6172. 'And were fruitful, and multiplied exceedingly' means resulting forms of the good of charity and resulting truths of faith. This is clear from the meaning of 'being fruitful' as bringing forth forms of the good of charity, and from the meaning of 'multiplying' as bringing forth truths of faith, dealt with in 43, 55, 913, 983, 2846, 2847. For the expression 'to be fruitful' is derived from the word 'fruits', by which the works of charity are meant in the internal sense, while the expression 'to be multiplied' is derived from the word 'multitude', which in the internal sense is used to refer to the truths of faith, since 'much' (multum) refers in the Word to truths, but 'great' to forms of good.

Title: Famine

Topic: Salvation

Summary: We look at passages on famine—a force that often seems to move the scriptural story along—and ponder their meaning for our lives.

Use the reference links below to follow along in the Bible as you watch.

References:
Genesis 12:9-10; 26:1; 41:25, 29, 38, 53-57; 47:3
Ruth 1:1
2 Samuel 21:1, 3; 24:13
1 Kings 8:37-39
2 Kings 8:1
Job 5:15, 17, 20, 24
Psalms 33:18-19; 105:16-17
Isaiah 29:7-8; 58:3, 10, 12
Jeremiah 52:5-6
Ezekiel 36:26, Ezekiel 36:31-39
Amos 8:11
Matthew 24:3, 6, 12
Luke 4:24, 26-28; 15:11, 13
Acts of the Apostles 7:11; 11:27-30
Romans 8:35-39
Revelation 6:8
Matthew 5:6
John 6:27, 31-32, 35