THE EXPLANATION of Isaiah Chapter 4

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

1. AND seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, Our own bread will we eat, and with our own raiment will we be clothed: only let us be called by your name, to take away our reproach.

VERSE 1. The subject here treated of is concerning the end of the church, when there is no longer any truth, for these words precede, "Your men shall fall by the sword, and your strength in the war", by which is signified that the understanding of truth would be destroyed by falsities, so that there would be no longer resistance in combats; and it follows "In that day the Germ of Jehovah shall be for beauty and glory", which being said concerning the advent of the Lord, signifies that truth should spring up anew in the church; by "seven women taking hold of one man", is signified that from affection they would desire and seek Truth, but would not find it; "man" (ish) denoting Truth; "women", affections or desires for Truth and "seven", what is holy. That they would not find instruction in genuine Truths, and thereby spiritual nourishment, is signified by their saying - "Our own bread will we eat and with our own raiment will we be clothed"; "bread" denoting instruction and spiritual nourishment; and "raiment", truth clothing good. That it is only [genuine] Truth which can be applied, and by application conjoined, is signified by "only let us be called by your name", or "let your name be named upon us"; and inasmuch as all honour is from the spiritual affection of Truth and the conjunction thence derived, and as otherwise there is no honour, therefore it is said - "Take away our reproach." Apocalypse Explained 555.

Seven women. - The ground and reason why the number "seven" signifies holy things, or what is holy, and, in an opposite sense, what is profane, is from, the signification of numbers in the world of spirits. In that world every number involves something. Numbers both simple and compound have occasionally appeared visibly to me, once also in a long series, and I wondered what they signified, and it was said that they existed from angelic discourse. ["Women", whether called daughters or virgins, signify either the affections of Truth or of Good, according to the subject, whether Zion or Jerusalem, etc., with which they are mentioned. See above, Chapter 1:8, the Exposition.]

This was known to the most ancient people who were celestial men, and discoursed with angels, and hence they formed ecclesiastical computation by numbers, whereby they expressed as to universals those things which by words they expressed as to particulars. But what each number had involved, did not remain with posterity, only what was signified by the simple numbers, as two, three, six, seven, eight, twelve, and hence twenty-four, seventy-two, and seventy-seven, especially that by "seven" is signified what is most holy, namely, in the supreme sense, the Divine Itself, and, in the representative sense, the celestial principle of love. Hence it is that the state of the celestial man was signified by the "seventh" or Sabbath day, as shown above, Arcana Coelestia 84-87. Arcana Coelestia 5205.

Let us be called by your name. - To be called by a "name", in the Word, signifies to be imbued with the nature and quality of him by whose name we are called. Thus to be called a Christian means to be imbued with the nature and quality of Christ. Those who separate the name from the nature, or who live not in agreement with the precepts and nature of Him by whose name they are called, are Christians in name only and not in reality, and cannot have "their names (which means the quality of faith, and charity from the Lord, Arcana Coelestia 6674) written in heaven"; (Luke 10:20) that is, cannot, be saved, because by an evil life they have contracted a nature contrary to that which prevails in heaven. To have "the Lord's new name written upon us", (Revelation 3:12) is to be so imbued with His nature and spirit as to worship Him alone. See Apocalypse Revealed 196. See also Arcana Coelestia 2009. Apocalypse Explained 256, 436, 563, 806.

2. In that day shall the Germ of Jehovah be for beauty and glory, and the fruit of the land for magnificence and for adornment to the escaped of Israel.

Verse 2. The "Germ of Jehovah which shall be for beauty and glory", signifies the Truth of the church; and the "fruit of the land which shall be for magnificence and adornment", signifies the Good of the church: as "Israel" signifies the spiritual church, it is evident that it is Truth and Good, and not the "germ and fruit of the land" which shall be for "beauty, glory, magnificence, and adornment." When it is said that "Truth and Good are of the church", the truth of faith and the good of love are understood, for all truth is of faith and all good is of love. Apocalypse Explained 304.

For beauty and glory, for magnificence and adornments - It should be known that all things in the Lord's kingdom have relation either to Goodness or to Truth, that is, to those things which are of love, and which are of the faith which has charity for its ground. Those things which have relation to Goodness, or which are of love, are called celestial; but the things which have relation to Truth, or which are of faith springing from charity, are called spiritual. Inasmuch a in all things of the Word, even in the most minute particulars, the Lord's kingdom is treated of, and, in the supreme sense, the Lord Himself; and as the Lord's kingdom is the marriage of Goodness and Truth, which is the heavenly marriage, and as in the Lord is the Divine Marriage from which the heavenly marriage comes, therefore that marriage is in all things of the Word, which is especially obvious in the Prophets and in the Psalms, where repetitions of the same thing occur with only a change of expressions or words; such as "joy and gladness", "nations and peoples", "beauty and glory", "magnificence and adornment", etc. But these repetitions are by no means empty tautologies, for one expression signifies what is celestial, namely, that which is of love or goodness, and the other what is spiritual, namely, that which is of the faith of charity or of truth. Hence it is evident how the heavenly marriage, that is, the Lord's kingdom, is in every particular of the Word, and, in the supreme sense, the Divine Marriage itself, or the Lord. Arcana Coelestia 4137.

3. And it shall come to pass, whosoever is left in Zion, and remains in Jerusalem, shall be called holy; every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem :

Verses 2, 3. The escaped of Israel, the left in Zion, and he that remains in Jerusalem, etc. Mention is made of "remains " and also of "residues" in the Word throughout, but by the former and the latter have been understood only remains and residues of a people or nation according to the letter, whilst it has been heretofore altogether unknown that, in the spiritual sense, they signify goods and truths in the interior man stored up by the Lord, as in the following passages: "In that day shall the Germ of Jehovah be for beauty and glory, and the fruit of the land for magnificence and for adornment to the escaped of Israel; and it shall come to pass, whosoever is left in Zion, and remains in Jerusalem, shall be called holy; every one written for life, or among the living in Jerusalem." (Isaiah 4:2, 3) "They that were left in Zion, and they that remained in Jerusalem" were in no wise made "holy", nor more "written for life" or "among the living" than the rest; whence it is plain that by those who were "left" and who were "remaining", are meant the things that were "holy and written for life", or "among the living", which things are Goods conjoined to Truths in the interior man, stored up by the Lord. Arcana Coelestia 5897.

Deliverance is effected by remains, that is, by Goods and Truths stored up with man by the Lord; they who receive those Goods and Truths, that is, who suffer them to be implanted in their interiors, escape damnation, and are amongst the residues. Hence it is that mention is made of "the escaped" in the Word throughout, where "residues and remains" are spoken of, as in Isaiah 4:2, 3. Arcana Coelestia 5899.

[In respect to remains, see also above, Chapter 1:9, the Exposition.]

4. When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion; and shall have purged the bloods of Jerusalem from the midst of her, by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.

Verse 4. To "wash away the filth of the daughters of Zion", signifies to purify the affections of those who are of the celestial church from the evils of the love of self; "filth" denoting the evil of the love of self; "daughters", the affections; and "Zion", the church principled in love to the Lord, which is thence called the celestial church. To "purge the bloods of Jerusalem", signifies to purify the same from the falsities of evil; "by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning", signifies by the understanding of truth and by the affection of truth; "spirit" denoting the Divine Truth proceeding from the Lord; the "spirit of judgment", the understanding of truth thence derived; and the "spirit of burning", the spiritual affection of truth, for it is this which produces expurgation. Apocalypse Explained 475.

Inasmuch as by "blood", in the genuine sense, is signified the holy [principle], so in the opposite sense, by "blood" and "bloods", are signified those things which occasion violence to it, and indeed from this ground, because by "shedding innocent blood" is signified to violate what is holy; on which account also wicked principles of life and profane principles of worship were called "bloods." That "blood" and "bloods" have such a signification, is evident from the following passage, Isaiah 4:4. Arcana Coelestia 4735 Arcana Coelestia 4735[1-15].

5. And Jehovah shall create upon every dwelling-place of Mount Zion, and upon all her assemblies, a cloud by day, and smoke; and the brightness of a flaming fire by night: and over all the Glory shall be a covering.

Verse 5. By "Zion" is also signified the church, as to the Word; the internal or spiritual sense of the Word, as to good, is understood by the "dwelling-place" thereof; the external or literal sense, as to truths, is understood by the "cloud by day", and as to good, by the "brightness of a flaming fire by night." This sense, forasmuch as it covers and is the repository of the spiritual sense, is called" a covering over all the Glory", denoting the spiritual sense. These are also said to be "created", because they are the truths of heaven and the church. Apocalypse Explained 294.

By the "dwelling-place of Mount Zion" is signified the good of the celestial church, and by the "assemblies" thereof are signified the truths of that good; the defence thereof lest it should be hurt from too much light or from too much shade, is signified by "the cloud in the daytime and by the smoke, and by the brightness of a flaming fire in the night"; and inasmuch as all spiritual good and truth is preserved from being hurt by natural good and truth, therefore it is said that "over all the Glory shall be a covering"; "glory" denoting spiritual good and truth. Apocalypse Explained 594.

6. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge, and a covert from storm and from rain.

Verse 6. As a "tabernacle" denotes the ultimate of Divine Truth which hides the interiors, its being , "for a shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge against inundation or storm and rain", denotes that man may be safe and not hurt. AC 9433.

Guard to prevent hurt from too much light or too much shade, is signified by "a cloud by day and by smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night"; wherefore it is said that "over all the Glory shall be a covering", and that "the tabernacle shall be for a shade during the day from heat"; lest falsities should break in, ill consequence of too much light or too much shade, is signified by its "being in refuge and covert against inundation or storm and rain"; "inundation" and "rain" denoting the irruption of falsities. Apocalypse Explained 504

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Isaiah Chapter 4

1. AND seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, Our own bread will we eat, and with our own raiment will we be clothed: only let us be called by your name, to take away our reproach.

2. In that day shall the Germ of Jehovah be for beauty and glory, and the fruit of the land for magnificence and for adornment to the escaped of Israel.

3. And it shall come to pass, whosoever is left in Zion, and remains in Jerusalem, shall be called holy; every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem :

4. When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion; and shall have purged the bloods of Jerusalem from the midst of her, by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.

5. And Jehovah shall create upon every dwelling-place of Mount Zion, and upon all her assemblies, a cloud by day, and smoke; and the brightness of a flaming fire by night: and over all the Glory shall be a covering.

6. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge, and a covert from storm and from rain.

196. And they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy, signifies their spiritual life, which they have by means of the knowledges of truth and good from the Word. This is evident from the signification of "to walk," as being to live (See above, n. 97 [1-2]); from the signification of "in white," as being in truths, for "whiteness" and "brightness" in the Word are predicated of truths (of which presently); therefore by these words, "they shall walk with me in white," is signified spiritual life, since spiritual life is the life of truth, that is, a life according to truths, or according to the precepts of the Lord in the Word. This is evident also from the signification of "for they are worthy," as being because they have spiritual life from the Lord. So far as anyone receives from the Lord he is worthy; but so far as he receives from self, that is, from what is his, or from what is his own [proprium] he is not worthy. Nothing else constitutes spiritual life with man but the knowledges of truth and good from the Word applied to life; and they are applied to life when man holds them as the laws of his life, for he then looks to the Lord in everything, and with such the Lord is present, and gives intelligence and wisdom and an affection for them and delight in them. For the Lord is in His truths with man, since every truth proceeds from the Lord, and what proceeds from the Lord that is His, even so that it is He; therefore the Lord says:

I am the truth and the life (John 14:6).

He that doeth the truth cometh to the light, [that his works may be made manifest] that they have been wrought in God (John 3:21).

The Word was with God, and God was the Word. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. That was the true light, that lighteth every man. And the Word was made flesh (John 1:1, 4, 9, 14).

The Lord is called "the Word" because the Word signifies Divine truth; He is also called "the Light" because Divine truth is the light in the heavens; He is also called "the Life," because everything that lives, lives from that life; from that also angels have intelligence and wisdom, in which their life consists. He who would derive life from any other source than from the Divine that proceeds from the Lord, which in heaven is called Divine truth and is there seen as light, is greatly mistaken. From this it can be seen how it is to be understood that "God was the Word," and that "in Him was life, and that the life was the light of men. "

[2] "White" in the Word is predicated of truths, because Divine truth is the light of heaven, as was just said, and whiteness and brightness are from the light of heaven. From this it was:

That when the Lord was transfigured before Peter, James, and John, His face appeared as the sun, and His garments as the light (Matthew 17:2);

And as white, dazzling (Luke 9:29);

And glistering as snow, so as no fuller on earth could whiten (Mark 9:3);

That the angels at the Lord's sepulcher had raiment white as snow (Matthew 28:3);

(Luke 24:4)

And shining (Luke 24:4);

That there appeared to John seven angels from the temple clothed in linen clean and shining (Revelation 15:6);

That those who stood before the throne of the Lamb were clothed in white robes (Revelation 6:11; 7:9, 13-14; 19:8);

That the armies of the One sitting upon the white horse followed Him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean (Revelation 14:14).

From this also it was:

That Aaron had garments of linen, and that he put them on when he went within the veil before the mercy-seat (Leviticus 16:1-5, 32).

"Linen" also signifies truth, because of its whiteness (Arcana Coelestia 7601, 9959). As "white" signifies truth, and truths are what disclose falsities and evil with man and thus purify him, it is said in David:

Behold, Thou desirest truth in the reins, and in the hidden part Thou makest me to know wisdom. Thou shalt purge me with hyssop that I may be made clean; Thou shalt wash me and I shall be whiter than snow (Psalms 51:6-7).

[3] Because the Nazirites represented the Lord in respect to Divine truth in ultimates, which on earth is the Word in the sense of the letter, and this with the Jews was falsified and perverted, it is said of them in Lamentations:

The Nazirites were whiter than snow, they were brighter than milk, their bones were more ruddy than pearls, their polishing was sapphire; but their form is darkened, that they are not known in the streets (Lamentations 4:7-8

(That "Nazirites" represented the Lord in respect to Divine truth, see Arcana Coelestia 6437; that "the crown of the head of the Nazirites" means Divine truths in ultimates, or the Word in the letter, n. 6437, 9407. That the "hair" which was of the Naziriteship, and was called "the crown of the head of the Nazirite," is Divine truth in ultimates, n. 3301, 5247, 10044. That Divine truth in ultimates has strength and power, n. 9836; that therefore the strength of Samson was in his hair, n. 3301.)

[4] From this it is clear what is signified by "the Nazirites were whiter than snow and brighter than milk," and "sapphire was the polishing of their bones; but their form was darkened, that they were not known in the streets;" for "whiteness" and "brightness" signify Divine truth in its light (as was said above); and "bones," as they are man's ultimates, being the supports of his whole body, correspond to ultimates in heaven. (For all things of man correspond, see in the work on Heaven and Hell 87-102; consequently "bones" signify the ultimates in the spiritual world, which are also the ultimates of Divine truth or the Word, Arcana Coelestia 5560-5564, 8005; that "sapphire" signifies what is translucent from truths, n. 9407; and "not to be known in the streets" signifies that Divine truth is no more seen, since "streets" signify where there are truths of doctrine, n. 2336.)