1610. I will make your seed like the dust of the earth means multiplying beyond measure, as can be seen without explanation. This verse says that his seed would be made like the dust of the earth; other passages in the Word say "like the sand of the sea," or "like the stars of the heavens." 1 Each has its own particular symbolism. The dust of the earth has to do with heavenly qualities, because the earth symbolizes the heavenly aspect of love, as shown earlier [§§620, 1413, 1437, 1585]. The sand of the sea has to do with spiritual qualities, because the sea symbolizes the spiritual aspect of love, as also shown. 2 "Like the stars of the heavens" symbolizes both, in a higher degree. Because these items are incapable of being counted, it became customary to use them to express the idea of immeasurable reproducing and multiplying.
[2] The multiplying of the seed — the faith that comes of love, or love itself — beyond measure symbolizes the Lord in the highest sense. Specifically, it symbolizes his human quality, because the Lord's human quality is called the "seed of a woman," as discussed in §256. 3 And since the Lord's human quality is meant, multiplication beyond measure means infinite heavenliness and spirituality.
On the other hand, when seed symbolizes the faith that comes of charity (or charity itself) in the human race, the meaning is that the seed in each individual who lives a life of charity would multiply beyond measure. This actually happens in the other world to everyone who lives a life of neighborly love. Charity and the faith that results from charity, along with happiness, increase so abundantly in such people that it can be depicted only by something immeasurable and inexpressible.
When seed symbolizes the human race itself, its multiplication in the Lord's kingdom is again beyond measure and comes not only from people inside the church and their children but also from people outside the church and their children. As a result, the Lord's kingdom, or heaven, is immeasurable, as will be discussed elsewhere, the Lord in his divine mercy willing. 4
Footnotes:
1. For examples of these star and sand similes, see Genesis 22:17; 26:4; 32:12; Exodus 32:13; Deuteronomy 1:10; 1 Chronicles 27:23; Isaiah 10:22; Hosea 1:10; Hebrews 11:12. [Editors]
2. For the symbolism of seas and other large quantities of water, see §§27-28, 790, 991:2, 994:6, where the water is said to stand for knowledge or truth or falsity, all of which in Swedenborg's theology are spiritual elements. [Editors]
3. The phrase "the seed of a woman" (meaning a woman's offspring) is a reference to Genesis 3:15 and Revelation 12:17. [LHC]
4. For more on the immeasurable size of heaven, see the sources cited in note 1 in §1810. [Editors]
