9657. Unto one ring. That this signifies thus endurance, is evident from the signification of a “ring,” as being conjunction (see n. 9493, 9495), here endurance through conjunction, because it is said that “the planks shall be twinned unto one ring.”

9495. And two rings shall be on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it. That this signifies the marriage of truth with good and of good with truth, is evident from the signification of “rings,” as being the conjunction or marriage of good with truth (as above, n. 9493). This marriage is reciprocal, that is, of truth with good and of good with truth. An idea of this marriage may be had from the conjunction of the heart and the lungs. The heart conjoins itself with the lungs, and the lungs in turn conjoin themselves with the heart; for the heart from its right side sends forth blood into the lungs, and the lungs in turn send it back into the heart; but into its left side, and so on continually. Such also is the marriage in heaven of good with truth and of truth with good, where also the heart corresponds to the good which is of love, and the lungs to the truth which is of faith (n. 3883-3896, 9300). That two rings were to be on the one side and two rings on the other side, was because “two” signifies conjunction (n. 1686, 5194, 8423), and “the side” signifies the good that is to be conjoined with truth, in order that there may be power therefrom (concerning which see the following article).