圣经文本

 

Ezekiel第16章

学习

   

1 Muling ang salita ng Panginoon ay dumating sa akin, na nagsasabi.

2 Anak ng tao, ipakilala mo sa Jerusalem ang kaniyang mga kasuklamsuklam.

3 At sabihin mo, Ganito ang sabi ng Panginoong Dios sa Jerusalem: Ang iyong pinagmulan at ang iyong kapanganakan ay ang lupain ng Cananeo; ang Amorrheo ay iyong Ama, at ang iyong ina ay Hethea.

4 At tungkol sa iyong kapanganakan, nang araw na ikaw ay ipanganak ay hindi naputol ang iyong pusod, o napaliguan ka man sa tubig upang linisin ka; ikaw ay hindi pinahiran ng asin, o nabalot man.

5 Walang matang nahabag sa iyo; upang gawin ang anoman sa mga ito sa iyo, na maawa sa iyo; kundi ikaw ay nahagis sa luwal na parang, sapagka't ang iyong pagkatao ay itinakuwil, nang araw na ikaw ay ipanganak.

6 At nang ako'y dumaan sa tabi mo, at makita kita na nagugumon sa iyong dugo, sinabi ko sa iyo, Bagaman ikaw ay nagugumon sa iyong dugo, mabuhay ka: oo, sinabi ko sa iyo, Bagaman ikaw ay nagugumon sa iyong dugo, mabuhay ka.

7 Pinarami kita na parang damo sa parang, at ikaw ay kumapal at dumakilang mainam, at ikaw ay nagtamo ng mainam na kagayakan: ang iyong dibdib ay naganyo, at ang iyong buhok ay lumago; gayon ma'y ikaw ay hubo at hubad.

8 Nang ako nga'y magdaan sa tabi mo, at tumingin sa iyo, narito, ang iyong panahon ay panahon ng pagibig; at aking iniladlad ang aking balabal sa iyo, at tinakpan ko ang iyong kahubaran: oo, ako'y sumumpa sa iyo, at nakipagtipan sa iyo, sabi ng Panginoong Dios, at ikaw ay naging akin.

9 Nang magkagayo'y pinaliguan kita ng tubig; oo, aking nilinis na mainam ang iyong dugo, at pinahiran kita ng langis.

10 Binihisan din naman kita ng yaring may burda, at sinapatusan kita ng balat ng foka, at binigkisan kita sa palibot ng mainam na kayong lino, at binalot kita ng sutla.

11 Ginayakan din naman kita ng hiyas, at nilagyan ko ng mga pulsera ang iyong mga kamay, at ng isang kuwintas ang iyong leeg.

12 At nilagyan ko ng hikaw ang iyong ilong, at ng mga hikaw ang iyong mga tainga, at isang magandang putong ang iyong ulo.

13 Ganito ka nagayakan ng ginto at pilak; at ang iyong damit ay mainam na kayong lino, at sutla at yaring may burda; ikaw ay kumain ng mainam na harina, at ng pulot, at ng langis; at ikaw ay lubhang maganda, at ikaw ay guminhawa sa kalagayang pagkahari.

14 At ang iyong kabantugan ay nangalat sa gitna ng mga bansa dahil sa iyong kagandahan; sapagka't naging sakdal dahil sa aking kamahalan na aking inilagay sa iyo, sabi ng Panginoong Dios.

15 Nguni't ikaw ay tumiwala sa iyong kagandahan, at nagpatutot dahil sa iyong kabantugan, at ikinalat mo ang iyong mga pakikiapid sa bawa't nagdaraan; yao'y kaniya nga.

16 At kinuha mo ang iyong mga suot, at ginawa mo para sa iyo ang mga mataas na dako na kagayakan na may sarisaring kulay, at nagpatutot sa kanila: ang gayong mga bagay ay hindi na darating, o mangyayari pa man.

17 Kinuha mo naman ang iyong mga magandang hiyas na ginto at pilak, na aking ibinigay sa iyo, at ginawa mo sa iyo ng mga larawan ng mga tao, at iyong ipinagpatutot sa kanila;

18 At iyong kinuha ang iyong mga bihisang may burda, at ibinalot mo sa kanila, at inilagay mo ang aking langis at ang aking kamangyan sa harap nila.

19 Ang aking tinapay naman na aking ibinigay sa iyo, mainam na harina, at langis, pulot, na aking ipinakain sa iyo, iyong inilagay nga sa harap nila na pinakamasarap na amoy; at ganito nangyari, sabi ng Panginoong Dios.

20 Bukod dito'y kinuha mo ang iyong mga anak na lalake at babae, na iyong ipinanganak sa akin, at ang mga ito ay iyong inihain sa kanila upang lamunin. Ang iyo bagang mga pakikiapid ay maliit na bagay.

21 Na iyong pinatay ang aking mga anak, at iyong ibinigay sila na pinararaan sila sa apoy?

22 At sa lahat ng iyong mga kasuklamsuklam, at ng iyong mga pakikiapid hindi mo inalaala ang mga kaarawan ng iyong kabataan, nang ikaw ay hubo at hubad, at nagugumon sa iyong dugo.

23 At nangyari, pagkatapos ng iyong buong kasamaan (sa aba, sa aba mo! sabi ng Panginoong Dios),

24 Na ikaw ay nagtayo para sa iyo ng isang matayog na dako, at gumawa ka para sa iyo ng mataas na dako sa bawa't lansangan.

25 Itinayo mo ang iyong mataas na dako sa bawa't bukana ng daan, at ginawa mong kasuklamsuklam ang iyong kagandahan, at ibinuka mo ang iyong mga paa sa bawa't nagdaraan, at pinarami mo ang iyong pakikiapid.

26 Ikaw naman ay nakiapid din sa mga taga Egipto, na iyong mga kalapit bayan, na malaki sa pangangatawan; at iyong pinarami ang iyong pakikiapid upang mungkahiin mo ako sa galit.

27 Narito nga, iniunat ko ang aking kamay sa iyo, at binawasan ko ang iyong karaniwang pagkain, at ibinigay kita sa balang maibigan ng nangagtatanim sa iyo, na mga anak na babae ng mga Filisteo, na nangapapahiya sa iyong kalibugan.

28 Ikaw naman ay nagpatutot din sa mga taga Asiria, sapagka't ikaw ay hindi nasisiyahan: oo, ikaw ay nagpatutot sa kanila, at gayon ma'y hindi ka nasisiyahan.

29 Bukod dito'y iyong pinarami ang iyong pakikiapid sa lupain ng Canaan, hanggang sa Caldea; at gayon ma'y hindi ka nasisiyahan.

30 Pagkahinahina ng iyong loob, sabi ng Panginoong Dios, palibhasa'y iyong ginagawa ang lahat na bagay na ito, na gawa ng isang hambog na patutot:

31 Sa iyong pagtatayo ng iyong matayog na dako sa bukana ng bawa't daan, at ginagawa mo ang iyong mataas na dako sa bawa't lansangan; at hindi ka naging gaya ng isang patutot sa iyong pagwawalang kabuluhan ng upa.

32 Isang babae na napakakalunya! na tumatanggap sa iba na kahalili ng kaniyang asawa!

33 Sila'y nagbibigay ng mga kaloob sa lahat ng mga patutot: nguni't ikaw ay nagbibigay ng iyong mga kaloob sa lahat na mangliligaw sa iyo, at iyong sinusuhulan sila, upang sila'y magsilapit sa iyo sa bawa't dako, dahil sa iyong mga pakikiapid.

34 At ang kaibahan ng ibang mga babae ay nasa iyo sa iyong mga pakikiapid, sa paraang walang sumusunod sa iyo upang makiapid: at sa iyong pagbibigay ng upa, at walang upa na ibinibigay sa iyo, kaya't ikaw ay kaiba.

35 Kaya't, Oh patutot, pakinggan mo ang salita ng Panginoon:

36 Ganito ang sabi ng Panginoong Dios, Sapagka't ang iyong karumihan ay nahayag, at ang iyong kahubaran ay nalitaw sa iyong mga pakikiapid sa mga mangliligaw sa iyo; at dahil sa lahat ng diosdiosan na iyong mga kasuklamsuklam, at dahil sa dugo ng iyong mga anak, na iyong ibinigay sa kanila;

37 Kaya't, narito, aking pipisanin ang lahat na mangingibig sa iyo, na iyong pinagkaroonan ng kalayawan, at lahat ng iyong inibig, sangpu ng lahat na iyong kinapuotan; akin ngang pipisanin sila laban sa iyo sa bawa't dako, at aking ililitaw ang iyong kahubaran sa kanila, upang kanilang makita ang iyong buong kahubaran.

38 At aking hahatulan ka na gaya ng hatol sa mga babaing nangangalunya at nagbububo ng dugo; at aking dadalhin sa iyo ang dugo ng kapusukan at ng paninibugho.

39 Ikaw ay ibibigay ko rin sa kanilang kamay, at kanilang ibabagsak ang iyong matayog na dako, at igigiba ang iyong mga mataas na dako, at kanilang huhubaran ka ng iyong mga suot, at kukunin ang iyong magandang mga hiyas; at kanilang iiwan ka na hubo at hubad.

40 Sila naman ay mangagaahon ng isang pulutong laban sa iyo, at babatuhin ka nila ng mga bato, at palalagpasan ka ng kanilang mga tabak.

41 At susunugin nila ng apoy ang iyong mga bahay, at maglalapat ng mga kahatulan sa iyo sa paningin ng maraming babae; at aking patitigilin ka sa pagpapapatutot, at ikaw naman ay hindi na magbibigay pa ng upa.

42 Sa gayo'y aking papawiin ang aking kapusukan sa iyo, at ang aking paninibugho ay hihiwalay sa iyo, at ako'y matatahimik, at hindi na magagalit pa.

43 Sapagka't hindi mo naalaala ang mga kaarawan ng iyong kabataan, kundi ako'y pinapagiinit mo sa lahat ng mga bagay na ito; kaya't, narito, akin namang pararatingin ang iyong lakad sa iyong ulo, sabi ng Panginoong Dios: at hindi ka na gagawa ng kahalayang ito, na higit kay sa lahat ng iyong mga kasuklamsuklam.

44 Narito, bawa't sumasambit ng mga kawikaan ay sasambitin ang kawikaang ito laban sa iyo, na sasabihin, Kung ano ang ina, gayon ang kaniyang anak na babae.

45 Ikaw ang anak na babae ng iyong ina, na nagtakuwil ng kaniyang asawa at ng kaniyang mga anak; at ikaw ang kapatid ng iyong mga kapatid, na nagtakuwil ng kanilang mga asawa at ng kanilang mga anak: ang inyong ina ay Hetea, at ang inyong ama ay Amorrheo.

46 At ang iyong panganay na kapatid na babae ay ang Samaria na tumatahan sa iyong kaliwa, siya at ang kaniyang mga anak na babae; at ang iyong bunsong kapatid na babae na tumatahan sa iyong kanan ay Sodoma at ang kaniyang mga anak.

47 Gayon ma'y hindi ka lumakad sa kanilang mga lakad, o gumawa man ng ayon sa kanilang kasuklamsuklam, kundi wari napakaliit na bagay, ikaw ay hamak na higit kay sa kanila sa lahat ng iyong mga lakad.

48 Buhay ako, sabi ng Panginoong Dios, ang Sodoma na iyong kapatid na babae ay hindi gumawa, siya o ang kaniyang mga anak na babae man, na gaya ng iyong ginawa, ng ginawa mo, at ng iyong mga anak na babae.

49 Narito, ito ang kasamaan ng iyong kapatid na babae na Sodoma; kapalaluan, kayamuan sa tinapay, at ang malabis na kapahingahan ay nasa kaniya at sa kaniyang mga anak na babae; at hindi man niya pinalakas ang kamay ng dukha at mapagkailangan.

50 At sila'y palalo at gumawa ng kasuklamsuklam sa harap ko: kaya't aking inalis sila, ayon sa aking minagaling.

51 Kahit ang Samaria ay hindi nakagawa ng kalahati ng iyong mga kasalanan, nguni't pinarami mo ang iyong mga kasuklamsuklam na higit kay sa kanila, at iyong pinabuti ang iyong mga kapatid na babae sa pamamagitan ng lahat mong mga kasuklamsuklam na iyong ginawa.

52 Ikaw rin naman, taglayin mo ang iyong sariling kahihiyan, sa iyong paglalapat ng kahatulan sa iyong mga kapatid na babae; sa iyong mga kasalanan na iyong nagawa na higit na kasuklamsuklam kay sa kanila, sila'y lalong matuwid kay sa iyo: oo, malito ka, at taglayin mo ang iyong kahihiyan, sa iyong pagpapabuti sa iyong mga kapatid na babae.

53 At aking panunumbalikin uli sila mula sa kanilang pagkabihag, sa pagkabihag ng Sodoma at ng kaniyang mga anak na babae, at sa pagkabihag ng Samaria at ng kaniyang mga anak na babae, at sa pagkabihag ng iyong mga bihag sa gitna nila.

54 Upang iyong taglayin ang iyong sariling kahihiyan, at ikaw ay mapahiya dahil sa lahat na iyong ginawa sa iyong pagaliw sa kanila.

55 At ang iyong mga kapatid na babae ang Sodoma at ang kaniyang mga anak na babae mangagbabalik sa kanilang dating kalagayan; at ang Samaria at ang kaniyang mga anak na babae ay mangagbabalik sa kanilang dating kalagayan; at ikaw at ang iyong mga anak ay mangagbabalik sa inyong dating kalagayan.

56 Sapagka't ang iyong kapatid na babae na Sodoma ay hindi nabanggit ng iyong bibig sa kaarawan ng iyong kapalaluan;

57 Bago nalitaw ang iyong kasamaan, gaya sa panahon ng kapulaan sa mga anak na babae ng Siria, at sa lahat na nangasa palibot niya, na mga anak na babae ng mga Filisteo, na siyang kumukutya sa iyo sa palibot.

58 Iyong isinagawa ang iyong kahalayan at ang iyong mga kasuklamsuklam, sabi ng Panginoon.

59 Sapagka't ganito ang sabi ng Panginoong Dios, Akin namang gagawin sa iyo na gaya ng iyong ginawa, na iyong hinamak ang sumpa sa pagsira ng tipan.

60 Gayon ma'y aalalahanin ko ang aking tipan sa iyo nang mga kaarawan ng iyong kabataan, at aking itatatag sa iyo ang isang walang hanggang tipan.

61 Kung magkagayo'y aalalahanin mo ang iyong mga lakad, at mapapahiya ka, pagka iyong tatanggapin ang iyong mga kapatid na babae, ang iyong mga matandang kapatid at ang iyong batang kapatid: at aking ibibigay sila sa iyo na mga pinakaanak na babae, nguni't hindi sa pamamagitan ng iyong tipan.

62 At aking itatatag ang aking tipan sa iyo; at iyong malalaman na ako ang Panginoon;

63 Upang iyong maalaala, at malito ka, at kailan pa man ay hindi mo na bukahin ang iyong bibig, dahil sa iyong kahihiyan, pagka aking pinatawad ka ng lahat na iyong nagawa, sabi ng Panginoong Dios.

   

来自斯威登堡的著作

 

Apocalypse Explained#283

学习本章节

  
/1232  
  

283. (5:8) And the four animals had, each by itself, six wings roundabout. That this signifies the appearance of the spiritual Divine on every side around the celestial Divine, is evident from the signification of the four animals, which were cherubim, as being the Divine guardianship and providence of the Lord that the higher heavens may not be approached except by the good of love and of charity. And because this is signified by the four animals, as to their bodies, the celestial Divine is also signified, concerning which we shall treat presently; and from the signification of six wings roundabout, as denoting the spiritual Divine around the celestial Divine, concerning which we shall also speak in what follows. The reason why the cherubim, as to their bodies, signifies the celestial Divine, and as to their wings the spiritual Divine, is that all things by which celestial things are represented, as to the bodies themselves signify things essential, and as to the things which are about them they signify things formal. Hence man also as to the body signifies good in essence, and as to those things which encompass it, good in form; celestial good is good in essence, and spiritual good is good in form; and this for the reason that the will, in which good resides, is the man himself, or the man in essence, and the understanding, in which truth is, which is the form of good, is the man therefrom, thus man in form; the latter good is also around the former.

[2] But it shall first be explained what the celestial Divine is, and what the spiritual Divine. The heavens are distinguished into two kingdoms, of which the one is called the celestial kingdom, and the other the spiritual kingdom. The distinction lies in this, that those who are in the celestial kingdom are in the good of love to the Lord, and those who are in the spiritual kingdom are in the good of charity towards the neighbour; hence the celestial Divine is the good of love to the Lord, and the spiritual Divine is the good of charity towards the neighbour. According to these goods also the heavens are arranged: the highest or third heaven consists of those who are in celestial good, or in the good of love to the Lord; and the heaven which succeeds it, and is called the middle or second heaven, consists of those who are in spiritual good, or in the good of charity towards the neighbour; and because celestial good is good in the highest place, and spiritual good is good in the second place, therefore the latter is around the former, for that which is above is also within, and that which is below is also without, and what is without is also around. Hence it is that in the Word by higher things, and things which are in the midst, are signified interior things, and by lower things, and things which are around, are signified exterior things.

Now because both celestial and spiritual good, guard, and as by the animals themselves, or by the cherubim as to their bodies, is signified the celestial Divine, and by the same as to their wings is signified the spiritual Divine, it is clear that by their being seen as having each by itself six wings about, is signified the appearance of the spiritual Divine on every side around the celestial Divine. (But concerning these things a fuller idea may be formed from what is said and shown in the work, Heaven and Hell. First, from the article in which it is shown that the Divine of the Lord makes heaven, n. 7-12; afterwards from the article, That the Divine of the Lord in heaven is love to Him and charity towards the neighbour, n. 13-19: and lastly, in the article, That heaven is distinguished into two kingdoms, a celestial kingdom and a spiritual kingdom, n. 20-28.)

[3] The reason why the cherubim were seen as animals is, that celestial things are represented in various ways in ultimates, as is evident from many passages in the Word; as, that the Holy Spirit appeared as a dove over Jesus when He was baptized (Matthew 3:16, 17); and that the Divine of the Lord appeared as a lamb (Apoc. 5:6, 8, 13), whence also the Lord is called a lamb (Apoc. 6:1, 16; 7:9, 10, 14, 17; 12:11; 13:8; 14:1, 4; 17:14; 19:7, 9; 21:22, 23, 27). The reason why the cherubim were four, and why each had six wings is, that by four is signified celestial good, and by six spiritual good. For the number four signifies conjunction, and inmost conjunction with the Lord is effected by means of love to Him; but the number six signifies communication, and communication with the Lord is effected by means of charity towards the neighbour.

[4] That wings signify the spiritual Divine which in its essence is truth from good, is evident from the following passages. In David:

"If ye have lain among the ranks; the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold; when thou, O Shaddai, spreadest out, kings are in it" (Psalms 68:13, 14).

What is signified by those who had lain among the ranks, by the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold, and kings are in it, Shaddai spreadeth out, no one can understand except from the internal sense. In this sense, to lie among the ranks, signifies to live in, or according to, the statutes; the wings of a dove covered with silver, signify spiritual truths; her feathers with yellow gold, signify spiritual good from which those truths are derived. Shaddai signifies a state of temptations; kings in it, signify truths in that state and after it. The reason why the wings of a dove covered with silver signify spiritual truths, is that wings signify what is spiritual, the dove signifies truth from good, and silver truth itself. The reason also why feathers covered with yellow gold signify spiritual good from which those truths are derived is that feathers signify spiritual good from which truths are derived, and similarly yellow gold. The reason why Shaddai spreading out signifies a state of temptations is, that God Shaddai signifies temptations, and consolations after them; and because truths from good are implanted in man by temptation, it is therefore said, "kings in it," for by kings are signified truths from good, as may be seen above (n. 31).

[5] In the same:

God "rode upon a cherub, he did fly; he was carried upon the wings of the wind" (Psalms 18:10).

By God riding upon a cherub is signified His Divine providence; by did fly, is signified His omnipresence in the spiritual world; he was carried upon the wings of the wind, denotes His omnipresence in the natural world; the wings of the wind signify spiritual things from which are natural things.

[6] Again:

Jehovah "covereth thee under his wing, and under the abyss shalt thou trust; truth is a shield and buckler" (Psalms 91:4).

To cover under wings signifies to be guarded by the Divine truth, which is the spiritual Divine; and to trust under the abyss signifies truth scientific (verum scientificum), or the natural Divine. And because both the latter and the former signify truth, and being covered signifies protection thereby, it is therefore said, truth a shield and buckler. From these considerations it is also evident what is signified

By being hid under the shadow of God's wings (Psalms 17:8).

By the children of men putting their trust under the shadow of His wings (Psalms 36:7; 57:1);

and also

By singing under the shadow of His wings (Psalms 63:7).

That wing, when said of the Lord, signifies the spiritual Divine, is further evident from the following passages.

[7] In Ezekiel:

"When I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold thy time was the time of loves, I spread my wing over thee, and I covered thy nakedness" (16:8).

Here the church and its reformation is treated of, and is signified by Jerusalem; the time of loves signifies the state when it could be reformed. I spread my wing over thee, signifies spiritual truth, by which reformation is effected; and I covered thy nakedness, signifies the hiding of evil thereby; for the evil which man has from his hereditary nature and afterwards from his proprium is hidden, that is, it is removed so as not to appear, by means of spiritual truths, which are truths from good.

[8] In David:

Jehovah "covereth himself with light as with a garment; he stretcheth out the heavens like a curtain; he layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters; he maketh the clouds his chariot; he walketh upon the wings of the wind" (Psalms 104:2, 3).

By the light with which Jehovah is said to cover Himself is signified the Divine truth in the heavens, which is called His garment because it proceeds from Him as the Sun, and so is without and about Him. The signification of this passage is similar to that of those which treat of the Lord's transfiguration, and of the light which then beamed from His face and His raiment (Matthew 17:2; Mark 9:3; Luke 9:28-37). By he stretcheth out the heavens like a curtain, is signified Jehovah's filling heaven and its inhabitants with the Divine truth, and thereby with intelligence. He layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters, denotes His filling with the knowledges of truth and good those who are in the ultimate heaven and who are in the church; he maketh the clouds his chariot, signifies the doctrine of truth from the literal sense of the Word; the clouds denote that sense, and chariot denotes doctrine; He walketh upon the wings of the wind, signifies the spiritual sense of the Word contained in the literal sense.

[9] In Malachi:

"But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise and healing in his wings" (4:2).

The Sun of righteousness signifies the good of love, which is the celestial Divine; and the wings of Jehovah in which there is healing signify truth from that good, which is the spiritual Divine: healing denotes reformation thereby.

[10] In Moses:

"As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, beareth them on her wings; so Jehovah alone doth lead him" (Deuteronomy 32:11, 12).

Here comparison is made with an eagle, because an eagle signifies intelligence, and wings signify the spiritual Divine, which is Divine truth, whence that intelligence is derived.

[11] In Isaiah:

"They that wait for Jehovah renew their strength, they mount up with wings as eagles" (40:31).

To mount up with wings as eagles denotes to ascend into the light of heaven, which is Divine truth, or the spiritual Divine from which is intelligence.

[12] In Ezekiel:

"In the mountain of the height will I plant it, that it may lift up the bough and bear fruit, and become a magnificent cedar, that under it may dwell every bird of every wing" (17:23).

By a magnificent cedar is signified the spiritual church; by every bird of every wing, are signified intellectual things which are derived from spiritual truths.

From these considerations it is now evident that the wings of the cherubim, both here and elsewhere in the Word, signify the spiritual Divine, which is the Divine truth instructing, regenerating and defending.

[13] As also in Ezekiel:

"There were four faces to each" cherub, "and four wings to each; their wings erect one to the other; each of them had wings covering their bodies. I heard the sound of the wings as it were the sound of great waters, as the voice of Shaddai; when they went, the voice of a tumult, as the voice of a camp; when they stood they let down their wings. I heard the voice of their wings kissing each the other, and the voice of wheels near them: the voice of the wings of the cherubim was heard at the court without, as the voice of God Shaddai; the likeness of hands was under their wings" (1:4, 6, 23; 3:13; 10:5, 21).

That wings here signify the spiritual Divine, which is the Divine truth of the Lord in His celestial kingdom, is evident from each particular of the above description. The wings being four, signifies the spiritual Divine in that kingdom; their wings being erect one to the other and kissing each other, signifies the association and conjunction of all who are in that kingdom by the Lord; the wings covering their bodies, signifies the spiritual Divine encompassing the celestial Divine; the sound of their wings being heard as the sound of great waters, and as the sound of wheels and as the voice of Shaddai, and the voice of the wings being heard even to the outer court, signifies the quality of the spiritual Divine, or of the Divine truth in the ultimate heaven; for voice is said of truth. Waters also signify truths, and the perception of them; wheels signify the truths of all doctrinals, because a chariot signifies doctrine. God Shaddai denotes truth rebuking in temptations, and afterwards consoling; the outer court denotes the ultimate heaven; the likeness of hands under the wings signifies the power of Divine truth.

[14] From these considerations it may also be seen what was signified by the wings of the cherubim which were upon the mercy-seat which was over the ark, concerning which it is thus written in Moses:

"Make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end; even of the mercy-seat shall ye make the cherubim on the two ends thereof. And the cherubim shall stretch forth their wings upwards, covering with their wings upon the mercy-seat, and their faces of a man to his brother; towards the mercy-seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. And thou shalt put the mercy-seat upon the ark from above; and to the ark thou shalt give the testimony that I shall give thee" (Exodus 25:19-21).

By the cherubim here mentioned is in like manner signified the providence of the Lord as to guardianship, lest the highest heaven, or the celestial kingdom, should be approached except by the good of love from the Lord and to the Lord. By the testimony, or law, placed in the ark, is signified the Lord Himself; by the ark, the inmost or highest heaven; by the mercy-seat, the hearing and reception of all things of worship which are from the good of love, and expiation at the time; by the wings of the cherubim is signified the spiritual Divine in that heaven, or in that kingdom. By the wings being stretched forth upwards, and by their covering the mercy-seat, and their faces being toward it is signified reception itself and hearing (but these things may be seen more fully explained in Arcana Coelestia, from n. 9506-9546).

Because by the wings of the cherubim and their extremities is signified the Divine truth heard and received from the Lord, it therefore follows in Moses:

"And there I will meet thee; and I will commune with thee from above the mercy-seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the sons of Israel" (verse 22 in the same chapter, and Numbers 7:89).

[15] Because most expressions in the Word have also an opposite meaning, so also have wings, in which they signify falsities and reasonings from them; as in the Apocalypse:

"Out of the smoke of the pit of the abyss went forth locusts. And the voice of their wings was as the voice of chariots of many horses running to battle" (9:2, 3, 9).

Locusts signify falsities in extremes, and horses reasonings from them, and battle signifies the combat of falsity against truth; hence it is said, the voice of the wings of the locust was as the voice of chariots of many horses running to battle.

[16] In Hosea:

"Ephraim is joined to idols. Their wine is sour; in whoring they have committed whoredom. The wind hath bound her up in its wings, and they shall be ashamed of their sacrifices" (4:17-19).

By Ephraim is signified the Intellectual, such as it is with those within the church who are enlightened when they read the Word. By idols are signified falsities of doctrine, hence by Ephraim being joined to idols is signified the Intellectual perverted, and seizing on falsities; by their wine being sour is signified the quality of the truth of the church, wine denoting that truth; by their committing whoredom is signified their falsifying truths, whoredom denoting the falsification of truth; by the wind binding her up in its wings is signified reasonings from fallacies, whence come falsities. (What fallacies in spiritual things are may be seen in The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 53). The same is signified by the wind in the wings of the women mentioned in Zechariah 5:9.

  
/1232  
  

Translation by Isaiah Tansley. Many thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.