shelah, and became the father of sons and daughters.

14 Shelah lived thirty years, and became the father of Eber:

15 and Shelah lived four hundred three years after he became the father of Eber, and became the father of sons and daughters.

16 Eber lived thirty-four years, and became the father of Peleg.

17 Eber lived four hundred thirty years after he became the father of Peleg, and became the father of sons and daughters.

18 Peleg lived thirty years, and became the father of Reu.

19 Peleg lived two hundred nine years after he became the father of Reu, and became the father of sons and daughters.

20 Reu lived thirty-two years, and became the father of Serug.

21 Reu lived two hundred seven years after he became the father of Serug, and became the father of sons and daughters.

22 Serug lived thirty years, and became the father of Nahor.

23 Serug lived two hundred years after he became the father of Nahor, and became the father of sons and daughters.

24 Nahor lived twenty-nine years, and became the father of Terah.

25 Nahor lived one hundred nineteen years after he became the father of Terah, and became the father of sons and daughters.

26 Terah lived seventy years, and became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

27 Now this is the history of the generations of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran became the father of Lot.

28 Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldees.

29 Abram and Nahor took wives. The name of Abram's wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran who was also the father of Iscah.

30 Sarai was barren. She had no child.

31 Terah took Abram his son, Lot the son of Haran, his son's son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram's wife. They went forth from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan. They came to Haran and lived there.

32 The days of Terah were two hundred five years. Terah died in Haran.

   

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