9013. To kill him with deceit. That this signifies the consequent malice of depriving the neighbor of eternal life, is evident from the signification of “to kill,” as being to take away faith and charity from the neighbor, and thus to deprive him of spiritual life, which is eternal life (see n. 6767, 8902); and from the signification of “deceit,” as being malice from the will with forethought or premeditation, thus from set purpose. Evils are done either from enmity, or from hatred, or from revenge, and either with deceit or without it. But evils done with deceit are the worst, because deceit is like a poison which infects and destroys with infernal venom, for it goes through the whole mind even to its interiors. The reason is that he who is in deceit meditates evil, and feeds his understanding with it, and takes delight in it, and thus destroys everything therein that belongs to man, that is, which belongs to life from the good of faith and of charity.

[2] They who in the world have ensnared the neighbor with deceit in respect to worldly and earthly things, in the other life ensnare the neighbor with deceit in respect to spiritual and heavenly things; and because they do this in secret, they are dispatched to the hells behind the back, deep down according to the malignity and hurtfulness of the deceit, and in this way are separated from those who are in front; the latter being called “spirits,” but the former, “genii” (n. 5035, 5977, 8593, 8622, 8625). Genii are not admitted to men as spirits are, because they flow into the affections of the will, by acting against the good of love and charity so secretly that it cannot possibly be perceived; and in this way they destroy the truth of faith. In their own hell they render themselves invisible before their companions; for they who have acted secretly in the world can render themselves invisible in the other life; but when they appear, they appear among themselves like men; whereas when they are looked at by the angels they appear like serpents, for they have the nature of serpents, and that which goes forth from them is like poison, and indeed is spiritual poison.

[3] Wherefore in the Word “poison” signifies deceit, and poisonous serpents, such as “asps,” “cockatrices,” and “vipers,” signify the deceitful; as in the following passages:

In heart ye work perversities, their poison is like the poison of a serpent; like that of the deaf asp (Psalms 58:2, 4).

They cogitate evils in the heart, they sharpen their tongue like a serpent; the poison of the asp is under their lips (Psalms 140:2-3).

They lay eggs of the asp, and weave the spider’s webs, he that eateth of their eggs dieth (Isaiah 59:5).

He shall suck the poison of asps; the viper’s tongue shall slay him (Job 20:16).

Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel gall of asps (Deuteronomy 32:33).

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Ye serpents, ye offspring of vipers, how shall ye escape the judgment of Gehenna (Matthew 22:29, 33).

[4] Deceit is called “hypocrisy” when there is piety in the mouth, and impiety in the heart; or when there is charity in the mouth, but hatred in the heart; or when there is innocence in the face and gesture, but cruelty in the soul and breast; consequently when they deceive by a show of innocence, charity, and piety. Such are “serpents” and “vipers” in the internal sense, because, as before said, when such are looked at by the angels in the light of heaven, they appear like serpents and like vipers, who hide evils under truths; that is, who deceitfully bend truths to the doing of evils; for such hide poison as it were under the teeth, and thus kill.

[5] But they who are in the faith of truth and in the life of good from the Lord, cannot be injured by the poisons of such, for they are in light from the Lord, in which the deceitful appear like serpents, and their deceits like poisons. That these are kept in safety by the Lord is meant by His words to the disciples:

Behold I give unto you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions (Luke 10:19).

These signs shall follow them that believe; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not harm them (Mark 16:17-18).

The suckling shall play on the hole of the viper (Isaiah 11:8).

[6] Those who have been interiorly infected with spiritual deceit, that is, with hypocrisy, are they who are meant by those who speak against the Holy Spirit, for whom there is no forgiveness, in Matthew:

I say unto you, All sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy of the spirit shall not be forgiven unto men. Nay, if anyone shall say a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is to come. Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad and its fruit bad. O offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak what is good (Matthew 12:31-34).

By “saying a word against the Holy Spirit” is meant to speak well and think evil, and to do well and will evil, respecting those things which are of the Lord, of His kingdom, and of His church, also which are of the Word; for thus falsity lies inwardly hidden in the truths which they speak; and evil, which is hidden poison, in the goods which they do; consequently they are called “an offspring of vipers.”

[7] In the other life an evil person is allowed to speak evil and also falsity; but not good and truth, because there all are compelled to speak from the heart, and are not allowed to be of a divided mind. They who do otherwise are separated from the rest, and are hidden in hells from which they cannot possibly go forth. That such are they who are meant by “those who say a word against the Holy Spirit” is evident from the above words of the Lord, “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; how can ye, being evil, speak what is good?” The “Holy Spirit” denotes the Divine truth proceeding from the Lord, thus the Holy Divine Itself, which is thereby interiorly blasphemed and profaned.

[8] That it will not be forgiven them is because hypocrisy or deceit in connection with Holy Divine things infects the interiors of man, and destroys everything of spiritual life in him, as was said above, insomuch that at last there is nothing sound in any part of him. For the forgiveness of sins is the separation of evil from good, and the rejection of evil to the sides (n. 8393), which cannot be done with him in whom all good has been destroyed. Therefore it is said “It shall not be forgiven him, neither in this age nor in that which is to come.” Of this character also are those who are meant by “him that had not on a wedding garment,” who was bound hand and foot and cast out into outer darkness (Matthew 22:11-13, see n. 2132).

[9] That “deceit” in the Word denotes hypocrisy is evident from the following passages:

Beware ye every man of his companion, and put ye not your trust upon any brother; for every brother supplanteth. They mock, a man with his companion, and speak not the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak a lie. Thy dwelling is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they have refused to know Me, said Jehovah (Jeremiah 9:4-6).

Thou shalt destroy them that speak a lie; Jehovah abhorreth the man of bloods and deceit (Psalms 5:6).

Blessed is the man unto whom Jehovah imputeth not iniquity, provided in his spirit there is no deceit (Psalms 32:2).

Deliver my soul from the lip of a lie, from a tongue of deceit (Psalms 120:2).

In like manner Psalms 52:4; 109:2.

8902. Thou shalt not kill. That this signifies not to take away spiritual life from anyone, also not to extinguish faith and charity, as also not to hold the neighbor in hatred, is evident from the signification of “killing,” as being to deprive of spiritual life. That “killing” means this in the internal sense, is because in this sense spiritual life, or the life of heaven with man, is treated of; and spiritual life, or the life of heaven with man, is the life of faith and of charity; therefore by “not to kill” is signified also not to extinguish faith and charity in anyone. The reason why “not to kill” is also in the internal sense not to hold the neighbor in hatred, is that he who holds in hatred continually wishes to kill, and also would kill in act unless prevented by the fear of the penalty, of the loss of life, of reputation, and the like. For hatred is of evil, is contrary to charity, and breathes nothing but the murder of him whom it hates: in the world the murder of his body; in the other life the murder of his soul. This is meant by the words of the Lord in Matthew:

Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment; but I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother rashly shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of the Gehenna of fire (Matthew 5:21-22).

Hatred against the neighbor is meant by being “angry with the brother rashly,” and the degrees of its increase are described by saying to him “Raca,” and by calling him “a fool” (that anger is a turning away from charity, and is from evil, thus that it is hatred, see n. 357, 4164, 5034, 5798, 5887, 5888).

[2] That in the internal sense “to kill” denotes to take away spiritual life from anyone, consequently to extinguish faith and charity, is evident from almost all the passages in the Word where a “killing,” or “to kill,” is mentioned, as in Isaiah:

Behold the day of Jehovah cometh, cruel, and of indignation, and of wrath, and of anger; to make the land a waste, and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. Then the stars of the heavens and the constellations thereof shall not shine with their light, the sun shall be darkened in his rising, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. I will visit the wickedness upon the world, and their iniquity upon the wicked. I will make a man more rare than pure gold, and the son of man than the gold of Ophir. Everyone that is found shall be thrust through, and everyone that is gathered shall fall by the sword. Their infants shall be dashed in pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished. Their bows shall dash the young men in pieces, their eye shall not spare sons (Isaiah 13:9-12, 15-16, 18).

The subject treated of in this passage is the last time of the church, when there is no longer any faith and charity, which time is “the day of Jehovah cruel, full of indignation, of wrath, and of anger.” Everyone can see that something else is here meant than that which the words nakedly declare; but what is meant cannot be known except from the significations of the words in their spiritual sense. In this sense “the land” denotes the church (n. 566, 662, 1067, 1262, 1413, 1607, 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118, 2928, 3355, 4447, 4535, 5577, 8011, 8732); therefore “to make the land a waste, and to destroy the sinners out of it” signifies that the man of the church is then without faith and charity.

[3] “Stars” and “constellations” denote the knowledges of truth and good (see n. 2120, 2495, 2849, 4697), and these are said “not to shine with their light,” when they are no longer illuminated by the light of heaven which flows in through the faith of charity. That “the sun” denotes love to the Lord, and “the moon” faith in Him, see n. 2120, 2441, 2494, 3636, 3643, 4060, 4321, 4696, 5097, 5377, 7078, 7083, 7171, 7173, 8644, 8812; therefore “the sun being darkened in his rising,” signifies that love to the Lord cannot arise with man; and “the moon not causing her light to shine,” signifies that neither can charity and faith arise, thus that man cannot any longer be regenerated.

[4] “To make a man more rare than pure gold, and the son of man than the gold of Ophir,” signifies that good is no longer seen, nor truth; for by “man” is signified the good of the church (n. 4287, 8547), and by “the son of man” truth from good, in the supreme sense the Divine truth proceeding from the the Lord, (n. 1729, 1733, 2813, 3704). That “everyone found shall be thrust through” signifies that all will perish by reason of the evil of falsity; and that “everyone that is gathered shall fall by the sword” signifies that they will perish by reason of falsity (that “to be thrust through” denotes to perish by reason of the evil of falsity, see n. 4503; also that “to fall by the sword” denotes to perish by reason of falsity, n. 2799, 4499, 7102, 8294).

[5] The “infants being dashed in pieces” signifies that they will utterly extinguish innocence, for “infants” denote innocence (n. 430, 2126, 3183, 3494, 5608). The “wives being ravished” signifies that the goods of truth will be perverted by the evils of falsity, for “wives” denote the goods of truth (n. 2517, 4510, 4823, 7022), and “to be ravished” denotes to be perverted (see n. 2466, 4865). That “their bows shall dash the young men in pieces” signifies that the truths of good will perish through the doctrines of falsity from evil; for a “bow” denotes the doctrine of truth, and in the opposite sense the doctrine of falsity (n. 2686, 6422, 8800); “young men” denote truths confirmed (n. 7668). “And their eye shall not spare sons” signifies that he who understands truths will nevertheless extinguish them, for “sons” denote truths (n. 489, 491, 533, 1147, 2803, 2813, 3373, 4257, 5542); and “the eye” denotes the understanding of truth (n. 2701, 4403, 4421, 4523-4534). From all this it is now clear what is meant by the above prophetic words, namely, that when the church arrives at its end, all truth and all good will perish. It is also evident from what has been said, that “to be thrust through,” “to be dashed in pieces,” in a word “to be killed,” denotes the extinction of faith and charity.

[6] In Jeremiah:

Drag them away like a sheep for the slaughter, and destine them for the day of killing. How long shall the land mourn, and the herb of every field wither? For the wickedness of them that dwell therein, the beasts shall be consumed and the bird (Jeremiah 12:3-4).

“The day of killing” here denotes the time of the vastated church, which is its last time, when there is no longer faith because there is no charity; “the land shall mourn” denotes the church; “the herb of every field shall wither” denotes that every truth of the church will do so; “the beasts and the bird shall be consumed” denotes that goods and truths will be so. (That “the land” denotes the church, see just above; that “the herb of the field” denotes the truth of the church, see n. 7571; that “the field” denotes the church, n. 2971, 3310, 3766 that “beasts” denote goods and the affections of good, n. 45, 46, 142, 143, 246, 714, 715, 719, 1823, 2179, 2180, 3218, 3519, 5198 that “birds” denote truths and the affections of truth, n. 5149, 7441.) From all this it can be seen what is the internal sense of these words, and also that what is spiritual and holy of the church and of heaven is in all the particulars; and that without the internal sense it would not in any wise be understood what is meant by “the day of killing,” by that “the earth shall mourn,” that “every herb of the field shall wither,” and that “the beasts and the bird shall then be consumed.”

[7] In Zechariah:

Thus said Jehovah thy God, Feed the sheep of the killing, whose possessors kill them, and do not own themselves guilty (Zech. 11:4-5); where “the sheep of the killing” denote those who are in simple good, in whom the truths of faith are extinguished, not by their own fault, but by the fault of those who teach.

[8] In Isaiah:

In those that are to come shall Jacob take root; Israel shall blossom and flower; so that the faces of the world shall be filled with produce. Hath he smitten him according to the stroke of him that smote? is he killed according to the slaughter of his killed? (Isaiah 27:6-7).

Behold, Jehovah cometh forth out of His place to visit the iniquity of the land; then shall the land uncover its bloods, and shall not hide its killed (Isaiah 26:21).

Here also in the internal sense the subject treated of is the last time of the church, when a new church shall be resuscitated, the old perishing. “Jacob” denotes those who are in the external of the church; “Israel” those who are in the internal; “the faces of the world” denote the church in general; “the land” denotes the old church; “the killed” those in whom there is no faith because no charity.

[9] In the same:

Thou art cast forth out of thy sepulcher like an abominable shoot, a vestment of the killed, thrust through with the sword. Thou shalt not be united with them in the grave, because thou hast destroyed thy land, thou hast killed thy people (Isaiah 14:19-20).

“The killed” denote those who have been deprived of spiritual life; “thou hast killed thy people” denotes the destruction of the truths and goods of faith. Babel is here treated of, by which is signified the profanation of good (n. 1182, 1283, 1295, 1306-1308, 1321, 1322, 1326), and also its vastation (n. 1327).

[10] In Jeremiah:

I have heard the voice of the daughter of Zion, she sigheth, she spreadeth out her hands, saying, Woe is me now, for my soul is wearied because of killers. Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see I pray, and know, and seek in the avenues thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that doeth judgment, that seeketh truth (Jeremiah 4:31; 5:1).

“The daughter of Zion” denotes the celestial church; “killers,” those who destroy goods and truths; “a man who doeth judgment,” denotes those who are in truths from good.

[11] In Ezekiel:

Ye have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to kill the souls that should not die, and to keep the souls alive that should not live (Ezekiel 13:19).

“To kill souls” here plainly denotes to take away spiritual life. As “killing” had also this signification, therefore it was one of the curses upon Mount Ebal, “to slay one’s companion in secret, and to take a gift to kill the soul innocent of blood” (Deuteronomy 27:24-25).

[12] Again:

In the consummation of the age they shall deliver you into tribulation, and shall kill you; and ye shall be hated of all the nations for My name’s sake (Matthew 24:9).

Jesus said to His disciples, The hour cometh, that whosoever killeth you shall think that he offereth holy worship to God; and these things will they do, because they know not the Father, nor Me (John 16:2-3).

In these passages also by “killing” is signified to deprive of spiritual life, that is, of faith and charity; for by “the disciples” are signified all things of the truth and good of faith and charity (n. 3488, 3858, 6397). That the disciples to whom the Lord spoke are not here meant, is evident from the fact that the subject treated of is the consummation of the age, when the Lord is to come in the clouds of heaven, concerning which the disciples had asked, and by which is meant the last time of the church, when the disciples would not be alive (see n. 3488).

[13] In like manner in Mark:

Brother shall deliver up brother to death, and the father his children; children shall rise up against parents, and shall kill them (Mark 13:12).

Here also the last times are treated of, and by “killing” here also is signified to deprive of the truths and goods which are of faith and charity, thus of spiritual life.

[14] In Luke:

I will send unto them prophets and apostles; but some of them they shall kill and persecute; from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zachariah the prophet it shall be required of this generation (Luke 11:49, 51).

“Prophets and apostles” denote in the spiritual sense the truths and goods of the church; “to kill” denotes to extinguish them; “the blood of Abel” denotes the extinction of charity. (That “prophets” denote the truths of doctrine from the Word, see n. 2534, 7269; and that “the blood of Abel” denotes the extinction of charity, n. 374.)

[15] In like manner in John:

The blood of saints, and of prophets, and of the killed, was found in Babylon (Revelation 18:24); where also “the blood of saints and of prophets” denotes the extinction of the good and truth of faith and charity, and “the killed” denote those who have perished as to spiritual life. (That “blood” denotes violence done to charity, as well as all evil in general, n. 374, 1005; as also, specifically, the profanation of truth, n. 4735, 6978, 7317, 7326.)

[16] As by one “killed,” or “thrust through,” is signified the extinction of good and truth, and as all things which were instituted in the Jewish Church were representative of the spiritual and celestial things in the Lord’s kingdom, and in the supreme sense, of the Divine things in the Lord, therefore when one was found lying in the field thrust through, the following procedure of expiation for the people was commanded, namely:

They were to measure toward the cities from him that was lying in the field thrust through, and the elders of the nearest city were to take a she-calf of an ox, by which no labor had yet been done, and upon which there had not yet been a yoke, and were to bring her down to a rapid stream, and the priests, the sons of Levi, were to behead her there, and then the elders of the city were to wash their hands over the calf, and were to say that their hands had not shed that blood, neither had their eyes seen it, and that thus the blood would be expiated (Deuteronomy 21:1-8).

Who would ever know why such a procedure was instituted on account of one lying in the field thrust through, unless it were known from the internal sense what is signified by “one in a field thrust through,” by “the nearest city,” by “a calf,” by “a rapid stream,” by “the washing of hands,” and by the other things there mentioned? By “one in the field thrust through” is signified truth and good extinguished (n. 4503); by “field,” the church (n. 2971, 3310, 3766); by “city,” the doctrine of truth (n. 402, 2449, 2943, 3216, 4492, 4493); by “the elders of the city,” truths agreeing with good (n. 6524, 6525, 8578, 8585); by “a calf upon which there had not yet been a yoke,” truth not as yet confirmed (what “a calf” signifies, see n. 1824, 1825); by “washing the hands over the calf at a rapid stream” is signified purification from that evil, because done from the immoderate zeal of one ignorant of what truth is.

[17] From the above, as from the other passages, it can be seen what and how great arcana are contained in the particulars of the Word, which will not appear even as arcana if it is believed that the sense of the letter is the whole of the Word; and thus it will not be believed that anything more holy and heavenly lies inwardly hidden therein; when yet the sense of the letter is for man in the world, that is, for the natural man; while the internal sense is for man in heaven, that is, for the spiritual man. Hence it is plain what is involved in the commandment “not to kill,” namely, that not only is man not to be killed as to the body, but also that he is not to be killed as to the soul; thus that he is not only not to be deprived of life in the world, but especially that he is not to be deprived of life in heaven. If this commandment had not involved within it at the same time this meaning, it would not have been pronounced by Jehovah Himself, that is, the Lord, in a living voice upon Mount Sinai with so great a miracle; for all peoples and nations know without immediate revelation, and moreover their laws decree, that man is not to be killed, as also that adultery, theft, and false witness are not to be committed. Neither is it to be believed that the Israelitish nation was so stupid as alone to be ignorant of what all other nations on the globe know. But the revealed Word, being from the Divine Itself, over and above this stores up in its bosom higher and more universal things, namely, such things as are of heaven, thus which not only concern the life of the body, but which also concern the life of the soul, or eternal life. Herein the Word differs from, is separated from, and is preeminent over, all other writing.