205. The content of each single verse has to do with a particular state or else change of state within the Church. The initial verses describe how they still perceived that such a course of action was forbidden even though they had an inclination towards it. The two present verses describe how they began to doubt whether it was forbidden them, since they would in that way see whether the things they had heard from the people of earliest times were true, and in that way their eyes would be opened. These two verses finally describe how, since self-love began to reign with them, they were able to be their own guides and so be like the Lord. It is characteristic of self-love that people do not wish to be led from the Lord but from themselves. And when this is so people rely in matters of belief on sensory evidence and factual knowledge.
Arcana Coelestia # 131
131. Genesis 2:18-25
18. And Jehovah God said, It is not good that the man 1 should be alone. I will make for him a help suitable for him.
19. And Jehovah God formed out of the ground every beast of the field, and every bird of the air, 2 and He brought it to the man to see what he would call it; and whatever the man called it, the living creature, 3 that was its name.
20. And the man gave names to every beast, and to the birds of the air, 2 and to every wild animal of the field; but for man there was not found a help suitable for him.
21. And Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he fell asleep; and He took one of his ribs, and He closed up the flesh in its place.
22. And Jehovah God built the rib which He took from the man into a woman, and brought her to the man.
23. And the man said, By this change, it is bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh; for this she will be called Wife, because she was taken out of man (vir).
24. Therefore a man (vir) will leave his father and his mother and will cling to his wife, and they will be one flesh.
25. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and they were not ashamed.
CONTENTS
The subject is the descendants of the Most Ancient Church, who set their heart on the proprium.
Notas de rodapé:
1. Unless otherwise indicated man in these verses 18-25 represents the Latin homo.
2. literally, bird of the heavens (or the skies)
3. literally, the living soul
