2833. And Abraham went, and took the ram. That this signifies their liberation by the Lord’s Divine Human, is evident from the representation of Abraham, as being here the Lord as to His Divine Human (for when Jehovah, or the angel of Jehovah, speaks with Abraham, then “Jehovah,” or the “angel of Jehovah,” is the Divine Itself, and “Abraham” is the Divine Human); and also from the signification of a “ram,” as being the spiritual (n. 2830). It is hence manifest that Abraham’s going and taking the ram caught in the thicket by his horns, signifies the liberation of the spiritual by the Lord’s Divine Human. (That without the Lord’s coming into the world the spiritual could not possibly have been saved, may be seen above, n. 2661, 2716; and that they have salvation and liberation by the Lord’s Divine Human, n. 2716)

51. As regards the “image,” an image is not a likeness but is according to the likeness; it is therefore said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after our likeness”. The spiritual man is an “image,” and the celestial man a “likeness” or similitude. In this chapter, the spiritual man is treated of; in the following, the celestial. The spiritual man, who is an “image,” is called by the Lord “a son of light”, as in John,

He that walketh in the darkness knoweth now whither he goeth. While ye have the light, believe in the light, that ye may be sons of light.(John 12:35-36).

He is called also a “friend:”

Ye are My friends if ye do whatsoever I command you (John 15:14-15).

But the celestial man, who is a “likeness” is called a “son of God” in John:

As many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on His name; who were born not of bloods, ¹ nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:12-13).

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