4771. And they sent the tunic of many colors. That this signifies appearances thus defiled, is evident from the signification of a “tunic of various colors,” as being appearances (see n. 4677, 4741, 4742, 4768). That they were defiled is meant by the tunic being dipped in blood (n. 4770).

4770. And dipped the tunic in the blood. That this signifies that they defiled it with falsities from evils, is evident from the signification of “dipping in blood,” as being to defile with falsities; for “blood” in the opposite sense is truth falsified (n. 4735). As it was the blood of the he-goat, by which are signified external truths from delights, such as those have who are in faith separate, it is clear that falsities from evils are meant—as is evident also from what follows, where Jacob says, “An evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is surely torn in pieces;” for by these words is signified that the cupidities of evil had extinguished it, and thus that from falsities it became such as to be not at all. That there are three origins of falsity—the doctrine of the church, the fallacies of the senses, and a life of cupidities—and that the falsity from this last is the worst, may be seen above (n. 4729).