5276. Of great abundance of produce in all the land of Egypt. That this signifies the multiplication of truth in both naturals, is evident from the signification of “abundance of produce,” as being the multiplication of truth (of which presently); and from the signification of the “land of Egypt,” as being both naturals. For by “Egypt” is signified memory-knowledge (see n. 1164-1165, 1186, 1462, 4749, 4964, 4966); and as memory-knowledge is signified, so too is the natural, for the reason that what is in the natural is called memory-knowledge; and therefore the “land of Egypt” is the natural mind in which is memory-knowledge. Hence by “all the land of Egypt” is signified both the interior and the exterior natural (that the natural is both interior and exterior may be seen above, n. 5118, 5126). That “abundance of produce” signifies a multiplication of truth, is because it is contrasted with famine, which signifies a lack of truth. The term by which “abundance of produce” is expressed in the original tongue is one that expresses the opposite of famine, and in the internal sense signifies a full store and sufficiency of knowledges, because “famine” signifies a lack of them. Knowledges are nothing else than the truths of the natural man, but which have not yet been made his own; the multiplication of such truths is here meant. Knowledges do not become truths in man until they are acknowledged by the understanding, which takes place when they are confirmed by him; and these truths do not become his own until he lives according to them; for nothing is made man’s own except that which becomes of his life, for thus he himself is in the truths, because his life is in them.

5118. And Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand. That this signifies the influx of the interior natural into the exterior, and the beginning of reception, is evident from the representation of Pharaoh, as being the interior natural (of which above, n. 5080, 5095); and from the representation of the butler, as being the exterior natural (n. 5077, 5082); “in my hand” meaning with him; and from the signification of a “cup,” as being that which contains, and also at the same time that which is contained (of which in what follows, n. 5120). Hence, and from the series of things in the internal sense, by “Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand” is signified the influx of the interior natural into the exterior, and the beginning of reception therein. What the interior natural is, and what the exterior, has been stated above, namely, that the interior natural is that which communicates with the rational and into which the rational flows, and the exterior natural is that which communicates with the senses, or through them with the world, thus into which the world flows. As regards influx, it is continuous from the Lord through the rational into the interior natural, and through this into the exterior; but that which flows in is changed and turned according to the reception. With the unregenerate, goods are there turned into evils, and truths into falsities; but with the regenerate, goods and truths are there presented as in a mirror. For the natural is like a face representative of the spiritual things of the internal man; and this face becomes representative when the exteriors correspond to the interiors. From this it may in some measure appear what is meant by the influx of the interior natural into the exterior, and by the beginning of reception therein.