Arcana Coelestia #6669
6669. 'In clay and in bricks' means on account of the evils which they devised and the falsities which they fabricated. This is clear from the meaning of 'clay' as good, and in the contrary sense as evil, dealt with below; and from the meaning of 'bricks' as falsities that people fabricate, dealt with in 1296. As regards the evils and falsities which those in hell devise and fabricate, see just above in 6666.
The fact that 'clay' means evil from which falsity is produced is evident from the following places in the Word: In Isaiah,
The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest; its waters throw out mud and clay. Isaiah 57:20.
'Mud' stands for falsity from which evil is derived, and 'clay' for evil from which falsity is produced.
[2] In Jeremiah,
Your feet have sunk into the clay, [your close friends] have turned away backwards. Jeremiah 38:22.
'Feet sunk into the clay' stands for the natural sunken in evil. In Nahum,
Draw yourself water for the siege, strengthen your fortifications; go into the mud and tread the clay; renew the brick-kiln. There the fire will devour you, and the sword cut you off. Nahum 3:14-15.
'Treading the clay' stands for being prompted by evil to think what is false. In Habakkuk,
He will say, Woe to him who multiplies what is not his - how long? And to him who loads clay onto himself, Will there not rise up suddenly those who will bite you? Habakkuk 2:6-7.
'Loading clay onto himself' stands for taking up evil.
[3] In David,
Jehovah caused me to come up out of the pit of devastation, out of the muddy clay, and He set my feet upon a rock. Psalms 49:2.
In the same author,
I sank in deep clay, and there was no standing; I came into the depths of the waters, and a wave overwhelmed me. Snatch me out of the clay lest I sink, and out of the depths of the waters; and do not let the depth swallow me up. Psalms 69:2, 14-15.
'Clay' stands for evil from which falsity is produced. In Isaiah,
He will come against prelates as though against clay, as a potter treads mud. 1 Isaiah 41:15.
[4] But in the following places 'clay' stands for good: In Isaiah,
Now, O Jehovah, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You are our potter; and we are all the work of Your hands. Isaiah 64:8.
'The clay' stands for the member of the Church who is being formed, thus for the good of faith by means of which that person is formed, that is, reformed.
[5] Similarly in Jeremiah,
Jehovah said to Jeremiah, Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words. I went down therefore to the potter's house, and behold, he made a work on the table. But the vessel that he was making was marred, like clay in the potter's hand. And he returned and made it into another vessel, as was right in the eyes of the potter to make it. Then the word of Jehovah came to me, saying, Like this potter can I not do to you, O house of Israel? Said Jehovah. Behold, like the clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel. Jeremiah 18:1-6.
'The house of Israel' stands for the Church that is to be formed. And it is because the good of charity and the truth of faith are used in the forming of it, and because such good and truth are meant by 'the clay' and 'the potter's vessel', that the prophet was commanded to go to the potter's house. This would not have happened if 'the clay' and 'the potter's vessel' had not had those meanings.
[6] There are other places too in which Jehovah or the Lord is called 'the potter' and the person who is being reformed 'the clay', namely Isaiah 29:15-16; 45:9; Job 10:9; 33:6. The incident in which the Lord made clay with His saliva and anointed the eyes of the man born blind and then commanded him to wash in the pool of Siloam, with the result that the blind man was made to see, John 9:6-7, 11, took place because it represented the reformation of man, who is born without any knowledge of truth. And that reformation is effected by means of the good of faith, meant by 'the clay'.
Voetnoten:
1. The Latin seems to say Prelates will come as clay, and as a potter treads mud.
Psalms 69
1
Save me, God, for the waters have come up to my neck!
2
I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold. I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
3
I am weary with my crying. My throat is dry. My eyes fail, looking for my God.
4
Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head. Those who want to cut me off, being my enemies wrongfully, are mighty. I have to restore what I didn't take away.
5
God, you know my foolishness. My sins aren't hidden from you.
6
Don't let those who wait for you be shamed through me, Lord Yahweh of Armies. Don't let those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, God of Israel.
7
Because for your sake, I have borne reproach. Shame has covered my face.
8
I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's children.
9
For the zeal of your house consumes me. The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
10
When I wept and I fasted, that was to my reproach.
11
When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them.
12
Those who sit in the gate talk about me. I am the song of the drunkards.
13
But as for me, my prayer is to you, Yahweh, in an acceptable time. God, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me in the truth of your salvation.
14
Deliver me out of the mire, and don't let me sink. Let me be delivered from those who hate me, and out of the deep waters.
15
Don't let the flood waters overwhelm me, neither let the deep swallow me up. Don't let the pit shut its mouth on me.
16
Answer me, Yahweh, for your loving kindness is good. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, turn to me.
17
Don't hide your face from your servant, for I am in distress. Answer me speedily!
18
Draw near to my soul, and redeem it. Ransom me because of my enemies.
19
You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor. My adversaries are all before you.
20
Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness. I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; for comforters, but I found none.
21
They also gave me gall for my food. In my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.
22
Let their table before them become a snare. May it become a retribution and a trap.
23
Let their eyes be darkened, so that they can't see. Let their backs be continually bent.
24
Pour out your indignation on them. Let the fierceness of your anger overtake them.
25
Let their habitation be desolate. Let no one dwell in their tents.
26
For they persecute him whom you have wounded. They tell of the sorrow of those whom you have hurt.
27
Charge them with crime upon crime. Don't let them come into your righteousness.
28
Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous.
29
But I am in pain and distress. Let your salvation, God, protect me.
30
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
31
It will please Yahweh better than an ox, or a bull that has horns and hoofs.
32
The humble have seen it, and are glad. You who seek after God, let your heart live.
33
For Yahweh hears the needy, and doesn't despise his captive people.
34
Let heaven and earth praise him; the seas, and everything that moves therein!
35
For God will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah. They shall settle there, and own it.
36
The children also of his servants shall inherit it. Those who love his name shall dwell therein. For the Chief Musician. By David. A reminder.
