THE EXPLANATION of Isaiah Chapter 54

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

1. SING, O you barren, that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and exult, you that didst not travail: for more are the sons of the desolate than the sons of the married woman, says Jehovah.

VERSE 1. Treating of the advent of the Lord, and of the New Church to be established by Him among the Gentiles, who are understood by "the barren, who did not bear", and by "the desolate, who shall have many sons." They are called "barren", because they knew not the Lord, neither had the Word, where Truths are; wherefore they could not be regenerated. "Sons" denote Truths from the Lord by the Word. The church which is in possession of the Word, from which the Lord is known, is understood by "the married, who has no sons"; the joy of those who are of the New Church; and who before had not Truths, is signified by "her breaking forth in to singing, and exulting, who did not travail", - to "travail" denotes to have in the womb, Inasmuch as "mother" signified the church, and "sons" and "daughters" its Truths and Goods, and whereas in the ancient churches; and afterwards in the Jewish church, all things were representative, and thence significative, therefore it was a disgrace and a reproach for women to be barren; on which account Rachel was angry with Jacob, because she did not bear children, arid said, when she brought forth Joseph, "God has taken away my reproach." (Genesis 30:1, 23)

For the same reason, after Elizabeth had conceived, she said "Thus has the Lord done to me in the days wherein He looked on me, to take away my reproach amongst men." (Luke 1:25) Apocalypse Explained 721.

Verses 1-3. These words treat of the church about to be established among the Gentiles which is called "barren", and which "did not bear", because they were without Truths from the Word; of which church it is said that "the sons should be more than the sons of the married woman, because its Truths would be more numerous than the Truths of the former church now devastated, for "sons" signify Truths. To "enlarge the place of the tent", signifies the holy principle of worship from the Good of love; to "stretch out the curtains of the habitations, denotes the holy principle of worship from the Truths of faith. Arcana Coelestia 9595.

To "enlarge the place of the tent", is to enlarge those things which are of the church, thus the doctrine of what is Good and True from the Word, and hence those things which are of worship. To "stretch out or to expand the curtains of the habitations", is to multiply Truths; that "curtains" are the Truths of the church, may be seen in Arcana Coelestia 9596. The "barren" are those who were not before in the Goods and Truths of the church. Arcana Coelestia 10545.

Verses 1, 5, 6, 13. In these verses occur expressions which have relation to marriage such as being "barren", "not bearing", :" not travailing"; "the sons of the desolate and of the married woman"; "the reproach or shame of widowhood"; "as a woman forsaken and afflicted in spirit"; "the wife of [one's] youth", etc. The reason why these terms occur is, because the conjunction of what is Good and True is represented by "marriage"; hence, in the spiritual sense, these expressions involve something relating to the marriage of what is Good and True, and to the perversions of that marriage. See Arcana Coelestia 443.

2. Enlarge the place of your tent; and let them stretch forth the curtains of your habitations: spare not; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes;

Verses 2, 3. Lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes; for on the right hand and on the left you shalt break forth, etc. - The establishment of the church amongst the Gentiles is here treated of. By "enlarging the place of the tent", is signified the increase of the church as to worship from Good; by "stretching out the curtains of the habitations", is denoted the increase of the church as to the Truths of doctrine; by "lengthening the cords", is understood their extension; by "strengthening the stakes", is meant their confirmation from the Word.

By "breaking forth on the right hand and on the left", is signified amplification as to the Good of charity, and as to the Truth of faith, "on the right" as to the Good of charity, and "on the left" as to the Truth of faith from that Good.

By "the seed which shall inherit the nations", is understood the Truth by which Goods are acquired, - "seed" is Truth, and "nations" are Goods; and by "the desolate cities which they would cause the nations to inhabit, are understood Truths from Goods of life, "desolate cities" are the Truths of doctrine where before there were no Truths, "nations" are the Goods of life from which are Truths, and to "dwell" or to be "inhabited" is to live. Apocalypse Explained 600. See also 223.

To" lengthen the cords" and to "strengthen the stakes" signifies the more ample connection and confirmation of Truths; for by "cords" is understood the conjunction of Truths, and by "stakes" their confirmation. Arcana Coelestia 9777. See also Apocalypse Explained 799.

As to the meaning of "cords" find "stakes", and the reason "why a "tent" and a "tabernacle" signify the holy principle of worship, see Chapter 33:20, the Exposition.

3. For on the right hand, and on the left, you shalt break forth; and your seed shall inherit the nations, and they shall cause the desolate cities to be inhabited.

Verse 3. By "the seed which shall inherit the nations", is signified the Divine Truth which shall be given to the nations; by "breaking forth on the right and on the left", is denoted the extension and multiplication of Goods and Truths, - by the "right" is understood Truth which is in light, and by the "left" Truth which is in the shade, because, in the spiritual world, to the right is the south, where those are who are in the clear light of Truth, and to the left is the north, where those are who fire in the obscure light of Truth.

By "causing the desolate cities to be "inhabited", is signified their life according to divine Truths, which were previously destroyed; "cities" are the Truths of doctrine from the Word; to be "inhabited" means to live according to those Truths; "desolate cities" signify those Truths previously destroyed, namely, among the Jewish people. Apocalypse Explained 768.

4. Fear not; for you shalt not be confounded: and blush not; for you shalt not be brought to reproach: for you shalt forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you shalt remember no more,

Verse 4. See the Exposition of Isaiah Chapter 24:23.

You shalt forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you shalt remember no more- The "reproach of widowhood" is predicated of the church when not in Truth, because not in Good, and consequently in the false. Arcana Coelestia 4844.

5. For your Husband is your Maker; Jehovah of Hosts is His name: and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall He be called.

Verse 5. The Lord, from Divine Good, is called "Husband and Bridegroom"; and His kingdom and church, from the reception of the Divine Truth which proceeds from the Lord, is called "wife and bride." Arcana Coelestia 9198.

6. For as a woman forsaken and afflicted in spirit has Jehovah called you; and as a wife of youth, when you wast rejected, says your God.

7. For a small moment have I forsaken you; but with great mercies will I gather you:

Verses 6, 7. Here by "a woman forsaken and afflicted in spirit", is understood the church which is not in Truths, but still in the affection or desire for them, - "Woman" denoting the church, which is said to be "forsaken" when it is not in Truths, and "afflicted in spirit" when in grief from the affection or desire for Truths; by "a wife of youth", is denoted the ancient church, which was in Truths from affection; and by the same, when "repudiated or rejected", is understood the Jewish church, which was not in Truths from any spiritual affection. The establishment of a New Church by the Lord, and liberation from spiritual captivity, is signified by "For a small moment have I forsaken you; but with great mercies will I gather you." Apocalypse Explained 555.

8. In an inundation of anger I hid My face for a moment from you; but with everlasting kindness will I have Mercy on you, says your Redeemer Jehovah.

Verse 8. An "inundation of anger" signifies temptation, in which evils cause anguish and torment; because the Lord appears not to have mercy, it is said, "I hid my face for a moment from you." That the "face of Jehovah" is the Divine Love, is evident from the Lord's face "when He appeared transfigured before Peter, James and John that is, when He showed to them His Divine, and when "His face shone as the sun"; (Matthew 17:2) that the "Sun" is the Divine Love, was shown above. The Lord is never "angry", nor does He "turn away" or "hide His face", but it is so said from the appearance with the man who is In evil; for the man who is in evil turns himself away, and hides the Lord's face from himself, that is, removes from himself the Lord s mercy. This is evident from many passages, but especially from the following:

"Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you." (Isaiah 59:2) Arcana Coelestia 5585, 6997.

9. For this is [as] the waters of Noah unto Me: when I swore that the waters of Noah should no more pass over the earth; so have I sworn that I will not be wroth with you, nor rebuke you.

Verse 9. When I sware that the waters of Noah should no more pass over the earth, etc. - The "waters of Noah" were the false principles and persuasions which destroyed the most ancient church. What is meant by "Jehovah's swearing", see Chapter 45:23, the Exposition.

10. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills shall be removed; but My loving-kindness shall not depart from you, and the covenant of My peace shall not be removed, says Jehovah who has mercy on you.

Verse 10. Where it is evident that it is not the mountains and hills upon the earth which shall "depart or recede, and be removed", but those who are in evil loves and in falsities thence derived; for the subject here treated of is concerning the nations or Gentiles, of whom a New Church was to be formed: wherefore by the "mountains" and "hills" are more especially understood those of the former church, consequently the Jews, with whom were mere evils of the false and falsities of evil, by reason of their being immersed in tbe loves of self and of the world. Apocalypse Explained 405.

Verses 10, 13. The subject here treated of is concerning the New Heaven and the New Church. The former heaven and the former church, which should perish, are understood by "the mountains which shall depart or recede, and the hills which shall be removed." That they who are in the New Heaven and in the New Church will be in Good from the Lord, and possess heavenly joy to eternity, by conjunction with Him, is signified by " My loving-kindness shall not depart [or recede] from you", and "the covenant of My peace shall not be removed"; "loving-kindness" or mercy signifies Good from the Lord, and the "covenant of peace" heavenly joy derived from conjunction with the Lord, - a "covenant" denoting conjunction.

By "the sons who shall be taught by Jehovah, and who shall have much peace", are understood those in the New Heaven and in the New Church, who will be principled in Truths originating in Good from the Lord, and enjoy eternal beatitude and felicity; "sons" in the Word, signifying Truths originating in Good, or those who are principled therein; their being "taught by Jehovah" denoting that those Truths are from the Lord; and "much peace" signifying eternal beatitude and felicity. Apocalypse Explained 365.

11. O you afflicted, tossed about with tempest, not comforted, behold, I will lay your stones in stibium, and your foundations with sapphires.

Verses 11-13. These things are said of "the barren, who brought not forth", and "who should have many sons"; and by the "barren" are signified the Gentiles who had not divine Truths, because they had not the Word, whence they are called "the afflicted, tossed about with tempest, and not comforted"; to be "afflicted and tossed about with tempest" is predicated of the falsities by which they were infested and carried every way. That the Lord, when He came, would reveal to them living Truths, and instruct them, is signified by "I will lay your stones in stibium, and your foundations with sapphires", &.c. That by the "precious stones", here mentioned, are understood divine Truths in the ultimate of order, such as are those of the literal sense of the Word, in which are contained internal Truths, such as are those in the spiritual sense of the Word, is evident; for by the "foundations", "gates", and "borders", which were to be laid with those stones are signified ultimate principles, whence it follows that, in the above passage, by "stones" in general, and by "sapphires", "carbuncles" and "fire-stones" [or rubies], are signified such Truths as are in the literal sense of the Word, which are ultimate Truths, because for the natural and sensual man. Inasmuch as the instruction of the Gentiles in divine Truths is here understood, therefore it follows, "And all your sons shall be taught by Jehovah"; but what is specifically signified by the sapphire", "carbuncle", and "fire-stone", it is not necessary to explain In this place, only that "precious stones" in general signify ultimate Truths. Apocalypse Explained 717. See also Arcana Coelestia 9407, 9643, 9873.

12. And I will make your windows of rubies, and your gates of stones of carbuncle; and all your borders of pleasant stones:

Verse 12. These things are said of the Gentiles out of the church, from whom a New Church was to be established by the Lord. By "I will make your suns as rubies" is signified that Goods shall be brilliant from the fire of love; "suns" here denoting the Goods of love, and the "ruby" denotes a brilliance as from fire.

By "I will make your gates of carbuncles", is signified that Truths shall be resplendent from Good; "gates" denoting introductory Truths, specifically the doctrinals which are derived from Good, for all Truths of doctrine, which are genuine, proceed from Good, and are of Good; and "stones of carbuncle" signify their splendour from Good, - all "precious stones" signifying Truths derived from Good, and the colour, splendour, and fire thereof indicating the quality of Truth from Good.

By "all your borders shall be of pleasant stones", is signified that the scientific Truths which appertain to the natural man shall be pleasant and delightful from Good; for by a "border" is understood the same as by a "foundation", and this is the natural man, forasmuch as in the things which are therein the Goods and Truths of the spiritual man are terminated; and "pleasant stones" denote Truths that are pleasant and delightful from Good. The nature and quality of the Goods and Truths of the Word, which will be with those who are of the New Church, is therefore described in this passage. That the "sun" signifies the Good of love, is also evident from the circumstance of their being called, "suns" in the plural number. Apocalypse Explained 401.

I will make [or set] your suns [windows] of rubies, etc. - Here, instead of windows, "suns" are mentioned, from light, because it is let in or transmitted thereby, "Suns" or "windows" are intellectual things, and, indeed, from charity, wherefore they are compared to the "ruby." The "gates" are the rational things hence derived: and the "borders" are the scientific and sensual principles; for the Lord's church is here treated of. Arcana Coelestia 655. See the note.

13. And all your sons shall be taught by Jehovah; and great shall be the peace of your sons.

14. In justice shalt you be established: you shalt be far from oppression; for you shalt not fear it: and from terror; for it shall not come near you.

15. Behold, they shall be leagued together, but not by Me: whosoever is leagued against you shall fall because of you.

Verse 13. There is a spiritual idea, of which few have any knowledge, which enters by influx into the minds of those who are in the affection of Truth, and dictates interiorly, whether the thing which they are hearing or reading is true or not. In this idea are those who read the Word in illumination from the Lord. To be in illumination is to be in perception and thence in an internal acknowledgement that that which they hear or read [in the Word] is true. Those who are in this illumination are said to be "taught by Jehovah"; (Isaiah 54:13; John 6:45), and of them it is said in Jeremiah

"Behold, the days come that I will make a new covenant; - this shall be the covenant: I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and they shall no more teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know you Jehovah: for they shall all know Me." (Jeremiah 31:31, 33, 34)

From these considerations it is plain that Faith and Truth are a one. This also is the reason that the ancients, who were more accustomed to think of Truth from affection than the moderns, instead of Faith used the word "Truth", and for the same reason, in the Hebrew language, Truth and Faith are expressed by one and the same word, namely, Amuna or Amen. Doctrine of Faith 5, 6.

16. Behold, I have created the smith who blows the coals in the fire, and produces an instrument for his work; and I have created the destroyer to lay waste.

17. No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that rises up against you in judgment you shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of Jehovah; and their justice is from Me, says Jehovah.

Verse 16. See Chapter 44:10, 12, the Exposition; see also Chapter 45:7, the Exposition, in which it is explained how all things, both good and evil, are said to be "created" by God.

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Isaiah Chapter 54.

1. Sing, O you barren, that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and exult, you that didst not travail: for more are the sons of the desolate than the sons of the married woman, says Jehovah.

2. Enlarge the place of your tent; and let them stretch forth the curtains of your habitations: spare not; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes;

3. For on the right hand, and on the left, you shalt break forth; and your seed shall inherit the nations, and they shall cause the desolate cities to be inhabited.

4. Fear not; for you shalt not be confounded: and blush not; for you shalt not be brought to reproach: for you shalt forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you shalt remember no more,

5. For your Husband is your Maker; Jehovah of Hosts is His name: and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall He be called.

6. For as a woman forsaken and afflicted in spirit has Jehovah called you; and as a wife of youth, when you wast rejected, says your God.

7. For a small moment have I forsaken you; but with great mercies will I gather you:

8. In an inundation of anger I hid My face for a moment from you; but with everlasting kindness will I have Mercy on you, says your Redeemer Jehovah.

9. For this is [as] the waters of Noah unto Me: when I sware that the waters of Noah should no more pass over the earth; so have I sworn that I will not be wroth with you, nor rebuke you.

10. For the mountains shall depart, and the hills shall be removed; but My loving-kindness shall not depart from you, and the covenant of My peace shall not be removed, says Jehovah who has mercy on you.

11. O you afflicted, tossed about with tempest, not comforted, behold, I will lay your stones in stibium, and your foundations with sapphires.

12. And I will make your windows of rubies, and your gates of stones of carbuncle; and all your borders of pleasant stones:

13. And all your sons shall be taught by Jehovah; and great shall be the peace of your sons.

14. In justice shalt you be established: you shalt be far from oppression; for you shalt not fear it: and from terror; for it shall not come near you.

15. Behold, they shall be leagued together, but not by Me: whosoever is leagued against you shall fall because of you.

16. Behold, I have created the smith who blows the coals in the fire, and produces an instrument for his work; and I have created the destroyer to lay waste.

17. No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that rises up against you in judgment you shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of Jehovah; and their justice is from Me, says Jehovah.

9198. 'Any widow' means those who have good that is without truth, and still have a desire for truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'a widow' as good that is without truth and nevertheless has a desire for truth. The reason why 'a widow' has this meaning is that 'a man' (vir) means truth and his 'wife' (mulier) good, so that when this man's wife has become a widow she means good that is without truth. But in an even more internal sense than this 'a widow' means truth that is without good, the reason being that in that sense 'a husband' (maritus) means good and his 'wife' (uxor) truth, see 3236, 4510, 4823. In this sense the Lord by virtue of His Divine Good is called 'Husband' and 'Bridegroom', while His kingdom and Church by virtue of its acceptance of Divine Truth that emanates from the Lord is called 'wife' and 'bride', 9182. But since the subject now is not the Lord's celestial Church but His spiritual Church, 'a widow' means one who has good but not truth, and still has a desire for truth. It is similar with 'an orphan'. In the inmost or celestial sense 'an orphan' means those who have good and a desire for truth. See what has been introduced and explained in 4844 regarding the meaning of 'a widow' and 'an orphan' in the celestial sense. To this let what the Lord says in Luke about the widow in Zarephath be added,

Truly I say to you that no prophet is accepted in his own country. In truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, while there was a great famine over the whole land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them, except to Zarephath of Sidon, to a woman - a widow. Luke 4:24-26.

[2] Since the Divine was the source of all the things spoken by the Lord they have an inner meaning; and the subject in that inner meaning is the Lord Himself, also His kingdom and the Church. Therefore what the Lord meant on that level of meaning by the things He said about the widow in Zarephath of Sidon may be seen if brought out into the open.

No prophet is accepted in his own country

This means that the Lord and Divine Truth that comes from Him are less well received and loved in people's hearts within the Church than outside it. The Lord spoke these words to the Jews, among whom the Church existed at that time; and as is well known, the Lord was less well received there than by gentiles who were outside the Church. The situation is similar in the Church at the present day, which takes its name Christian from Him. In this Church the Lord is indeed received in what it teaches; yet few accept Him by acknowledging Him in their heart, fewer still doing so with love and affection. The acceptance of Him by gentiles outside the Church who have been converted is different. They worship and adore Him as their one and only God; they declare with their lips and contemplate in their hearts that they acknowledge Him as their God, since He has appeared in human form, 5256. A contrary attitude exists within the Church. Here, because He was born a human being, there is scarcely any acknowledgement of Him as God in people's hearts. They make His Humanity like their own, even though they know that His Father was Jehovah and not a human being. All this shows what 'No prophet is accepted in his own country' has been used to mean in the internal sense. In this sense 'a prophet' means the Lord in respect of Divine Truth, and so in respect of the teachings of the Church. For the meaning of 'a prophet' as one who teaches, and in the abstract sense as doctrinal teachings, and - when it is used in reference to the Lord - as Divine Truth or the Word, see above in 9188 (end).

[3] There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah

In the internal sense this means the situation at that time, when God's truth coming from the Word was acknowledged in the Church. 'Widows' are those who have good that is without truth, as stated above; 'Elijah' is the Lord in respect of the Word, 'the days of Elijah' being the situation or state at that time, when God's truth coming from the Word was received; and 'Israel' is the Church.

'Elijah' represented the Lord in respect of the Word, see Preface to Genesis 18, and 2762, 5247 (end), 8029. 'Days' are states, 893, 2788, 3462, 3785, 4850, 6110, 8426. 'Israel' is the Church, 4286, 6426, 6637, 8805.

[4] When the heaven was closed for three years and six months

This means the internal Church completely laid waste, 'the heaven' meaning the internal aspect of the Church, and 'three years and six months' meaning to completeness. For the meaning of 'the heaven' as the internal aspect of the Church, see 1733, 1850, 3355, 4535. It is said to be 'closed' when it has been laid waste and exists no longer. As regards the meaning of 'three years and six months' as to completeness, this is clear from the meaning of '1260 days' in Revelation 11:3; 12:6 - this number of days making up three years and six months - as to completeness or right to the end. It is clear likewise from the meaning of 'three days and a half', Revelation 11:9-11, and also of 'a time and times and half a time' in Revelation 12:14, and in Daniel 12:7 too, as to completeness or right to the end.

[5] While there was a great famine over the whole land

This means the external Church also laid waste, for 'a famine' is an absence and want of truth and good, 3364, 5277, 5279, 5281, 5300, 5360, 5376, 5415, 5576, 6110, 7102, and 'the land' or 'the earth' is the external Church, 1262, 1413, 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118 (end), 3355, 4535, 5577, 8011, 8732.

Yet Elijah was sent to none of them

This means the Lord in respect of the Word, thus the Lord's Word, not sent to others, because it would not have been received elsewhere, 'Elijah' being, as stated above, the Lord in respect of the Word.

[6] Except to Zarephath of Sidon, to a woman - a widow

This means sent only to those who have good and a desire for truth. The description 'Zarephath of Sidon' is used because 'Sidon' means cognitions or knowledge of goodness and truth, 1201. The fact that 'a woman - a widow' means one who has good and a desire for truth is evident from this, and especially from what is recorded about her in the first Book of Kings,

Elijah came to Zarephath of Sidon, to a woman - a widow - to sustain him. He told her to bring him a little water to drink, and then to bring him a small piece of bread in her hand. She said that she had a tiny amount of flour in a jar, and a tiny amount of oil in a flask, to make just a cake for herself and her son. Elijah said, Make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and make one for yourself and your son after that. She did so; and the jar of flour was not used up, and the flask of oil did not fail. 1 Kings 17:9-15.

[7] Obedience, and the desire that good has for truth, is described by her giving the prophet water, as she had been commanded to do, and then by her making a cake for him first from the little she had, and for herself and her son after that. Consequent enrichment in the good of truth is meant when it says that the pot of flour was not used up and the flask of oil did not fail.

'Water' in the internal sense is truth, 2702, 3058, 3424, 4976, 5668, 8568. 'Flour' is truth derived from good, 2177. 'Oil is the good of love, 886, 4582, 4638. 'A cake' made from these ingredients is truth joined to its own good, 7978.

From all this it is plain that 'a widow' means one who has good and a desire for truth. Good and its desire for truth is described by her charity towards the prophet, greater than towards herself and her son, 'a prophet' being teachings that present truth, as has been shown above.

[8] All that has been said here shows what the Word is like, that it conceals within itself the arcana of heaven, which are not visible in the letter. But every detail of what the Lord spoke when He was in the world, and of what He spoke before that through prophets, contains heavenly and Divine matters on a level altogether above the sense of the letter. And not only individual words contain those matters, but even the individual letters of words, indeed the individual parts of each letter. But is there anyone who believes this to be so? Yet it is most certainly so; it has been proved to me beyond all doubt, as in the Lord's Divine mercy will be shown elsewhere.