THE EXPLANATION of Isaiah Chapter 42

(Note: Rev. Smithson's translation of the Isaiah text is appended below the explanation.)

1. BEHOLD My Servant, whom I uphold; Mine Elect, in whom My soul delights: I will put My spirit upon Him; and He shall bring forth judgment to the nations.

VERSE 1. Treating of the Lord, who is understood by "the Elect of Jehovah"; and whereas by "the Spirit of Jehovah which was put upon Him" is signified the proceeding Divine, therefore by "the soul of Jehovah which was delighted in Him" is signified the Divine Truth; for in this Divine the Lord was as to His Humanity in the world. Apocalypse Explained 750.

I will put [or give] My spirit upon Him. - The "Spirit of Jehovah upon Him [the Lord]" is the Divine Truth, consequently Divine Wisdom and Intelligence. The Divine Truth is also called "Judgment which He will bring forth to the nations." Arcana Coelestia 9818.

For the meaning of "Spirit" in its various senses, see Chapter 11:2, the Exposition.

2. He shall not cry, nor lift up His voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street:

Verse 2. [It does not appear that Swedenborg bas quoted this verse, but viewed in connection with the following, of which he has given full interpretation, it would seem to imply that the Lord in His Divine Human would teach the Truth from infinite Divine Love, thus most gently and softly, without compelling, or in any sense constraining, the freedom and rationality of the human mind, which, in all the operations of His Providence, are kept inviolate. Divine Providence 96.]

3. The bruised reed He shall not break; and the smoking flax He shall not quench: He shall bring forth judgment into truth.

Verse 3. Treating concerning the Lord. By His "not breaking the bruised reed" is signified that He will not hurt the divine Truth sensual with the simple and with children; by "not quenching the smoking flax" is signified that He will not destroy the divine Truth which begins to live from a little Good of love with the simple and with children; "flax" denoting Truth, and "smoking" its living from some little degree of love. Inasmuch as both, that is, the "reed" and the "flax", are significative of Truth, therefore it is also said concerning the Lord, that He shall bring forth judgment into truth", by which is understood that He will produce in them intelligence; "judgment" denoting intelligence. "Reed " also signifies sensual or ultimate Truth, such as has place also with natural men, even the evil, as in the same Prophet:

"The parched ground shall become a pool; and there shall be grass instead of the reed and the rush." (Isaiah 35:7) Apocalypse Explained 627.

4. He shall not extinguish, nor break it, until He has established judgment in the earth: and the islands shall wait for His law.

Verse 4. These words also treat concerning the Lord, and the New Church to be established by Him. By the "islands" are understood those who are only in Truths from the natural man, and consequently who are as yet remote from true worship; hence by its being said "until He has established judgment in the earth, and the islands shall wait for His law", is signified until He has given intelligence to those who are of the church, and knowledges of Truth to those who are more remote from the church; to "establish judgment." is to give intelligence, and to "wait for the law" is to give the knowledges of Truth; for the "earth" signifies those who are in the church, and, abstractedly, the church itself as to intelligence from spiritual Truths; and the "isiands " signify those who are remote from the church, and, abstractedly, the church as to the knowledges of Truth and Good, or the church as to the Truths of the natural man corresponding with spiritual Truths. Apocalypse Explained 406. See also Arcana Coelestia 1158; Apocalypse Revealed 84.

5. Thus says the God, [even] Jehovah, who created the heavens, and stretched them out; who spread forth the earth, and the productions thereof; who giveth breath to the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk thereon:

Verse 5. By "creating the heavens, and stretching them out", and by "spreading forth the earth ", is signified to reform; by the "heavens" are signified both the heavens and the internals of the church; the internals of the church also are the "heavens" with the men who are therein. The "earth" signifies the externals of the church, which are said to be "spread forth and extended" when there is a multiplication of Truths derived from Good. That reformation by Truths is hereby signified, is evident, for it is said, "Who giveth soul [or breath] to the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk thereon." Apocalypse Explained 294.

By "creating the heavens" and by" spreading forth the earth and its productions", is signified to form the church, and to reform those who are therein; its "productions" are all things of the church. Apocalypse Explained 304.

To "give breath [or soul, animam] to the people", is to give the life of faith. Arcana Coelestia 9818.

6. I Jehovah have called You in justice; and I will hold Your hand, and will preserve You; and I will give You for a covenant to the people, for a light to the nations:

7. To open the blind eyes; to bring the bound out of prison; and from the prison-house those that dwell in darkness.

8. I am Jehovah, that is My name; and My glory will I not give to another, nor My praise to graven images.

9. The former things, behold! they are come to pass; and new things do I declare: before they spring forth, I cause you to hear them.

Verse 6. These words are said of the Lord, who is called "the Covenant of the people, and the Light of the nations", because a "covenant" signifies conjunction, and "light" Divine Truth; by "peoples" are understood those who are in Truths, and by "nations" those who are in Goods, as may be seen, Apocalypse Explained 175, 331. To "call Him in justice" signifies that He may do justice by separating the evil from the good, and by saving these and condemning those; to "hold by the hand" and to "preserve [or guard] You" signifies to sustain by Divine Omnipotence, which the hells cannot resist; and by Jehovah "doing this" is signified the Divine in the Lord. Apocalypse Explained 701.

A "covenant", when mentioned in the Word, has the following significations. I. The Lord Himself is called a "Covenant", because conjunction [which is signified by a "covenant"] is from Him with Himself, by the Divine which proceeds from Him. II. The Divine Proceeding, which is the Divine Truth, thus the Word, is the covenant, because that conjoins. III. The precepts, judgments, and statutes given to the sons of Israel, were to them a covenant, because by them there was then conjunction with the Lord. IV. Moreover, whatsoever coujoins is called a covenant. All these significations of a "covenant" may be seen explained and confirmed in Apocalypse Explained 701.

Verses 6-8. These words treat concerning the Lord, that He is Jehovah, and that from Him is all wisdom, and nothing from man. That the Lord is Jehovah, is evident, for it is said that "Jehovah called Him in Justice", and also "I am Jehovah, that is My name; and My glory will I not give to another." That from Him is all wisdom which is of the life, is signified by "opening the blind eyes", and by " bringing the bound out of prison, and from the prison-house those that dwell [or sit] in darkness"; that nothing of wisdom is from man, is signified by "nor My praise to graven images." Arcana Coelestia 8869

These things are said concerning the Lord, and concerning the establishment of a church from Him amongst the nations. That they who were before in ignorance should then understand Truths, is signified by the "blind eyes" which He shall open; and that they should be led out from ignorance and from falsities, is denoted by "He shall bring the bound out of prison." That the Divine Itself would assume the Human, is understood by these words:

"I am Jehovah, that is My name; and My glory will I not give to another." Apocalypse Explained 239.

To "open the blind eyes" is to instruct those who as yet are ignorant of Truths but who, nevertheless, desire them; such persons are signified by the "nations." Apocalypse Explained 152.

Verses 6, 8. The "covenant of the people" and the "light of the nations" is the Lord with respect to the Human; and because this was from Jehovah, and made a One with Him, it is said, "I am Jehovah, that is My name; and My glory will I not gIve to another"; that is, to no other than to Himself. To "give glory" is to glorify, or to unite to Himself. Doct. of Lord, 30.

10. Sing unto Jehovah a new song; His praise from the end of the earth: you that go down upon the sea, and the fulness thereof; you islands, and the inhabitants thereof.

Verses 10, 11. Treating concerning the advent of the Lord and concerning the establishment of the church with those who were out of the church, or with those who had not the Word, and to whom the Lord was not before known. To "sing a new song" signifies confession from joy of heart; and for "the end of the earth to sing His praise" signifies the confession of those who are remote from the church, - the "earth" denoting the church, and the "end of the earth" denoting where what appertains to the church terminates. By "the desert and the cities thereof, which shall lift up their voice", are signified those with whom there is not Good, because there is not Truth, which nevertheless they desire; "the inhabitants of the rock" signify the Good of faith, and "the head of the mountains "the Good of love appertaining to them; to "sing" and to "shout" signify consequent confession from joy of the mind and the heart. Apocalypse Explained 320.

Verses 10, 12. These words signify the worship of the Lord by those who are remote from the church, and, in an abstract sense, the worship of the natural man from Truths and Goods. To "sing a song" and to "praise" signifies worship from a glad mind: the "end of the earth" denotes those who are in the ultimates of the church, and, in an abstract sense, the ultimates of the church; "the sea, and the fulness thereof", signify the natural man and all things which are therein; "the islands, and the inhabitants ithereof", are the Truths and Goods of the natural man, - the "islands" the Truths thereof, and "inhabitants" the Goods thereof. By "let them give glory to Jehovah, and declare His praise in the islands", is signified worship from internals and externals; to "give glory" denotes worship from internals, and to " declare praise" worship from externals, for externals" declare", and "islands" are the Truths of the natural man from which such worship is performed. Apocalypse Explained 406.

It should be known that by the "end" [or the extremity] of heaven is not understood the extremity of space, but the state of what is Good and True; for in heaven there is no space, but the appearance thereof according to the state of what is Good and True. Arcana Coelestia 9666.

11. Let the desert lift up [its voice], and the cities thereof; the villages which Arabia doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing; let them shout from the head of the mountains.

12. Let them give glory to Jehovah; and declare His praise in the islands.

Verse 11: By the "desert" is signified an obscure principle of Truth; by "the cities thereof" are understood doctrinals: and by the "villages", natural knowledges and scientifics. By "Arabia" is signified the natural man, for "an Arabian in the desert" is the natural man; by the "inhabitants of the rock" are meant the Goods of faith, or those who are in the Goods of faith: and by "the head of the mountains" is signified the Good of love to the Lord. Hence it is manifest that confession and glad worship originating in the Good of love in such things as are mentioned, are here signified by every single thing in its order; for to "shout from the head of the mountains" denotes worship from the Good of love.Apocalypse Explained 405.

These things are said concerning the church with those who are remote from the Truths of the church, because they are natural and sensual; their state of ignorance is understood by the "desert", and their joy from the preaching and knowledge of the Truth is meant by their " lifting up their voice", etc. Arcana Coelestia 730.

13. Jehovah shall go forth like a Hero; like a Man of wars shall He stir up zeal: He shall cry, yea, He shall shout; He shall prevail against His enemies.

Verse 13. The Lord is called a "Man of war" chiefly from this circumstance, that whilst in the world, He alone, that is, from Himself fought against the hells, which then, for the most part, were opened, and which attacked and endeavoured to subdue all that came into the other life. The reason why the diabolic crew, that is, the hells, were then raging about in this manner [in the world of spirits] was, because the Divine passing through heaven, which before the coming of the Lord was the Divine Human, did not prevail against evils and falsities, which had so immensely increased; wherefore it pleased the Divine to assume the Human and to make it Divine, and then, at the same time, by combats admitted into Himself, to cast down that diabolic crew into the hells, to shut them up therein, and to subject them to the heavens; and at the same time also to reduce the heavens into order. From these combats the Lord was first called a "Man of war"; and afterwards, because He had thus conquered the hells, and had been made "Justice", He from His divine power protects men, and this continually, and. especially in the combats of temptations. Arcana Coelestia 8273.

As to "wars", when mentioned in the Word, see Chapter 7:1, and especially below, Chapter 63:1-5, the Exposition.

Concerning "the zeal of Jehovah", see Chapter 9:7, the Exposition.

In respect to "ternptations", and their necessity in effecting man's regeneration, see Chapter 43:2, the Exposition.

14. I have long been silent; I have been still, and refrained Myself: now I will cry out like a woman in travail; I will destroy and swallow up at once.

Verse 14. [These words imply the Lord's divine forbearance and long-suffering until the period of Judgment comes, when its effects are denoted by "I will destroy and swallow up at once"; and the pain which those will suffer on being deprived of the possession in their external man of those Goods and Truths which they had assumed for the purpose of selfish ends, as of honour and gain, is denoted by "the crying out as of a woman in travail." As to this latter clause, see-Chapter 13:8, the Exposition.]

15. I will lay waste the mountains and the hills, and dry up all their herbs: I will make the rivers islands; and I will dry up the pools.

Verse 15. By "laying waste or devastating the mountains and the hills" is signified to destroy all the Good of love to the Lord, and of love to the neighbour; by "drying up all the herbs" is meant thence to destroy all Truths, - "herb" denoting Truth springing from Good. By "making the rivers into islands, and drying up the pools", is signified to annihilate all the understanding and perception of Truth; "rivers" signifying intelligence which is of Truth, "islands" where there is no intelligence, and "pools" the perception of Truth. The understanding of Truth is from the light of Truth, but the perception of Truth is from the heat or Love of Truth. Apocalypse Explained 405.

Inasmuch as most things in the Word have an opposite sense, so "islands", in that sense, signify the falsities opposite to the Truths which are in the natural man. In this sense "islands" are mentioned in the above passage. Apocalypse Explained 406.

16. And I will lead the blind in a way which they have not known; and through paths which they have not known will I make them go: I will make darkness light before them; and crooked things into straightness. These things will I do unto them, and will not forsake them,

Verse 16. In this passage "darkness" signifies the falsities of ignorance, such as formerly existed, and at this day exists with the upright nations or Gentiles. These falsities are altogether distinct from the falsities of evil, for the latter contain in themselves evil, because they are from evil, whereas the former contain in themselves Good, for they have Good for an end; wherefore they who are principled in these falsities can be instructed in Truths, and also when they are instructed they receive Truth in the heart, by reason that the Good, which is in their falsities, loves the Truth, and also conjoins itself with the Truth, when it is heard. The case is otherwise with the falsities of evil; these are averse from, and spit out, all Truth, and this for no other reason than because it is Truth, and thus does not agree with evil. "Darkness" also signifies in the Word mere ignorance arising from the deprivation or Truth, as in David. (Psalm 18:28; 139:11, 12) "Darkness" also signifies natural lumen, for this, in respect to spiritual light, is as darkness; wherefore also the angels, when they look down into the natural lumen of man, such as is in the natural thought of rnen, regard it as darkness, and the things which are in it as in darkness. This lumen is signified by the "darkness" in Genesis 1:2-5; and inasmuch as the literal sense of the Word is natural, therefore this also in the Word is called a "cloud", and also "darkness", in respect to the internal sense, which is the light of heaven, and is called "glory." Apocalypse Explained 526.

17. They shall be turned backward, they shall be greatly ashamed who trust in the graven image, who say unto the molten image, You are our gods!

Verse 17. What is meant by "going backward", see Chapter 1:4, the Exposition. ln respect to "graven and molten images", or "idols", see Chapter 2:20; 40:18-20; 41:7, the Exposition.

18. Hear, O you deaf! and look, you blind, that you may see!

Verse 18. The "deaf" are those who do not perceive what is True, and who hence do not obey it; thus, abstractedly, "deafness" signifies the non-perception of Truth, and hence non-obedience. Thus to be "deaf" signifies these things, is because the "hearing" corresponds both to perception and to obedience, to perception, because those things which are heard are inwardly perceived; and to obedience, because hence it is known what should be done. That this is the correspondence of "hearing" and also of the "ear", may be seen, Arcana Coelestia 3809, 4052-4660; hence it is evident what is signified by the "deaf." In the Word, by the "deaf" are also understood the Gentiles, who do not know the Truths of faith, because they have not the Word, and therefore cannot live according to them; when, however, they are instructed, they receive these Truths, and live according to them. These are understood in Isaiah:

"Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened; and the ears of the deaf unstopped." (Isaiah 35:5)

Again,

"Hear, O you deaf! and look, you blind, that you may see!" (Isaiah 42:18)

"In that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book", etc. (Isaiah 29:18)

Again,

"Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears", etc. (Isaiah 43:8, 9)

Here by the "deaf" are understood those who, by the coming of the Lord, could come into a state of receiving the Truths of Faith, that is, of perceiving them and of obeying them. The same are understood by the "deaf" whom the Lord cured. (Mark 7:31-37; 9:25)

Because the "deaf" in a good sense] signify such persons, it was forbidden those, with whom the representative church was established, to "curse the deaf", and to "cast a stumbling-block before the blind.' (Leviticus 19:14) Arcana Coelestia 6989.

19. Who is blind, but My Servant? or deaf, as My Angel whom I have sent? who is blind as He who is perfect, and blind as the Servant of Jehovah ?

20. Seeing many things, but You observest not; opening the ears, He hears not.

Verses 19, 20. These words are spoken of the Lord, who is treated of in the whole of this chapter, and is here called a "Servant" as to His Divine Human, because He served His Father by "doing His will", as He frequently declared, whereby is understood that He reduced to order all things in the spiritual world, and, at the same time, taught mankind the way to heaven. It is therefore the Divine Human which is understood by "My Servant, whom I uphold; and Mine Elect, in whom My soul delights"; and it is called "Servant" from Divine Truth, whereby those things were effected, and "Elect" from Divine Good. That He had Divine Truth whereby He effected all things, is understood by "I will put My spirit upon Him, and He shall bring forth judgment to the nations; the "spirit of Jehovah" is the Divine Truth, and to "bring forth judgment to the nations" is to instruct. The reason of His being called "blind" and "deaf" is, because the Lord is as if He did not see and perceive the sins of men, for He leads men gently, "bending and not breaking", and so withdrawing them from evils and leading them to Good; wherefore neither does He chastise nor punish, as if He saw and perceived. This is what is understood by "Who is blind, but My Servant? or deaf, as My Angel?" "Blind" and "Servant" being mentioned with relation to Divine Truth, and "deaf" and "Angel" with relation to Divine Good; for "blind" has relation to the understanding, and thence to perception, and "deaf" has relation to perception, and thence to the will. By these words, therefore, is understood that the Lord appears not to see, although the Divine Truth is His from which He understands all things, and that He appears not to will according to what He perceives, although the Divine Good is His from which all things are possible to Him. Apocalypse Explained 409.

21. But Jehovah was well pleased on account of His justice; He has magnified the law, and made it honourable.

Verse 21. He has magnified the law, and made it honourable [or rather illustriousJ. - [It does not appear that Swedenborg has quoted this verse, but it implies, we apprehend, that the Lord, by the glorification of His Humanity, has filled the "Law", that is, the Word, with a greater abundance of His divine "spirit and life." See John 10:10; also Isaiah 30:25, 26, the Exposition.]

22. But this is a people spoiled and plundered; all their young men are taken in the snare, and are hidden in the prison-houses: they are become a prey, and there was none to deliver; a spoil, and no one said, Restore.

23. Who is there among you that will give ear to this; that will hearken, and attend to it, for the aftertime?

Verse 22. All their young men are hidden in the prison-houses, etc. "Young men", in the internal sense, are the Truths of faith, which are said to be "hidden" and to "become a prey", when they are no longer acknowledged. Arcana Coelestia 5037 Arcana Coelestia 5037[1-6].

As to "young men", both in a good and in a bad sense, see above, Chapter 31:8, the Exposition.

24. Who has given Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the plunderers? Is it not Jehovah; He against whom we have sinned; in whose ways they would not walk, and whose law' they would not obey?

25. Therefore poured He out upon them the burning of His angel, and the violence of war: and it kindled a flame round about Him, yet He did not regard it; and it burned Him, yet He did not lay it to heart.

Verse 24. That to "walk" signifies to live, and, when predicated of the Lord, Life itself, is from appearances in the spiritual world, where all walk according to their life, the evil in no other ways than such as lead to hell, but the good in no other ways than in such as lead to heaven; wherefore all spirits are known there from the ways wherein they walk. There actually appear also ways, but to the evil no other than ways to hell, and to the good no other than ways to heaven, by which means everyone is brought to his own society. From this circumstance it is, that to "walk" signifies to live. Concerning these "ways" and "walking" therein, in the spiritual world, see what is said in the work on Heaven and Hell 195, 479; and in the small work on the Last Judgment 48. Apocalypse Explained 97.

Verses 2, 1, 25. "The heat [or burning] of His anger" signifies repugnance against the false of evil. "Jacob" here [meaning those "who have sinned against Jehovah"] stands for those who are in evil, and "Israel" for those who are in the false of evil. "Wrath" [or burning, excandescentia] and "anger" [ira] are often mentioned in the Word, but in the internal sense they do not signify wrath and anger, but that which is repugnant; and this because whatsoever is repugnant to any affection produces wrath or anger, so that in the internal sense these things are only repugnances; it is called "wrath" because it is repugnant to Truth, and "anger" because it is repugnant to Good. But, in the opposite sense, "wrath" is that which is repugnant to the false and its affection, that is, to the principles of the false; and "anger" that which is repugnant to evil and its cupidity, that is, to the love of self and of the world, and in this sense "wrath" is properly wrath, and "anger" is properly anger; but, when they are predicated of Good and Truth, "wrath" and "anger" are then properly zeal, which, because in the external form it appears similar to "wrath" and "anger" in a bad sense, it is hence, in the literal sense, also so called. Arcana Coelestia 3614.

In respect to "anger", when ascribed to Jehovah, see above, Chapter 1:24; 9:12, 17, 21, the Exposition.

That "fire" is anger from the affection of evil, is because anger is thence derived: for when that which a man loves is impugned, a fiery principle bursts forth, and as it were burns. Hence it is that anger is described in the Word by "fire", and it is said to burn, as in Isaiah 42:25; Psalm 18:8. Arcana Coelestia 9143.

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Isaiah Chapter 42

1. BEHOLD My Servant, whom I uphold; Mine Elect, in whom My soul delights: I will put My spirit upon Him; and He shall bring forth judgment to the nations.

2. He shall not cry, nor lift up His voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street:

3. The bruised reed He shall not break; and the smoking flax He shall not quench: He shall bring forth judgment into truth.

4. He shall not extinguish, nor break it, until He has established judgment in the earth: and the islands shall wait for His law.

5. Thus says the God, [even] Jehovah, who created the heavens, and stretched them out; who spread forth the earth, and the productions thereof; who giveth breath to the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk thereon:

6. I Jehovah have called You in justice; and I will hold Your hand, and will preserve You; and I will give You for a covenant to the people, for a light to the nations:

7. To open the blind eyes; to bring the bound out of prison; and from the prison-house those that dwell in darkness.

8. I am Jehovah, that is My name; and My glory will I not give to another, nor My praise to graven images.

9. The former things, behold! they are come to pass; and new things do I declare: before they spring forth, I cause you to hear them.

10. Sing unto Jehovah a new song; His praise from the end of the earth: you that go down upon the sea, and the fulness thereof; you islands, and the inhabitants thereof.

11. Let the desert lift up [its voice], and the cities thereof; the villages which Arabia doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing; let them shout from the head of the mountains.

12. Let them give glory to Jehovah; and declare His praise in the islands.

13. Jehovah shall go forth like a Hero; like a Man of wars shall He stir up zeal: He shall cry, yea, He shall shout; He shall prevail against His enemies.

14. I have long been silent; I have been still, and refrained Myself: now I will cry out like a woman in travail; I will destroy and swallow up at once.

15. I will lay waste the mountains and the hills, and dry up all their herbs: I will make the rivers islands; and I will dry up the pools.

16. And I will lead the blind in a way which they have not known; and through paths which they have not known will I make them go: I will make darkness light before them; and crooked things into straightness. These things will I do unto them, and will not forsake them,

17. They shall be turned backward, they shall be greatly ashamed who trust in the graven image, who say unto the molten image, You are our gods!

18. Hear, O you deaf! and look, you blind, that you may see!

19. Who is blind, but My Servant? or deaf, as My Angel whom I have sent? who is blind as He who is perfect, and blind as the Servant of Jehovah ?

20. Seeing many things, but You observest not; opening the ears, He hears not.

21. But Jehovah was well pleased on account of His justice; He has magnified the law, and made it honourable.

22. But this is a people spoiled and plundered; all their young men are taken in the snare, and are hidden in the prison-houses: they are become a prey, and there was none to deliver; a spoil, and no one said, Restore.

23. Who is there among you that will give ear to this; that will hearken, and attend to it, for the aftertime?

24. Who has given Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the plunderers? Is it not Jehovah; He against whom we have sinned; in whose ways they would not walk, and whose law' they would not obey?

25. Therefore poured He out upon them the burning of His angel, and the violence of war: and it kindled a flame round about Him, yet He did not regard it; and it burned Him, yet He did not lay it to heart.

175. I will give him power over the nations, signifies over the evils within him, which will then be scattered by the Lord. This is evident from the signification of "nations," as being evils (of which presently); and from the signification of "giving power over them," as being that these (the evils) will then be dispersed by the Lord. "To have power," in reference to "over the nations," means to scatter in reference to evils; thus there is an adaptation of words to their subjects. It is said that evils will be scattered by the Lord, for the Lord scatters evils by means of truths. He first discovers them to man by means of truths, and when man acknowledges the evils, the Lord scatters them. (That the Lord alone does this, see The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 200.) "Nations and peoples" are often mentioned in the Word, and those who know nothing of the spiritual or internal sense of the Word, believe that peoples and nations are to be understood. But "peoples" mean those who are in truths, or in the contrary sense those who are in falsities, and "nations" those who are in goods, or in the contrary sense, those who are in evils. And as such are meant by "peoples" and by "nations," so abstractly from persons "peoples" mean truths or falsities, and "nations" goods and evils; for the true spiritual sense is abstracted from persons, spaces, times, and like things, that are proper to nature.

[2] With these the natural sense of the Word, which is the sense of its letter, is at one; and the sense that is at one with these serves as a basis to the sense that is apart from them. For all things that are in nature are ultimates of Divine order, and the Divine does not rest in the middle, but flows down even to its ultimates, and there subsists. From this it is that the Word in the letter is such as it is, and unless it were such it would not serve as a basis for the wisdom of angels who are spiritual. It can be seen from this how mistaken those are who despise the Word on account of its style. "Nations" signify those who are in good, and in the abstract, goods, because men who lived in ancient times were divided into nations, families, and houses; and they then loved each other mutually; and the father of a nation loved the whole nation which was from him; thus the good of love reigned among them. For this reason "nations" signified goods. But when men came into the opposite state, which took place in the following ages when empires were established, then "nations" signified evils. (See further on this subject in the small work on The Earths in the Universe 49, 90, 173, 174.)

[3] That "nations" in the Word signify either goods or evils, and "people" either truths or falsities, can be seen from the following passages. In Isaiah:

Nations shall walk to Thy light, and kings to the brightness of Thy rising. Then shalt Thou see and flow together, and Thine heart shall be enlarged, because the multitude of the sea is converted unto Thee, the army of the nations come unto Thee; Thy gates shall be opened continually, they shall not be shut by day and by night, that men may bring unto Thee the army of the nations, and their kings shall be brought; for the nation or kingdom that will not serve Thee shall perish; and the nations by wasting shall be wasted. Thou shalt suck the milk of nations, even the breasts of kings shalt Thou suck. The little one shall become a thousand, and the few a numerous nation (Isaiah 60:3, 5, 11-12, 16, 22).

Here the Lord is treated of; and by "nations" all who are in the good of love to Him are meant, and by "kings" all who are in the truths of faith in Him. From this it is manifest who are meant by the "nations" that "shall walk to Thy light;" and by "the army of the nations that shall be brought;" also, who are meant by "the kings" that "shall walk to the brightness of Thy rising;" and by "the kings of the nations" that "shall be brought;" also, what is meant by "Thou shalt suck the milk of nations and the breasts of kings" ("milk" is the delight of the good of love, likewise "breasts," for milk is from them). The multiplication of truth and the fructification of good are described by the "little one shall become a thousand, and the few a numerous nation." But by "the nations that shall be wasted" are meant all that are in evils, and also the evils themselves.

[4] In the same:

Behold I will lift up My hand towards the nations, and set up Mine ensign towards the peoples, that they may bring thy sons in the bosom, and carry thy daughters upon the shoulder; and kings shall be thy nourishers and the chief women thy sucklers; with the face to the earth shall they bow down to thee (Isaiah 49:22, 23).

Here also the Lord is treated of, and those who shall worship and adore Him. To "lift up His hand towards the nations, and His ensign towards the peoples, " ¹ is to join to Himself all who are in the goods of love and in truths therefrom; of these it is said that "they shall bring thy sons in the bosom, and carry thy daughters upon the shoulder;" "sons" are the affections of truth, and "daughters" the affections of good (See above, n. 166). And of these it is said that their "kings shall be thy nourishers, and the chief women thy sucklers." "Kings" are truths themselves, "chief women" are the goods thereof; and as man is regenerated by both of these, and also nourished, it is said that they shall be "nourishers" and "sucklers." (That man is regenerated by means of truths and a life according to them, see in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 23, 24, 27, 186.) This is the internal sense of these words; without that sense who could understand them?

[5] In the same:

Jehovah said, Behold I spread out upon Jerusalem peace as a river, and as a torrent the glory of the nations, that ye may suck. He will come to gather all nations and tongues, that they may come and see My glory. They shall declare My glory among the nations; then shall they bring your brethren out of all nations, as a gift to Jehovah, upon horses and upon the chariot, to the mountain of My holiness (Isaiah 66:12, 18-20).

Here "Jerusalem" is the Lord's church in the heavens and on the earth; it is said the church in the heavens, for the church is there also (See in the work on Heaven and Hell 221-227). By "nations and tongues" all who are in the goods of love and in truths therefrom are meant. It is said that "they shall bring out of all nations a gift to Jehovah, upon horses and upon the chariot;" "a gift to Jehovah" is worship from the good of love; "horses and chariots" are intellectuals and doctrinals, for these are the source and foundation of worship. (That this is what "horses and chariots" signify, see The White Horse 1-5.)

[6] In the same:

It shall be in that day that a Root of Jesse, which shall stand for a sign of the people, the nations shall seek (Isaiah 11:10). "The root of Jesse" is the Lord; "to stand for a sign of the people" means that it may be seen by those who are in truths; "the nations which shall seek," are those who are in the good of love. It is believed that "nations" here mean the nations that are to approach and acknowledge the Lord, from which is to be the church that is called the church of the Gentiles; but these are not meant by "nation" but all who are in love to the Lord and faith in Him, whether within the church or out of it (See in the work on Heaven and Hell 308, 318-328).

[7] In the same:

A strong people shall honor Thee, the city of the powerful nations shall fear thee (Isaiah 25:3).

In the same:

Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation may enter in. Thou hast increased the nation, O Jehovah, Thou hast increased the nation, Thou art glorified (Isaiah 26:2, 15).

In the same:

Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye peoples (Isaiah 34:1).

In the same:

I, Jehovah, have called thee in righteousness, for a covenant to the people, for a light of the nations (Isaiah 42:6).

In Jeremiah:

The nations shall bless themselves in Him, and in Him shall they glory (Jeremiah 4:2).

In the same:

Who will not fear Thee, O king of nations? and in all their kingdom there is none like unto Thee (Jeremiah 10:7).

In Daniel:

I was seeing in the night visions, and behold with the clouds of heaven One like the Son of man. And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom; and all peoples, nations, and tongues shall worship Him (Daniel 7:13, 14).

In David:

The peoples shall give thanks unto Thee, O God; all the peoples shall give thanks unto Thee. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for Thou shalt judge the peoples with equity, and shalt lead the nations upon the earth (Psalms 67:3, 4).

In the same:

That I may see the good of Thy chosen, and be glad in the joy of Thy nations (Psalms 106:5).

In Revelation:

The glory and honor of the nations shall be brought into the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:26).

In Isaiah:

Ye shall be called priests of Jehovah; ministers of your ² God, it shall be said to you. Ye shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory shall ye glory (Isaiah 61:6).

In the Lamentations:

The breath of our nostrils, the Anointed of Jehovah, was taken in their pits; of whom we had said, In His shadow we shall live among the nations (Lamentations 4:20).

In these passages, by "nations" all who are in love to the Lord, whether within the church where the Word is or outside it, are meant.

[8] That by "nations" in a contrary sense those who are in evils are meant, and in the abstract, evils themselves, can be seen from the following passages. In Jeremiah:

I will bring a nation upon you from far, it is a mighty nation; it is a nation of an age, a nation whose tongue thou shalt not know. It shall eat up thy harvest and thy bread; it shall eat up thy sons and thy daughters; it shall eat up thy vine and thy fig-tree; it shall impoverish the cities with the sword (Jeremiah 5:15, 17).

The vastation of the church is here treated of; and by "nation" is meant the evil that will consummate it; it is therefore said, that "it shall eat up the harvest and the bread," "the sons and daughters," "the vine and the fig-tree," and "shall impoverish the cities with the sword;" by which all the goods of love and the truths of faith are signified; by "harvest" a state of the reception of truth from good (See Arcana Coelestia 9295); by "bread" the good of love (See in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 218); by "sons and daughters" the affections of truth and good (See above, n. 166); by "vine" the internal church, thus the internal things of the church (See Arcana Coelestia 1069, 5113, 6376, 9277); by "fig-tree" the external church, thus the external things of the church (Arcana Coelestia 5113); by "cities" doctrines (Arcana Coelestia 402, 2449, 2712, 2943, 3216, 4492, 4493); by "sword" falsity destroying (See above, n. 73, 131). From this it can be seen that by "nations" is signified the evil that destroys all these.

[9] In the same:

Behold I lay stumbling-blocks before this people, that they may stumble upon them, the fathers and the sons together. Behold, a people cometh from the land of the north, and a great nation from the sides of the earth. They have no compassion, their voice roareth like the sea, and they ride upon horses (Jeremiah 6:21-23).

Here also "nation" means evil, and "peoples" falsities, "the stumbling-blocks upon which the fathers and the sons stumble" are the perversions of good and truth ("fathers" are goods, and "sons" truths therefrom). It is said, "a people from the land of the north, and a nation from the sides of the earth," for the "north" signifies falsity from evil, and "the sides of the earth" signify what is outside of the church, thus evils remote from the goods of the church. "To roar like the sea, and to ride upon horses," is to persuade by fallacies of the senses, and by reasonings therefrom.

[10] In Ezekiel:

The land is full of the judgment of bloods, and the city is full of violence, wherefore I will bring the worst of the nations, that they may occupy their houses; the king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with stupor (Ezekiel 7:23-24, 27).

The "land" is the church; "full of the judgment of bloods" is to be in falsities that destroy goods; "city" is doctrine; "full of violence" is to use force against the good of charity; "the worst of the nations" are direful falsities from evil; "to occupy their houses" is to possess their minds; "the king who shall mourn" is the truth of the church; "the prince who shall be clothed with stupor," is subservient truth. (That the "land" is the church, see Arcana Coelestia 662, 1066, 1068, 1262, 1413, 1607, 2928, 3355, 4447, 4535, 5577, 8011, 9325, 9643; that "bloods" are falsities destroying good, n. 374, 1005, 4735, 5476, 9127; that "city" is doctrine, n. 2268, 2449, 2451, 2712, 2943, 3216, 4492, 4493; that "violence" is using force against the good of charity, n. 6353; that "houses" are the things of man that belong to his mind, n. 710, 2231, 2233, 2559, 3128, 3538, 4973, 5023, 6690, 7353, 7848, 7910, 7929, 9150; that "the king who shall mourn" is the truth of the church, see above n. 31.)

[11] In David:

Jehovah bringeth the counsel of the nations to naught, He overthroweth the thoughts of the peoples (Psalms 33:10).

"Nations" mean those who are in evils, and "peoples" those who are in falsities; and because both are signified, it is said that "Jehovah bringeth the counsel of the nations to naught, and overthroweth the thoughts of the peoples," which are two expressions, as it were, of one thing, yet they are distinct in the internal sense, in which "nations" signify one thing, and "peoples" another.

[12] In Luke:

Then they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led captive among all nations, and at length Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the nations, until the time of the nations be fulfilled. Then there shall be signs in sun, moon, and stars, and upon the earth anguish of nations, the sea and the waves roaring (Luke 21:24-25).

The consummation of the age is here treated of, which is the last time of the church, when there is no longer any faith because there is no charity, or no truth because there is no good. This is here described by correspondences: "to fall by the edge of the sword" is to be destroyed by falsities; "to be led captive among all nations" is to be possessed by evils of every kind; "Jerusalem, which shall be trodden down," is the church; the "sun" is love to the Lord; the "moon" faith in Him; the "stars" the knowledges of good and truth; the "signs" in them mean that these are to perish; "the sea and the waves that shall roar" are fallacies and reasonings therefrom.

[13] In Matthew:

Nation shall rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. And they shall deliver you unto affliction, and ye shall be hated of all the nations for My name's sake (Matthew 24:7, 9; Luke 21:10, 11).

These things also were said by the Lord respecting the last time of the church; and by "nation shall rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" is signified that there will be conflicts of evils and falsities among themselves; by "famines and pestilences" are signified the failure and wasting of truths; by "earthquakes" the perversion of the church; by "being hated of all nations" is signified to be hated by all who are in evil; "the name of the Lord," for the sake of which they shall be hated, signifies all things of love and faith whereby the Lord is worshiped (See above, n. 102, 135).

[14] In Ezekiel:

Behold Asshur a cedar in Lebanon. He has become high, and his branches have been multiplied. In his branches have all the fowl of the heavens built their nests, and under his branches all the beasts of the field have brought forth, and in his shade have dwelt all great nations. But his heart is lifted up in his height; therefore I will give him into the hand of the strong one of the nations, strangers shall cut him off, the violent of the nations, and they shall cast him down; whence all peoples of the earth have gone down from his shadow, and have abandoned him (Ezekiel 31:3, 5, 6, 10-12).

These things no one can understand unless he has a knowledge of the spiritual or internal sense of the Word. He will believe them to be mere comparisons, in which there is no spiritual signification; when yet all the particulars therein signify things of heaven and the church; therefore they shall be explained briefly. "Asshur" is the rational of the man of the church which is illustrated; this is called "a cedar in Lebanon," because a "cedar" has the same signification as "Asshur," specifically truth from good in the rational; and "Lebanon" is the mind where the rational resides, because there were cedars in Lebanon.

By "his branches that were multiplied" are meant truths therefrom; "the fowl of the heavens that built their nests in his branches" are the affections of truth; and "the beasts of the field that brought forth under his branches" are the affections of good; the "great nations that dwelt in his shade" are the goods of love; "his heart lifted up in his height" is the love of self; "to be given into the hands of the strong one of the nations," and "to be cast down by the violent of the nations," means that evils from that love will destroy goods and truths; "the peoples of the earth that went down from his shadow and abandoned him" are all truths of the church. From this it is manifest that "nations" signify goods, and in the contrary sense evils; by "the nations that dwelt in his shade," goods; and by "the nations that cut him off, and cast him down," evils. (See, moreover, what is said and shown about nations and their signification in Arcana Coelestia, namely, that by "nations" in the Word are meant those who are in good, and consequently goods themselves, n. 1059, 1159, 1258, 1260, 1416, 1849, 6005; "the assembly of the nations," truths and goods, n. 4574, 7830; "the holy nation," the spiritual kingdom, n. 9255, 9256; when it is said "nation and people," by "nation" those who are in celestial good are meant, and by "people" those who are in spiritual good, n. 10288. That by "nations," especially the nations of the land of Canaan, evils and falsities of every kind are meant, n. 1059, 1205, 1868, 6306, 8054, 8317, 9320, 9327).

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