3105. And two bracelets. That this signifies Divine truth, is evident from the signification of “bracelets,” as being truth, here Divine truth, because the Lord is treated of in the internal sense; they are said to have been “two,” to denote fullness. Bracelets were placed on the hands of a bride, because by a bride was signified the church, and by her hands were signified powers from truth (that “hands” are predicated of truth, may be seen above, n. 3091). (That “bracelets” have such a signification may be seen in Ezekiel 16:11; see above, (Ezekiel 23:42) n. 3103.) Bracelets were not only for a bride, but also for a king (but for a king they were on the arm, as appears in 2 Samuel 1:10), for the reason that royalty was representative and significative of Divine truth pertaining to the the Lord, (n. 1672, 1728, 2015, 2069, 3009); and the “arm” is significative of power (n. 878).

3091. And she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand. That this signifies submission of the recipients from power, ¹ is evident from the signification of “letting down,” as being submission; from the signification of a “pitcher” as being a recipient (see n. 3068, 3079); and from the signification of the “hand,” as being power (see n. 878). The submission of the recipients, from power, consists in the doctrinal things, the knowledges, and the memory-knowledges (which are the recipients, n. 3068, 3079), applying themselves.

There is a chain of subordination, thus of application, and consequently of submission, from the First of life, or the Lord. As the things which are in a lower place ought to serve the higher, they must be in submission; for without their submission there is no conjunction. The “power” here spoken of is from truth; this causes the things which are below to submit. In the Word power is especially attributed to truth; and therefore the “hands,” “arms,” and “shoulders” (by which in the internal sense powers are signified) are predicated of truth (see n. 878, 1085); and the power which appears to be from truth is itself from good, through truth.

Voetnoten: