THE EXPLANATION of Isaiah Chapter 60

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

1. ARISE, be you enlightened; for your light is come, and the glory of Jehovah has risen, upon you.

VERSES 1, 2, 3, 20. The advent of the Lord is here treated of. "Light" is the Divine Truth proceeding from the Lord, and "His glory and the brightness of His rising" are all things which appear in that light concerning the Lord, and concerning Faith in Him and Love to Him, "Darkness which shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples", are the obscure things of faith and of love; for the establishment of the church among the Gentiles or nations is the subject treated of. Hence it follows that by the "light" and "glory" which shall arise, and which shall be seen, and according to which they shall walk, are divine Truths concerning the Lord, and concerning faith in Him and love to Him from Him. Arcana Coelestia 10574. See also Arcana Coelestia 5922.

In these verses the Lord is treated of, and the nations are said to "come unto Him", and to "acknowledge Him as their God"; and, what is wonderful, the nations or Gentiles adore one only God under a human form; wherefore when they hear concerning the Lord, they receive and acknowledge Him; nor can the New Church be established amongst others. Arcana Coelestia 9256.

2. For, behold! darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples: but upon You shall Jehovah arise, and His glory shall be seen upon You.

Verses 2, 3. These things are said concerning the Lord. The Divine in Him is understood by "Jehovah shall arise upon You, and His glory shall be seen upon You"; the Divine Good of the Divine Love by "Jehovah shall arise upon You, and the Divine Truth from that Good by "His glory shall be seen upon You." "Nations" signify those who are in Goods, and "kings" those who are in Truths from Good; concerning the former it is said, "they shall come or walk to Your light", whereby is signified a life according to Divine Truth; and concerning the latter, "they shall walk to the brightness of Your rising", whereby is signified the life of intelligence from Divine Good; to "walk" denoting to live; "light", the Divine Truth; and the "brightness of His rising", the Divine Truth from the Divine Good, whence intelligence is derived. Apocalypse Explained 422.

3. And the nations shall come to Your light, and kings to the brightness of Your rising.

Verses 3, 5, 11, 12, 6, 22. The Lord is here treated of. By the "nations" are understood all who are in the Good of Love to Him, and by "kings" all who are in Truths of Faith in Him; hence it is evident who are meant by "the nations who shall walk to Your light", and by "the host of the nations who shall be brought", and who by "the kings that shall walk to the brightness of Your rising"; and also what is understood by "You shalt suck the milk of the nations [or Gentiles], and the breast of kings"; "milk" is the delight from the Good of love, in like manner the "breasts", because from them is milk. The multiplication of Truth and the fructification of Good is described, in verse 22, by "a little one becoming a thousand, and a small one a strong nation"; but by "the nations which shall be devastated " are understood all who are in evils. Apocalypse Explained 175.

4. Lift up, thine eyes round about, and see; all of them are gathered together, they come unto you: your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side.

Verse 4. Your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side. - As to what is understood in the spiritual sense by these words, see above, Chapter 49:17, 22, 23, the Exposition.

5. Then shalt you behold, and shalt overflow [with joy]; and your heart shall be astonished, and dilated: when the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto you; when the wealth of the nations shall come unto you.

Verses 5, 6. When the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto You, etc. - These words treat of the Lord and of the divine, celestial, and spiritual things in His Natural [principle]. The "abundance of the sea" signifies the immense abundance of natural Truth; the "multitude of camels" denotes the abundance of common scientifics; "gold and frankincense" are Goods and Truths, which are "the praises of Jehovah"; "from Sheba" is from the celestial things of love and faith; as may be seen, n. Arcana Coelestia 113-117.

"The queen of Sheba coming to Solomon at Jerusalem, with very great riches, and with camels carrying spices; and very much gold, and precious stones", (1 Kings 10:1, 2) represented the wisdom and intelligence which the Lord [in the process of His glorification] acquired, who, in the internal sense, is "Solomon"; "the camels carrying spices, gold, and precious stones", signify those things which belong to wisdom and intelligence in the natural man. Arcana Coelestia 3048.

These words also treat of the Lord's spiritual kingdom. The "dromedaries of Midian and Ephah" signify doctrinals; the doctrinals of Good are "gold"; the doctrinals of Truth are "frankincense"; both are "the praises of Jehovah." Hence it may be seen what "Midian" and "Ephah" signify, namely, "Midian" signifies those who are in the Truths of Faith, and as "Ephah" (Genesis 25:4) was a son of Midian, derivations from the Truths of Faith are signified by him, [or by "the land of Ephah."] No one is admitted into the Lord's kingdom, but those who are in the Good of Faith; for the Good of Faith is the Good of life. The life of Faith remains, but not the doctrine or Truth of Faith, except so far as it forms one with the life; nevertheless, those who are in the Truth of Faith, that is, who profess Faith, and call it the essential [of religion], because they have been so taught to believe, and are, notwithstanding, in the Good of life; that is, who in heart are Christians, and not in mouth only, are in the spiritual kingdom of the Lord; for anyone can be easily persuaded to believe that Faith is the essential, when he has been thus taught by masters, and when in his juvenile age he has been imbued with that opinion, and because those who are esteemed most learned, and who are the heads of the church, thus teach. Arcana Coelestia 3242.

6. A multitude of camels shall cover you; the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all of them from Sheba shall come: gold and frankincense shall they bring; and they shall show forth the praises of Jehovah.

Verse 6. The advent of the Lord is here treated of.

By "the multitude of camels, and the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah"; are signified knowledges of Truth and of Good in abundance; "all from Sheba, who shall come", signifies from the knowledges of genuine Truth and Good; "Sheba" denoting such knowledges, as may be seen in Arcana Coelestia 1171, 3240.

By "the gold and frankincense which they shall bring", is signified worship from spiritual Good, which is derived from celestial Good, - "gold" signifying celestial Good, and "frankincense" spiritual Good; on account of such worship being meant, it is therefore said "They shall show forth the praises of Jehovah", by which is signified the preaching of the Gospel concerning the Lord, also the worship of Him. Apocalypse Explained 324.

Verses 6, 9. A multitude of camels shall cover you; - the islands shall trust in Me, etc.

- By "a multitude of camels" are understood all who are in the kuowledges of Truth and of Good, see Arcana Coelestia 3048, 3071; by "Sheba", whence they shall come, is understood where the knowledges themselves are, see Arcana Coelestia 1171, 3240; by "the gold and frankincense which they shall bring", are understood Goods and Truths derived from Good, which thence are grateful, - by "gold" the Goods, and by "frankincense" the Truths, see Arcana Coelestia 9993, 10177.

By "the islands which shall trust in Him", are understood the nations which are in divine worship, but more remote from the Truths of the church, see Arcana Coelestia 1158; by "the ships of Tarshish" are understood common knowledges of Truth and of Good, in which are contained many particular knowledges, see Arcana Coelestia 1977, 6385; by "the sons whom they shall bring from afar", are understood Truths more remote, see Arcana Coelestia 8613, 9487; "sons" denote Truths, as above, and "from afar" denotes which are more remote; by "their silver and their gold with them", are signified the knowledges of Truth and of Good which they possess.

Similar things are understood by what is written in Matthew, that "the wise men who came from the East to the place where the Lord was born, offered gifts, gold, frankincense, and myrrh"; (Matthew 2:11) they offered those things because they signified Goods and Truths; interior and exterior, which are gifts grateful to God. Apocalypse Explained 242.

7. All the cattle of Arabia shall be gathered unto you; unto you shall the rams of Nebaioth minister: they shall ascend with good pleasure on Mine altar; and I will glorify the house of My glory.

Verse 7. The subject here treated of is concerning the advent of the Lord, and these words have reference to the Lord Himself. By "all the cattle of Arabia which shall be gathered together", and by "the rams of Nebaioth which shall minister", are signified all spiritual Goods, external and internal; by "cattle" are understood external Goods, and by "rams" internal Goods; and by "Arabia " and "Nebaioth" things spiritual. "They shall ascend with acceptance on Mine altar, and I will glorify the house of My glory", signifies the Divine Human of the Lord, in which these things will be; the "altar" denoting His Divine Human as to Divine Good, and the "house of glory" the same us to Divine Truth, That the Lord as to His Divine Human is here understood appears from the former part of this chapter, where it is said, "Jehovah shall arise upon You, and His glory shall be seen upon You"; as also by what follows, where the Lord is described as to the Divine Wisdom, with which He was to be filled as to His Humanity. Inasmuch as the "altar", in a supreme sense, signifies the Divine Human of the Lord, therefore it also signifies heaven and the church; for the angelic heaven, properly considered, is from the Divine which proceeds from the Divine Human of the Lord, whence it is that the angelic heaven in its whole complex is as one Man, and is, therefore, also called the Grand Man, concerning which see what is shown in the work concerning Heaven and Hell 59-86; and concerning the like circumstance with respect to the church, see n. 57 in the same work; and inasmuch as all worship is from the Lord, for it is the Divine which is communicated to man from the Lord, in which the Lord Himself is present, hence by the "altar" is signified, in general, the all of worship which proceeds from the Good of love, and by the "temple" the worship which proceeds from the Truths derived from that Good; for all worship is either from Love or from Faith, or from Good or from Truth. Worship from the Good of love is such as exists in the celestial kingdom of the Lord; and worship from Truths derived from that Good, which Truths are also called Truths of Faith, is such as exists ill the spiritual kingdom of the Lord; concerning which see also what is further shown in the same work, n. 20-28. Apocalypse Explained 391.

The cattle of Arabia. - In respect to "Arabia" and " Kedar", see Chapter 21:11, 13, 14, the Exposition.

Verses 7, 8. All the cattle of Arabia, - the rams of Nebaioth, etc. Who are these that fly like a cloud? and like doves to their windows? - The illustration of the nations by the Lord's coming is here treated of.

By "all the cattle of Arabia which shall be gathered together", are signified all the knowledges of Truth and of Good; by "the rams of Nebaioth which shall minister", are signified Truths, which lend the life by virtue of spiritual affection. By, "flying like a cloud, and like doves to their windows", is denoted the investigation and examination of the Truth, from the sense of the letter of the Word; hence also by "flying" is signified circumspection; for by a " cloud" is meant the sense of the letter of the Word, by "doves" the spiritual affection of Truth, and by "windows" the Truth in the light. That such a sense is contained in these words, may appear from the signification, in the spiritual sense, of "the cattle of Arabia", of "the rams of Nebaioth", of a "cloud", of "doves." and of "windows." Apocalypse Explained 28.

8. Who are these that fly like a cloud? and like doves to their windows?

9. Verily the islands shall trust in Me; and the ships of Tarshish among the first: to bring your sons from afar; their silver and their gold with them: to the name of Jehovah your God, and to the Holy One of Israel; for He has glorified you.

Verses 8, 9. These things are said concerning the Lord, and by them is signified that they who are in simple Truth and Good would receive and acknowledge Him, who are such as perceive the Truths of the Word in a natural manner, which is according to the sense of the letter, and do them. By the "islands" are signified those who are in this kind of perception of the Word; and by the "ships of Tarshish", in the beginning, are denoted the Goods which they bear and do; for "Tarshish" signifies the natural man as to knowledges of Good, inasmuch as in Tarshish was gold and silver, and the ships carried these things thence, (1 Kings 10:22) and in the beginning the "gold", by which is signified Good; and Truths being from Good, it is therefore also said, "To bring your sons from afar." And inasmuch as by "islands" and the "ships of Tarshish" are signified the knowledges of Truth and of Good appertaining to the natural man, it is therefore said, "Who are these that fly like a cloud? and like doves to their windows?"-"clouds" signifying the Truths of the sense of the letter of the Word, "doves" the Goods therein, and "windows" Truths from Good in light. That "ships" signify the knowledges of Truth and of Good from the Word, may be seen, Arcana Coelestia 1977, 6385; and that "windows" signify Truths in light, and thence what is intellectual, may be seen, Arcana Coelestia 655, 658, 3391. Apocalypse Explained 406.

10. And the sons of the alien shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister unto you: for in My wrath I smote you, but in My good pleasure have I had mercy on you.

Verse 10. "Strangers" and the "sons of the alien" denote those who do not acknowledge the Lord, and are unwilling to acknowledge Him, whether they be out of the church or within it, thus who are in evils, and in the falsities of evil; for those who do not acknowledge the Lord must needs be in evils and the falsities of evil, for from the Lord is every Good and every Truth of Good. That this is the signification of "strangers", in a bad sense, is abundantly evident from the Word. (See (Jeremiah 2:25; 51:51; see also above, Chapter 1:7, the Exposition.) But when "strangers" and the "sons of the alien" are said to "build up the walls of Jerusalem", and to be "the husbandmen and the vinedressers of the people of Israel", (Isaiah 61:5) they denote those in the church who are in mere externals of worship without internals, and who are, consequently, reduced to the performance of menial services in the church. (See Chapter 61:5, 6, the Exposition.) Arcana Coelestia 10287.

In My wrath I smote you, but in My good pleasure have I had mercy on you. - To "smite in wrath", signifies temptation; "in good pleasure to have mercy", signifies deliverance from a principle of love. Apocalypse Explained 205.

11. And your gates shall be open continually; by day and by night they shall not be shut: to bring unto you the wealth of the nations, and that their kings may be brought.

12. For the nation and the kingdom which will not serve you shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly devastated.

Verses 11, 12, 18. The subject here treated of is concerning the Lord, and concerning the church about to be established by Him; and by the above particulars is described the perpetual admission of those who are in Good and thence in Truths.

By "the gates being open continually, and not shut by day and by night", is understood perpetual admission; by "the host of the nations [or Gentiles] are signified those who are in Good, and by "kings" those who are in Truths; and that all should serve the Lord, is understood by its being said that "the nation and the kingdom which will not serve You shall perish." That "nation" or "nations" signify those who are in Good, may be seen above, 11. 275; and that "kings signify those who are in Truths, n. 31. Apocalypse Explained 208.

13. The glory of Lebanon shall come unto you; the fir-tree, the pine, and the box together; to adorn the place of My sanctuary, and I will make the place of My feet glorious.

14. And the sons of them that afflicted you shall come bending before you; and all they that despised you shall bow themselves down at the soles of your feet: and they shall call you, The City of Jehovah; The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

Verse 13. The "glory of Lebanon", or the "cedar", is spiritual Good and Truth; the "fir-tree", the "pine", and the "Lox" are natural Goods and Truths which correspond. The "place of My sanctuary" is heaven and the church, and also the Word; the "place of My feet" is heaven, the church, and the Word in ultimates; that it is also the Word is, because heaven is heaven from the Divine Truth proceeding from the Lord; in like manner the church; and the Divine Truth which makes the church and heaven is the Word. Hence it was that the inmost of the Tabernacle where the Ark was, in which the Law was deposited, was called the "Sanctuary"; the "Law" is the Word. Arcana Coelestia 9406.

See further as to the meaning of the "cedar", "fir-tree", "box", etc., Chapter 41:19, the Exposition.

I will make the place of My feet glorious. - By "the place of the feet" of the Lord, in the general sense, are understood all things of heaven and the church, inasmuch as the Lord as a Sun is above the heavens; but, in a particular sense, by "the place of His feet" is signified the church; for the church of the Lord is with men in the natural world, and the natural principle is the ultimate into which the Divine [sphere] closes, and upon which it as it were subsists. Hence it follows that the church on earth is also called "the footstool of the Lord"; as in Isaiah:

"The earth is the stool of My feet." (Isaiah 66:1)

See also Matthew 5:35. Apocalypse Explained 606.

15. Instead of your being forsaken and bated, so that no one passed through you, I will make you an eternal magnificence, a joy of perpetual generations.

Verses 15, 16. I will make you an eternal magnificence, etc. - Here "Zion" and "Jerusalem" are treated of, which are the celestial church, "Zion" its internal, and "Jerusalem " its external. To "suck the milk of the Gentiles", signifies the insinuation of celestial Good; to "suck the breast of kings", denotes the insinuation of celestial Truth. Everybody can see that there is a sense hidden in these words which does not appear in the letter, and that it is holy, because it is the divine Word; otherwise, what would be the meaning of "sucking the milk of, the Gentiles, and the breasts of kings"? The sense which is hidden, and which is holy, cannot possibly appear, unless it be known what is meant by "sucking", by "milk", by "Gentiles", by "breasts", and by "kings." Arcana Coelestia 6745.

16. And you shalt suck the milk of the nations; yea, you shalt suck the breast of kings: and you shalt know that I Jehovah am your Saviour and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

Verse 16. "Kings" denote Truths grounded in Good from the Lord, as may be seen above, n. 31; and "breasts" denote that Good, which is the Good of spiritual love. That the "breast" signifies the Good of spiritual love is from correspondence with heaven; for the whole heaven corresponds to all things of man, - the inmost or third heaven corresponds to the head, the middle or second to the breast, and the ultimate or first to the feet. On account of such, correspondence heaven is also called the Grand Man, and because the inmost or third heaven corresponds to the head, therefore by the "head" is signified the Good of celestial love, which is the Good of love to the Lord; the reason is, because that Good reigns in and makes that heaven; and because the middle or second heaven corresponds to the breast, therefore by the "breast" is signified the Good of spiritual love, which is the Good of neighbourly love, by reason that this Good reigns in and constitutes that heaven; and because the ultimate or first heaven corresponds to the feet, therefore by "feet" is signified the Good of natural love derived from spiritual, which is the Good of faith; the reason is, because that Good reigns in and constitutes that heaven. Apocalypse Explained 65.

Verses 16, 17. By "breasts" are signified the affections of what is Good and True, both because they belong to the province of conjugial love and because thereby infants are nourished hence it is that the "breasts" signify the conjunction of conjugial love with the love of infants. To "suck the breasts of kings", is to suck Good out of Truth, for by " "kings" are signified primary Truths. (See Arcana Coelestia 1672, 2015)

That by the milk of the nations [or Gentiles]", and by "the breast of lungs", something recondite, which is spiritual, is signified, must be evident; for otherwise they would be words without sense. That they signify what is good and True, is evident from those things which follow, namely:

"Instead of brass, I will bring gold; and instead of iron, I will bring silver"; for "brass" is natural Good, (Arcana Coelestia 425) "gold" is celestial Good; (Arcana Coelestia 113) "iron" is natural Truth and "silver" is spiritual Truth, (1551.) Arcana Coelestia 6432. See also 643, 1551.

17. Instead of brass, I will bring gold; and instead of iron, I will bring silver; and instead of wood, brass; and instead of stones, iron: and I will make your government peace, and your exactors righteousness.

18. Violence shall no more be heard in your land; nor devastation and destruction within your borders: but you shalt call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.

Verses. 17, 18. The subject treated of in this chapter is concerning the advent of the Lord, and the New Heaven and the New Church to be then established; and by the above words is understood that they shall be spiritual and not natural as before, namely, they who are conjoined to the Lord by the Good of love; and that there shall be no more dissension or disagreement between the internal or spiritual man, and the external or natural man. That they shall be spiritual, and not natural as before, is understood by "Instead of brass, I will bring gold; and instead of iron, I will bring silver; and instead of wood, brass; and instead of stones, iron"; "brass iron and stones " signifying things natural, and "gold, silver, and iron in the place thereof", denoting things spiritual - "gold" spiritual Good, "silver" the Truth of that Good, and "iron" spiritual-natural Truth. That the Lord will rule by the Good of love, is signified by "I will make your government peace, and thine exactors justice"; "government" denoting rule, "peace" the Lord, and "justice" Good from the Lord. That there will be then no more disagreement between the spiritual and the natural man, is signified by "violence shall no more be heard in the land, devastation and destruction [confractio] in your borders"; by violence is meant dissension: by"land, the internal spiritual man, inasmuch as in that man the church is, which, in general, is signified by "land." or "earth"; by "devastation and destruction which shall be no more", is denoted that there shall be no longer any evils and falsities; and by "in your borders", is signified in the natural man; for in the things appertaining to the natural man, spiritual things are terminated. The reason why "devastation" and "destruction" signify evils and falsities is, because evils devastate the natural man, and falsities destroy [or break him up]. Apocalypse Explained 305.

Verse 18. You shalt call your walls Salvation, etc. - That "walls" signify the Truths of Faith defending, see Chapter 26:1, the Exposition.

19. The sun shall be no more your light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto you: for Jehovah shall be to you an everlasting light, and your God shall be your glory.

Verses 19, 20. By the "sun" here is signified the love which is merely natural, and by the "moon" the natural lumen thence derived; but by the "sun" and "moon" last mentioned, is understood the Sun and Moon of the angelic heaven; and by that "Sun" is signified the Divine Love of the Lord, and by the "Moon" the Divine Truth. This may appear from its being first said, "The sun shall be no more your light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto you"; and afterwards, "Your Sun shall no more go down; neither shall your Moon withdraw itself." From these considerations it is now evident what the "sun" and "moon" signify in both senses. Apocalypse Explained 401.

By "the sun and the moon which shall shine no longer", is understood the love of self, and one's own intelligence; and by "the Sun and the Moon which shall set no more", are understood love from the Lord to the Lord, and intelligence and also faith from Him. Apocalypse Revealed 919.

20. Your sun shall no more go down; neither shall your moon withdraw itself: for Jehovah shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be fulfilled.

Verse 20. Treating concerning the Lord, and the New Heaven and the New Earth, that is, concerning the Church to be established by Him. That the Good of love to the Lord should not perish, nor the Good of charity towards their neighbour, in those who belong to that church, is understood by "Your Sun shall no more go down; neither shall your Moon withdraw itself:" for the Lord appears to those who are in the Good of love to Him as a Sun, and to those who are in Truths from the Good of charity towards their neighbour as a Moon; hence by "your Sun" is signified the Good of love to the Lord, and by "your Moon" the Good of charity, which, in its essence, is Truth from Good. That they shall be to eternity in Truths from the Good of love, and in Truths from the Good of charity, is understood by "Jehovah shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be fulfilled"; the "everlasting light" is said of those who are in the Good of love to the Lord, and the "fulfilment of the days of mourning" of those who are in the Good of charity towards their neighbour, or in Truths originating in that Good; for "mourning", in the ancient churches, represented grief all account of the loss or deprivation of Truth and of Good; that "they shall be fulfilled" signifies that they shall be ended, and that they shall be in Truths from Good. From these considerations it may appear what is signified, in the opposite sense, by "the sun being darkened at his rising", and by "the moon not causing her light to shine", as may be seen in Isaiah 13:10, the Exposition. Apocalypse Explained 401.

21. And your people shall be all just; for ever shall they possess the land: the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I maybe glorified.

Verse 21. As to "just" and also as to "justice", see Chapter 57:1, the Exposition.

The work of My hands. - All things which are done by the Lord are called "the works of His hands", which are properly His works, and in themselves are Goods and Truths, as in the above passage; see also Chap, Isaiah 64:8. But "the works of man's hands" are from his proprium, hence from what is evil and false, as may be manifest from this fact, that it was prohibited to "build an altar and a temple of hewn stones, or to move an iron tool upon them." (Exodus 20:25; Joshua 8:30, 31; 1 Kings 6:7) Apocalypse Revealed 457. See also above, as to "hewn stones", Chapter 9:10, the Exposition.

22. A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I Jehovah will hasten it in its time.

Verse 22. By these words is signified the multiplication of Truths and the fructification of Goods. Apocalypse Explained 175.

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Isaiah Chapter 60.

1. ARISE, be you enlightened; for your light is come, and the glory of Jehovah has risen, upon you.

2. For, behold! darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples: but upon You shall Jehovah arise, and His glory shall be seen upon You.

3. And the nations shall come to Your light, and kings to the brightness of Your rising.

4. Lift up, thine eyes round about, and see; all of them are gathered together, they come unto you: your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be nursed at your side.

5. Then shalt you behold, and shalt overflow [with joy]; and your heart shall be astonished, and dilated: when the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto you; when the wealth of the nations shall come unto you.

6. A multitude of camels shall cover you; the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all of them from Sheba shall come: gold and frankincense shall they bring; and they shall show forth the praises of Jehovah.

7. All the cattle of Arabia shall be gathered unto you; unto you shall the rams of Nebaioth minister: they shall ascend with good pleasure on Mine altar; and I will glorify the house of My glory.

8. Who are these that fly like a cloud? and like doves to their windows?

9. Verily the islands shall trust in Me; and the ships of Tarshish among the first: to bring your sons from afar; their silver and their gold with them: to the name of Jehovah your God, and to the Holy One of Israel; for He has glorified you.

10. And the sons of the alien shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister unto you: for in My wrath I smote you, but in My good pleasure have I had mercy on you.

11. And your gates shall be open continually; by day and by night they shall not be shut: to bring unto you the wealth of the nations, and that their kings may be brought.

12. For the nation and the kingdom which will not serve you shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly devastated.

13. The glory of Lebanon shall come unto you; the fir-tree, the pine, and the box together; to adorn the place of My sanctuary, and I will make the place of My feet glorious.

14. And the sons of them that afflicted you shall come bending before you; and all they that despised you shall bow themselves down at the soles of your feet: and they shall call you, The City of Jehovah; The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

15. Instead of your being forsaken and bated, so that no one passed through you, I will make you an eternal magnificence, a joy of perpetual generations.

16. And you shalt suck the milk of the nations; yea, you shalt suck the breast of kings: and you shalt know that I Jehovah am your Saviour and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

17. Instead of brass, I will bring gold; and instead of iron, I will bring silver; and instead of wood, brass; and instead of stones, iron: and I will make your government peace, and your exactors righteousness.

18. Violence shall no more be heard in your land; nor devastation and destruction within your borders: but you shalt call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.

19. The sun shall be no more your light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto you: for Jehovah shall be to you an everlasting light, and your God shall be your glory.

20. Your sun shall no more go down; neither shall your moon withdraw itself: for Jehovah shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be fulfilled.

21. And your people shall be all just; for ever shall they possess the land: the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I maybe glorified.

22. A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I Jehovah will hasten it in its time.

331. And people and nation, signifies who are of the Lord's spiritual church, and of His celestial church. This is evident from the signification of "people" and "nation" in the Word, "people" signifying those who are in spiritual good, thus those who are of the Lord's spiritual church, and "nation" those who are in celestial good, thus those who are of the Lord's celestial church. That there are two kingdoms into which the heavens are divided, namely, the celestial kingdom and the spiritual kingdom, and that those who are in the good of love to the Lord are in the celestial kingdom, and those who are in the good of charity towards the neighbor are in the spiritual kingdom, see in the work on Heaven and Hell, (n. 20-28). These two kingdoms, however, are not only in the heavens but also on the earth, and on the earth they are called the celestial church and the spiritual church. Few know what is signified in the Word specifically by a "people" or "peoples," and what by a "nation" or "nations." I will therefore present from the Word some passages where the two are named together, from which it will be clear that "people" and "nations" have distinct significations, for unless they had distinct significations they would not both be named together, as in the following passages.

[2] In Isaiah:

The strong people shall glorify Thee, the city of the formidable nations shall fear Thee. Jehovah will swallow up in this mountain the faces of the covering, that covereth over all peoples, and the veil that is veiled over all nations (Isaiah 25:3, 7).

Here a distinction is made between "peoples" and "nations," because "peoples" signify those who are of the Lord's spiritual kingdom, and "nations" those who are of His celestial kingdom, thus those who are in spiritual good and those in celestial good. Spiritual good is the good of charity towards the neighbor, thus the good of faith, and celestial good is the good of love to the Lord, and thence the good of mutual love. The truth of this good is what is meant by "the city of formidable nations," for "city" signifies the doctrine of truth, or the truths of doctrine; "to swallow up the covering over all peoples, and the veil veiled over all nations," signifies to dispel the shade that has so covered the understanding that the truths are not seen or the goods perceived that pertain to heaven and the church.

[3] In the same:

Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye peoples; let the earth hear, and the fullness thereof (Isaiah 34:1).

Because "nations" signify those who are in the good of love, and "peoples" those who are in the good of charity and in the truths of faith therefrom, it is said of the nations that they should "come near," and of the peoples that they should "hearken;" to "come near" signifies to be conjoined by love, and to "hearken" signifies to obey and to be instructed; it is therefore said, "let the earth hear, and the fullness thereof," "earth" signifying the church in respect to good, and "the fullness thereof" truths.

[4] In the same:

I Jehovah have called thee in righteousness, and I will hold thine hand and I will give thee for a covenant to the people, for a light of the nations (Isaiah 42:6).

In the same:

Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. Let all the nations be brought together, and let the peoples gather together (Isaiah 43:8-9).

In the same:

I have given him for a witness to the peoples, a prince and lawgiver to the nations (Isaiah 55:4).

In the same:

Thus said the Lord Jehovih, Behold, I will lift up Mine hand towards the nations, and lift up My standard towards the peoples (Isaiah 49:22).

In the same:

The peoples that walk in darkness have seen a great light. Thou hast multiplied the nation, thou hast made great to it gladness (Isaiah 9:2-3).

And in the same:

It shall be in that day that the root of Jesse, which standeth for an ensign of the peoples, the nations shall seek. And He shall lift up an ensign for the nations, and shall gather together the outcasts of Israel (Isaiah 11:10, 12).

All these things are said of the Lord; and "peoples" and "nations" mean all who are of His church; for all who are of the Lord's church are either of His celestial kingdom or of His spiritual kingdom; not any except those who are in these two kingdoms can possibly be of the church. Moreover, there are two things that constitute the church, good and truth, both from the Lord; "nations" mean those who are in good, and "peoples" those who are in truth; and, abstractly from persons, "nations" signify the goods of the church, and "peoples" its truths; "peoples" signify the truths of the church because spiritual good, or the good of charity towards the neighbor, in which those are who are meant by "peoples," in its essence is truth. (See Arcana Coelestia 8042, 10296; why it is so, n. 863, 875, 895, 927, 1023, 1043, 1044, 1555, 2256, 4328, 4493, 5113, 9596; thence what the distinction is between those who are of the celestial kingdom and those who are of the spiritual kingdom, n. 2088, 2669, 2708, 2715, 3235, 3240, 4788, 7068, 8521, 9277, 10295)

[5] In the same:

In that time a present unto Jehovah of Hosts shall be brought; a people distracted and plundered: and a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of Jehovah of Hosts, to Mount Zion (Isaiah 18:2, 7).

This treats of the invitation of all to the church; therefore also "people" and "nation" are both mentioned. "Mount Zion" signifies the church, to which they are invited; "a people distracted and plundered" signifies those with whom truths have been taken away, changed, or perverted by those who are in the falsities of doctrine; "a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled," signifies those with whom goods have been treated in like manner, "rivers" meaning falsities and reasonings therefrom.

[6] In Zechariah:

Yet there shall come peoples, and the inhabitants of great cities, to entreat the faces of Jehovah, and many peoples and numerous nations shall come to seek Jehovah of Hosts in Jerusalem (Zechariah 8:20-22).

Here, too, "peoples" and "nations" signify all who are of the Lord's church; "peoples" those who are of His spiritual church, and "nations" those who are of His celestial church. "Jerusalem," to which they shall come, is the church.

[7] In David:

Thou wilt set me for the head of the nations; a people I have not known shall serve me (Psalms 18:43).

In the same:

Jehovah will subdue the peoples under us, and the nations under our feet. God reigneth over the nations. The willing ones of the peoples are gathered together (Psalms 47:3, 8-9).

In the same:

That [Thy way] may be known on the earth, Thy salvation among all nations. The peoples shall confess Thee, O God: the nations shall be glad and shout for joy; for Thou shalt judge the peoples in uprightness, and shalt lead the nations into the land (Psalms 67:2-4).

Remember me, O Jehovah, in good pleasure towards Thy people; that I may be glad in the joy of Thy nations (Psalms 106:4-5).

I will confess Thee, O Lord, among the nations. I will sing psalms unto Thee among the peoples (Psalms 57:9; 108:3).

In these passages also "peoples" and "nations" are mentioned, by which are meant all who are in truths and goods. Moreover, the very words that are applied to peoples are words that are predicated of truths, and those applied to nations are those that are predicated of goods. That no other are meant by "nations" is evident also from the fact that these things were said by David, who was an enemy of the Canaanitish nations.

[8] In Luke:

Mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples; a light for a revelation to the nations (Luke 2:30-32).

In Zephaniah:

The remnant of My people shall spoil them, and the remainder of My nation shall inherit them (Zephaniah 2:9).

In Moses:

When her two sons were struggling in her womb, Rebekah went to inquire of Jehovah, and Jehovah said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two peoples shall be separated from thy bowels (Genesis 25:22-23).

Remember the days of the age, when the Most High gave to the nations an inheritance; when He separated the sons of man he set the bounds of the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel (Deuteronomy 32:7-8).

"The sons of man" have the same signification as "peoples," namely, those who are in spiritual truths and goods; therefore it is said of them, "when He separated the sons of man He set the bounds of the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel;" "the sons of Israel" signifying the spiritual church, and the "number" of them, or of the twelve tribes named from them, signifying all the truths and goods therein (See just above, n. 330); such therefore are called "peoples;" "to separate" them and "to set their bounds" signifies to alienate from falsities and to bestow truths; and "to give an inheritance to the nations" signifies heaven and conjunction with those who are in the good of love.

[9] In Daniel:

All peoples, nations, and tongues shall worship Him; His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not perish (Daniel 7:14).

This is said of the Lord; and "peoples" and "nations" mean all who are in truths and goods; and "all tongues" mean all of whatever doctrine or religion; for the Lord's church is universal, since it exists with all who are in the good of life, and who from their doctrine look to heaven, and thereby conjoin themselves to the Lord (of whom see Heaven and Hell 318-328). Because "nations" signify those who are in the good of love, and "peoples" those who are in the good of charity and in the truths of faith therefrom, it is said, "His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom shall not pass away;" "dominion" in the Word is predicated of good, and "kingdom" of truth; for this reason the Lord is called "Lord" from Divine good, and "king" from Divine truth.

There are other passages besides these that might be quoted to prove that "peoples" signify those who are of the spiritual church, and "nations" those who are of the celestial church. So far those only have been presented in which "peoples" and "nations" are mentioned together; to these some shall be added in which "nations" alone are mentioned.

[10] In Isaiah:

Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keepeth faithfulness may enter in. Thou hast added to the nation, O Jehovah, Thou hast added to the nation; Thou hast been glorified: Thou hast removed all the ends of the earth (Isaiah 26:2, 15).

In David:

All the ends of the earth shall turn unto Jehovah; and all the families of the nations shall worship before Thee. For the kingdom is Jehovah's; and He it is that ruleth among the nations (Psalms 22:27-28).

In Isaiah:

The nations shall walk to Thy light, and kings to the brightness of Thy rising. Thy heart shall be enlarged, because the multitude of the sea shall turn unto Thee, the army of the nations shall come unto Thee (Isaiah 60:3, 5).

All nations shall see Thy righteousness, and all kings Thy glory (Isaiah 62:2).

In these passages "nations" and "peoples" are not mentioned together, but still in the last two "nations" and "kings" because "kings" signify the like as "peoples," namely, those who are in truths (See above, n. 31); and it is because "nations" signify those who are in good, and "kings" those who are in truths, that it is said of the nations that they "shall see Thy righteousness," and of the kings that they shall "see Thy glory;" "righteousness" in the Word being predicated of good, and "glory" of truth. (That "righteousness" is predicated in the Word of Divine good, seeArcana Coelestia 2235, 9857; and "glory" of Divine truth, n. 4809, 5922, 8267, 8427, 9429.)

[11] From the contrary sense it can yet be seen that "peoples" signify those who are in truths, and "nations" those who are in good; for in that sense "peoples" signify those who are in falsities, and "nations" those who are in evils, as in the following. In Isaiah:

O Assyrian, the rod of Mine anger, I will send him against a hypocritical nation, and against the people of My wrath will I command him (Isaiah 10:5-6).

In the same:

The voice of a multitude in the mountains; the voice of a tumult of the kingdoms of the nations gathered together. They come from a land afar off, from the end of the heavens, even Jehovah with the vessels of His indignation to destroy the whole land (Isaiah 13:4-5).

Jehovah that smiteth the peoples with a stroke not curable, that ruleth with anger the nations (Isaiah 14:6).

In the same:

At the noise of the tumult let the peoples flee away; and before Thine exaltation let the nations be dispersed (Isaiah 33:3).

In Jeremiah:

Behold, a people cometh from the land of the north, and a great nation shall be stirred up from the sides of the earth. They lay hold on the bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy (Jeremiah 6:22-23).

In Ezekiel:

I will not cause thee to hear any more the calumny of the nations, and the reproach of the peoples thou shalt not bear any more (Ezekiel 36:15).

In David:

Thou makest us a byword among the nations, a shaking of the head among the peoples (Psalms 44:14).

In the same:

Jehovah bringeth the counsel of the nations to nought; He overthroweth the thoughts of the peoples (Psalms 33:10).

In these passages "peoples" mean those who are against the truths of the spiritual church, thus in falsities; and "nations" those who are against the goods of the celestial church, thus in evils. This is also the signification of the peoples and nations that were driven out of the land of Canaan. To this let what was said above n. 175 be added.