THE EXPLANATION of Isaiah Chapter 11

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

1. AND there shall come forth a Shoot from the trunk of Jesse; and a Sprout from his roots shall become fruitful:

VERSE 1. The Lord, as to His Humanity born of the virgin and glorified in the world, is here called "a Shoot from the trunk of Jesse", also "a Sprout from his roots"; and in other passages He is called:

"a Germ of justice"; (Jeremiah 23:5)

"The Seed of the woman"; (Genesis 3:15)

"The only-Begotten"; (John 1:18)

"A Priest for ever, and the Lord." (Psalm 110:4-5)

Here no Son from eternity is meant, but a Son that was to be born in the world; for these passages contain prophecies concerning the coming of the Lord. Doctrine of the Lord 19. See also True Christian Religion 101.

2. And the Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon Him; the spirit of wisdom and understanding; the spirit of counsel and might; the spirit of knowledge and the fear of Jehovah;

Verse 2. In many passages in the Word mention is made of "spirit", and, when predicated of man, by "spirit" is signified divine Truth received in the life, thus his spiritual life, but when predicated of the Lord, by "Spirit" is understood the Divine Principle which proceeds from Him, which, with a general expression, is called Divine Truth. But inasmuch as few at this day know what is understood by "spirit", in the Word, it may be expedient, first, to show from passages thence adduced, that "spirit", when predicated of man, signifies divine Truth received in the life, thus his spiritual life.

Now as there are two things which constitute the spiritual life of man, namely, the Good of love and the Truth of faith, therefore in many passages of the Word mention is made of "the heart and spirit", as likewise "the heart and soul"; and by the "heart" is signified the Good of love, and by the "spirit", the Truth of faith; the latter is likewise signified by "soul", for thereby in the Word is understood man's spirit. That by "spirit", when predicated of man, is signified Truth received in the life, appears from the following passages.

Thus in Ezekiel -

"Make you a new heart and a new spirit: wherefore will you die, O house of Israel?" (Ezekiel 18:31)

Again,

"I will give unto you a new heart, and a new spirit will I give in the midst of you." (Ezekiel 36:26)

And in David,

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in the midst of me. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, God doth not despise." (Psalm 51:10, 17)

In these passages heart signifies the Good of love, and "spirit" the Truth of faith, from whence man has spiritual life; for there are two things which constitute all the, spiritual life of man, namely, Good and Truth, from these two united in man, constitute his spiritual life. When it is known what is signified by the "spirit" appertaining to man, it may be known what " Spirit " signifies when it is predicated of Jehovah, or the Lord; to whom are attributed all things appertaining to man, as a face, eyes, ears, arms, hands, as also a heart and a soul thus, also a spirit, which in the Word is called the "Spirit of God", the Spirit of Jehovah, the "spirit of His nostrils", the "spirit of His mouth, the "Spirit of Truth, the "Spirit of Holiness", and the Holy Spirit, whereby is understood Divine Truth proceeding from the Lord, as may appear from many passages in the Word.

The reason that Divine Truth proceeding from the Lord is the "Spirit" of God, is, because all the life which men have is derived from thence as also the heavenly life appertaining to those who receive that Divine Truth in faith and life, that this is the "Spirit of God", the Lord Himself teaches in John,

"The words which I speak unto you are spirit and are life; (John 6:63) and in Isaiah 11:1, 2. Apocalypse Explained 183. See also Arcana Coelestia 2826, 9818.

"Verses 2. 3. The Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon Him, etc. - These words also relate to the Lord, and thereby is described the Divine Truth, in which and from which is all wisdom and intelligence. The Divine Truth which was in the Lord, when He was in the world, and which, after the glorification of His Human, proceeds from Him, is understood by "the Spirit of Jehovah which shall rest upon Him."

That thence He had Divine Wisdom and Divine Power is understood by "the spirit of wisdom and intelligence" and by the spirit of counsel and might"; that thence He had Omniscience and essential sanctity in worship, is understood by "the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah"; and whereas "fear" signifies the holy principle of worship from divine Truth, it is therefore added, whence "this offering of incense was in the fear of Jehovah"; for to "offer incense" signifies worship from the Divine-Spiritual [principle], which is Divine Truth, concerning which (see above, Apocalypse Explained 324, 491) it is said, "the spirit of wisdom and intelligence, of knowledge and of fear"; and by "spirit" is understood the Divine Proceeding; by the "spirit of wisdom", the Divine-Celestial, which is the Divine Proceeding received by the angels of the inmost or third heaven; by the "spirit of intelligence" is meant the Divine-Spiritual, which is the Divine Proceeding received by the angels of the middle or second heaven; by the "spirit of science" [or knowledgeJ is meant the Divine-Natural, which is the Divine Proceeding received by the angels of the ultimate or first heaven; and by the "spirit of the fear of Jehovah" is understood all the holiness of worship from those divine principles. Apocalypse Explained 696.

3. And His offering of incense shall be in the fear of Jehovah: He shall not judge according to the sight of His eyes; nor shall He reprove according to the hearing of His ears:

Verse 3. "Incense" signifies those things appertaining to worship, which are performed from spiritual good, or from the good of charity, and thence are gratefully perceived. Apocalypse Explained 324, 325, 492.

The reason why "incense" signifies worship from spiritual Good, is, because the principal worship in the Jewish church consisted in the offering of sacrifices and incense; wherefore there were two altars, one for sacrifices and the other for incense. The latter altar was within the tabernacle, and was called the "golden altar", but the former was without the tabernacle, and was called the "altar of burnt-offerings." The reason was, because there are two kinds of goods from which all "worship is performed, celestial Good and spiritual Good. Celestial Good is the Good of love to the Lord, and spiritual Good is the Good of love to our neighbour. Worship by sacrifices was worship from celestial Good, and worship by incense was worship from spiritual Good. Apocalypse Revealed 277.

In the fear of Jehovah. - What is signified in the Word by "fearing God", may be manifest from very many passages therein, understood according to the internal sense. the "fear of God", according to that sense, signifies worship, and indeed worship either grounded in fear, or in the good of faith, or in the good of love. The "fear of God" signifies worship grounded in fear or dread, when the subject treated of is concerning the non-regenerate, as in Exodus 20:19, 20; Deuteronomy 5:22, 24, 20; where the "fear of God" signifies worship grounded in fear, in respect to them as being of such a nature. For they who are principled in external worship without internal, are led by fear to the observance of the law, and to compliance with its precepts, but still they, do not come into internal worship, or into holy fear, unless they are in the good of life, and know and believe what internal worship is. So in Deuteronomy 28:58-60; where to "fear the honourable and terrible name of JEHOVAH GOD", is to worship from a principle of fear or dread, to inspire which into a people of such a nature and quality as the Jews were, all evils, even to curses, were attributed to Jehovah. So in Jeremiah 2:19; Matthew 10:28; Luke 12:2-5. In these passages also to "fear God" implies worship from fear or dread, because it is fear which drives them to compliance. Arcana Coelestia 2826.

But spiritual fear is holy fear, which is in all spiritual love, variously, according to the quality of the love, and its quantity. In this fear the spiritual man is principled; he likewise knows that the Lord does not do evil to anyone, still less does He destroy anyone as to "body and soul in hell", (Luke 12:5) but that He does good to all, and that He is willing to lift up everyone as to body and soul to Himself into heaven. Hence the fear of the spiritual man, lest by evils of life and by false principles of doctrine he should avert the Divine in himself, and thereby injure it. But natural fear, or the fear of the unregenerate natural man, is dread, alarm, and terror on account of dangers, punishments, and thus on account of hell; which fear is in every corporeal love, variously also, according to the quality of the love and according to its quantity. The natural man who is subject to that fear, knows no other than that the Lord does evil to the wicked, that He condemns them, casts them into hell, and punishes them; hence it is that they fear, and are afraid of the Lord. In this fear were the generality of the Jewish and Israelitish nation, by reason that they were natural men. Apocalypse Explained 696.

4. But with justice shall He judge the poor, and with equity shall He plead for the miserable of the earth: and He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked.

Verse 4. He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, etc. - By the "rod of the mouth of Jehovah" is signified Divine Truth, or the Word, in the natural sense; and by the "spirit of His lips" is signified Divine Truth, or the Word, in the spiritual sense, - both destroying the false of evil in the church, which is signified by "smiting the earth, and slaying the wicked." Apocalypse Explained 727. See also Arcana Coelestia 1286.

5. And justice shall be the girdle of His loins, and truth the girdle of His reins.

Verse 5. Justice shall be the girdle of His loins, etc. - A "girdle", in the Word, signifies a common bond whereby all things are kept in their order and connection, as in Isaiah 11:5. As a "girdle" signifies a bond conjoining the goods and truths of the church, therefore when the church among the children of Israel was destroyed, Jeremiah the prophet was commanded to "buy himself a girdle, and put it upon his loins, and then to hide it in a hole of a rock beside the Euphrates; and at the end of days, when he took it, behold, it was rotten and profitable for nothing"; (Jeremiah 13:1-7) by which was represented that at that time there was no good in the church, and thence truths were dissipated. The same is signified by a "girdle" in other passages, as in Isaiah:

"Instead of a girdle there shall be a rent." (Isaiah 3:24) Apocalypse Revealed 46.

Verses 5, 6. Justice shall be the girdle of His loins, and truth the girdle of His reins; - the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, etc. - These things are said concerning the Lord, and concerning His kingdom and the state of innocence and peace therein. That they are said concerning the Lord, is evident from the first verse of the chapter, where it is said that "a Shoot shall come forth from the trunk of Jesse, and a Sprout shall grow from his roots." That "justice shall be the girdle of His loins, and truth the girdle of His reins", signifies that the Divine Good, proceeding from the Divine Love of the Lord, shall conjoin those in heaven and in the church who are principled in love to Him, and that Divine Truth proceeding from Him shall conjoin those in heaven and in the church who are principled in love towards their neighbour; by "justice", when predicated of the Lord, is understood the Divine Good, and by His" loins" are understood those who are principled in love to Him: by "truth" is understood the Divine Truth, and by His "reins" are understood those who are principled in love towards their neighbour; and by "girdle" is signified conjunction with them in heaven and in the church. Wherefore "he shall dwell " signifies a state of peace, which takes place when nothing of evil from hell is feared, because it cannot do hurt; "the wolf with the lamb, and the leopard with the kid", signifies that no evil and false shall hurt those who are in innocence and in charity from the Lord; by the "wolf" is signified the evil which is opposite to innocence, and attempts to destroy it; and by the "leopard" is understood the false which is opposed to charity, and, which, by reasonings in favour of faith alone, attempts to destroy charity; by the "lamb is signified innocence, and by the the "kid" charity; "the calf also, and the young lion, and the fatling together", signify that the infernal false shall not hurt the innocence of the natural man, nor any good affection thereof; the "calf" signifying the innocence of the natural man , the "fatling or ox", the affection of the natural man, and the "lion", the infernal false, as to the potency and cupidity of destroying divine Truth; and a "little child shall lead them", signifies the state of innocence and love to the Lord in which they will be; a "little child" or boy signifying innocence, and, at the same time, love to the Lord; for love to the Lord makes one with innocence, inasmuch as they who are in that love are also in innocence, as is the case with those who are in the third heaven, who thence also appear before the eyes of others as infants and children. Apocalypse Explained 780. See also Arcana Coelestia 3021, 9828.

6. And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb; and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

Verses 6, 8, 9, 10. - In this passage is described the state of peace and happiness in the heavens. and in the church, after the Lord had come into the world: and since a state of peace and Innocence is described, mention is made of "a lamb, a kid, a calf, and also of a little child, a suckling, and a weaned child", and by them all is signified the good of innocence; - the inmost good of innocence by a "lamb"; the interior good of innocence by a "kid"; and the exterior good of innocence by a "calf."

In like manner by "a child, a suckling, and a weaned child."

The "mountain of holiness" denotes heaven and the church, where the good of innocence prevails.

The "nations" are they who are in that good.

The "Root of Jesse" is the Lord, from whom that good is derived. The good of love from Him to them, which is called celestial good, is the good of innocence.

That a "lamb" denotes the good of innocence in general, and specifically the inmost good of innocence, is manifest from this consideration, that it is named in the first place; also from this, that the Lord Himself is called a "Lamb."

That a "kid" denotes the interior good of innocence, see Arcana Coelestia 3519, 4871;

that a "calf" is the exterior good of innocence, n. 9391;

that a "child" is innocence, n. 5236; in like manner "a suckling or infant, and a weaned child", Arcana Coelestia 3494, 5608;

that the "mountain of holiness" denotes whence the good of love to the Lord is, Arcana Coelestia 6135, 8758;

that "nations" signify [in a good sense] those "who are in that good, Arcana Coelestia 1416, 6005.

That the good of love to the Lord 'which is called celestial good, is the good of innocence, is manifest from those who are in the inmost heaven, who because they are in that good appear naked, and as infants by reason that nakedness, in a good sense, corresponds to innocence, see Arcana Coelestia 9277. Arcana Coelestia 10132.

7. And the cow and the bear shall feed; together shall their young ones lie down: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

Verse 7. By the "cow and the bear feeding, and their young lying down together", is signified that the power and lust of the natural man of falsifying the truths of the Word, shall not hurt the good of the natural man and the affection thereof; the "cow" denoting the affection of good and truth appertaining to the natural man, and the "bear", the power and lust of the natural man to falsify the truths of the literal sense of the Word; "the lion shall eat straw like the ox, "signifies that the infernal false, which is ardent to destroy the truths of the church, shall not hurt the affection of good appertaining to the natural man, either with man in himself or with men amongst each other, and that neither shall it hurt the Word:

"straw" signifying the Word in the letter, which is perverted by the infernal also, but caunot be perverted by those who are in truths from good. Apocalypse Explained 781.

8. And the suckling shall play upon the hole of the viper; and upon the den of the basilisk shall the weaned child lay his hand.

Verse 8. This passage cannot be understood unless it be known from the things which appear in the spiritual world what is understood by the "hole of the viper", and the "den of the basilisk."

It was observed above, (Chapter 2:19, the Exposition.) that the entrances to the hills appear as holes in rocks, and as gaps opening to dens such as belong to "wild beasts in the forests; and it is further to be observed, that they who inhabit" those places, when they are viewed in the light of heaven, appear as monsters of various kinds, and also as wild beasts. They who are in the hells inhabited by such as act craftily against innocence appear as "vipers", and they who do the same against the good of love appear as "basilisks", and as a "suckling" or infant signifies the good of innocence, therefore it is said "the suckling shall play upon the hole of the viper", and as a "weaned child", or an infant ceasing to suck, signifies the good of love, therefore it is said that he shall "lay his hand upon the den of the basilisk."

Hence the signification of this passage is, that they who are in the good of innocence and in the good of love to the Lord, shall not be in any fear on account of evils and falsities, which are from hell, because they are protected by the Lord. That by the "suckling and infant", in the Word, is signified the good of innocence, may be seen in Arcana Coelestia 430, 3183; what is signified by "vipers", and other poisonous serpents" may be seen in 9013. Apocalypse Explained 410.

9. They shall not hurt, nor destroy, in all the mountain of My holiness: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea.

Verse 9. The earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea. - Inasmuch as it is not yet known that "waters" in the Word signify the truths of faith and the knowledges of Truth, perhaps by reason of its appearing so remote, I am desirous here briefly to show that such things are understood by "waters" in the Word, which also is necessary, because without the knowledge of the signification of "waters", it cannot be known what is signified by baptism, nor what by the washing in the Israelitish church, of which mention is so frequently made. "Waters" signify the truths of faith, because "bread" signifies the good of love. The reason why "waters" and "bread" have such a signification, is, because the things which appertain to spiritual nourishment are expressed, in the sense of the letter, by such things as appertain to natural nourishment; for "waters" and "bread", by which are meant all drink and all food in general, nourish the body and the truths of faith and the good of love, nourish the soul, This is also from correspondence, for when "bread" and "water" are read in the Word, the angels, as being spiritual, understand those things which nourish them, which are the goods of love, and the truths of faith. But some passages shall be here adduced, from whence it may be known that "waters" signify the truths of faith, likewise the knowledges of truth; as in Isaiah:

"Then shall you draw waters with gladness from the fountains of salvation." (Isaiah 12:3)

Again,

"He who walks in justice, and speaks uprightly, bread shall be given him, and faithful waters." (Isaiah 33:15, 16)

Again,

"The poor and the needy seek water, but there is none: their tongue faints for thirst; I will open rivers upon hills, and will place fountains in the midst of valleys, the desert into a lake of waters, and the dry land into springs of waters; that they may see, and know, and attend, and understand." (Isaiah 41:17, 18, 20)

Again,

"I will pour out waters upon the thirsty, and floods upon the dry; I will pour out My spirit upon your seed, and My blessing upon thine offspring." (Isaiah 44:3)

I know that some will wonder why "waters" are mentioned in the Word, and not the truths of faith, when nevertheless the Word is to teach man concerning his spiritual life, and if the truths of faith had been mentioned instead of "waters", man would have known that the "waters" of baptism and of washings do not contribute anything to his purification from evils and falsities, but it is to be observed that the Word, to be divine and at the same time profitable to heaven and the church, must be altogether natural in the letter, for unless it were natural in the letter, it would not be the medium to effect conjunction of heaven with the church; for it would be as a house without a foundation, and as a soul without a body, for the ultimates include all the interiors, and are their foundations, as may be seen above, n. 41; man also is in ultimates, and heaven has its foundation upon the church in him. Hence then it is that such is the style of the Word; wherefore when man thinks spiritually from natural things, "which are in the sense of the letter of the Word, he is conjoined with heaven, with which he would not otherwise be conjoined." Apocalypse Explained 71.

10. And it shall be in that day, that the Root of Jesse shall stand for a standard to the peoples; unto Him shall the nations seek: and His resting-place shall be glorious.

11. And it shall be in that day, that the Lord shall again the second time put forth His hand to recover the remnant of His people that remains, from Assyria, and from Egypt; and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Eiam; and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

Verse 10. The Lord, as to the Human, is called the "Root of David" on this account, because all divine Truth is from Him, as all things also exist and subsist from their root; hence also it is, that He is called the "Root of Jesse", where Jesse is put for David, because he was his father. Apocalypse Explained 310.

What a "standard" specifically signifies, see below, Chapter 13:2, the Exposition.

The verses from 1 to 10 describe the state of the regenerate man, who acknowledges the Lord and worships Him alone, showing that he has power over everything evil and false from hell, and that he is in the enjoyment of heavenly peace and happiness. True Christian Religion 354.

Verse 11. The Lord shall recover the remnant of His people from Assyria, Egypt, etc. - The "remnant of Assyria" are those who are not destroyed by reasoning from falsities against the truths of the church. (Arcana Coelestia 5897)

The "remnant from Egypt" are those who, at the period of judgment, are not destroyed by the misapplication for selfish ends of the scientifics of the Word and the Church. (Arcana Coelestia 3322, 4749)

The "remnants from Pathros and from Cush" are such as have not employed the knowledges of what is Good and True to confirm what is evil and false. (Arcana Coelestia 1163)

The "remnant from Elam" are those who have somewhat of faith grounded in charity still remaining. (Arcana Coelestia 1228, 1685)

The "remnant of Shinar " are such as have an external worship in which there is not a profane principle. (Arcana Coelestia 1183, 1292)

The "remnant from Hamath" are those who, although in external idolatries, have nevertheless somewhat of sincerity in their internals. (1205)

The "remnant from the islands of the sea" signify distinct kinds of worship, and such as are comparatively remote from internal worship, or such as pertain to the nations out of the church. Arcana Coelestia 1158.

The "outcasts of Israel whom the Lord shall gather" are those who have remains of spiritual love, or charity to the neighbour; and the "dispersed of Judah" are those who have remains of celestial love, or of love to the Lord. Apocalypse Explained 483.

[These" remnants", at the time of judgment in the world of spirits, can be saved, and after instruction in the truths of the Word, can be raised up into heaven; and of those upon earth who are in similar states to these "remnants" the Lord can form a New Church.]

12. And He shall lift up a standard to the nations; and He shall gather the outcasts of Israel, and the dispersed of Judah shall He collect from the four wings of the earth.

Verses 12, 13, 15, 16. The subject here treated of in the sense of the letter is concerning the bringing back of the Israelites and Jews out of captivity; but in the internal sense it has relation to the New Church in general, and to every individual in particular who is regenerated or becomes a church.

The "outcasts of Israel" denote their truths; the "dispersed of Judah" denote their goods; "Ephraim" denotes their intellectual principle, in that it will no longer be repugnant; "Egypt" denotes scientifics, and "Ashur" reasoning grounded therein, which they have perverted; the "expelled", the "dispersed", the "remains", and the "left" [or residue] denote the truths and goods which survive; that "Ephraim" is the intellectual principle, was shown above; (Chapter vii. Exposition.)

That "Egypt" is the scientific, may be seen in Arcana Coelestia 1164, 1165; that "Ashur" is reasoning, may be seen, Arcana Coelestia 119, 1180, also above, (Chapter 7:18, 19) and that "remains" are goods and truths from the Lord stored up in the interior man, see Arcana Coelestia 468, 530. Arcana Coelestia 3564. See also above, Chapter 1:9, the Exposition.

Verses 12, 14. He shall gather the outcasts of Israel and the dispersed of Judah; - they shall fly upon the shoulder of the Philistines towards the sea, etc. - By "Israel" and by "Judah " are not meant Israel and Judah, but by "Israel" those who are in the good of faith, and by "Judah" those who are in the good of love. To "fly upon the shoulder of the Philistines" signifies to receive and to take into possession the interior truths of faith. To "spoil the soils of the east", is to receive and to take into possession the interior goods of faith: for the "sons of the east" are those who are the goods of faith and in the knowledges of good. (See Arcana Coelestia 3249, 3762)

That to "spoil" denotes to receive and to take into possession, see what was shown concerning" the spoiling of the Egyptians by the sons of Israel", in Arcana Coelestia 6914, 0917. Inasmuch as by the "land of Philistia" was signified [in a good sense] the science of the interior truths of faith, and by "Abraham " and "Isaac" was represented the Lord, and by their "sojourning", the instruction of the Lord in the truths and goods of faith and love, which are of divine Wisdom, therefore for the sake of that figure Abraham was ordered to "sojourn in Philistia"; (see Genesis 20:1, to the end.) and also Isaac; (Genesis 24:26, to the end.) on which subject see the explanations of those chapters. Arcana Coelestia 9340.

13. And the envy of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not distress Ephraim.

Verses 13-16. The envy of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not distress Ephraim, etc. And there shall be a highway for the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria; as it was unto Israel, in the day of his coming up from the land of Egypt. In this passage it is impossible to see anything divine, unless it be known what is signified by each particular name, notwithstanding that the subject here treated of is concerning the coming of the Lord, and what shall come to pass at that time, as plainly appears from verses 1 to 10; without the help, therefore, of the spiritual sense, how is it possible for anyone to discern the genuine signification of these words in their order, as denoting that they who through ignorance are principled in falsities and do not suffer themselves to be seduced by evils, will come to the Lord, and that the Word will then be understood by the church, and that falsities will then be no longer hurtful to them. Sacred Scripture 15.

These things are said concerning the salvation of the nations, which are also signified by the "outcasts of Israel and the dispersed of Judah"; for it is said that the Lord "will set up a standard to the nations." By the "outcasts of Israel" are understood those who are not in truths, but in the desire of learning them: by the "dispersed of Judah", those who are in the good of life, find therefore in love to the Lord. For they who love to do good, love the Lord, for the Lord is in that good, because it is from Him.

By "Ephraim" is here understood the intellectual principle, or the understanding in concord with the good of love. That the one is not discordant with the other is understood by the "envy of Ephraim. shall depart", and by "Ephraim not envying Judah", and by "Judah not distressing Ephraim." That they will be separated from those who separate faith from charity is signified by their "flying upon the shoulder of the Philistines [who dwell] towards the sea." The "Philistines towards the sea" are those who separate faith from charity, or from the good of life. The sea is the ultimate where heaven terminates, and to "fly on the shoulder" is to reject, and thus to separate them from themselves. Apocalypse Explained 433.

14. But they shall fly upon the shoulder of the Philistines towards the sea; together shall they spoil he sons of the east: on Edom and Moab they shall lay their hand; and the sons of Ammon shall obey them.

Verse 14. On Edom and Moab they shall lay their hand; and the sons of Ammon shall obey them. - "Edom" and also "Esau" signify, in a bad sense, those who from the evil of self-love despise and reject truths. Arcana Coelestia 3322. "Moab" denotes those who adulterate goods; "the sons of Ammon "those who falsify truths. Arcana Coelestia 2468.

[By these nations obeying those gathered as remnants by the Lord (in verses 11 and 12), is meant that the evils and falsities signified, in a bad sense, by "Edom, Moab, and Ammon", will be subject to them, and thus subdued. For the enemies of the church, and, consequently, of the regenerate states of its members, are chiefly those 1, who despise and reject its truths (Edom); 2, those who adulterate its goods (Moab); and 3, those who falsify its truths (Ammon). Because the evils and falsities which principally devastate a church may be brought under these three general heads.]

15. And Jehovah shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and He shall shake His hand over the river with His mighty wind: and He shall strike it into seven streams, and make them pass over it in shoes.

16. And there shall be a highway for the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria; as it was unto Israel, in the day of his coming up from the land of Egypt.

Verses 15, 16. Jehovah shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian· sea, etc. - By these words is signified that all falsities and false reasonings will be dissipated before those who are, from the Lord, in truths from good, and that they will pass, as it were, through the midst of such falsities in safety. Thus it happens in the spiritual world to those who are protected by the Lord. A similar thing is here understood as by the drying up of the Red Sea [SuphJ before the sons of Israel. They who, under the Lord's protection, will thus pass over are understood by the "remnant of the people that shall be left from Assyria"; for by the "left from Assyria", those are understood who have not perished by reasonings from falsities. Apocalypse Explained 509.

[That by "tongue", in a bad sense, and especially by " the tongue of the Egyptian sea", when opposed to those who are in truths from the Lord, is signified false doctrine, and, in general, falsities of every kind arising from the perverse application by reasonings of scientifics and knowledges signified by "Egypt"; see above, Chapter 3:8, 11, the Exposition.] .

[To "strike the river into seven streams", denotes utter dissipation of the falsities thereby signified; for "seven" signifies what is full and entire, (Arcana Coelestia 10127) "With a mighty wind", signifies a medium of destruction; see Arcana Coelestia 7679.]

And make them pass over it in shoes. - "Shoes" denote the ultimate or the last sensual and corporeal principle of man; in respect to the regenerate [as in this case], that principle renewed and regenerated. The internal of the natural principle or degree, is signified by the "feet", the middle by the "soles", and the lowest or ultimate by the "shoes." Hence it "was a custom to take the shoes from off the feet. when the Lord in holy worship was approached, (Exodus 3:5; Joshua 5:15) to signify that the Lord and the things of His Word and kingdom should not be thought of from merely sensual and corporeal ideas, but that the mind in acts of worship and in meditation on heavenly subjects, should rise above what is sensual and corporeal, By the "shoes" which were put on the feet of the prodigal son, after his return to his father's house, is signified the conjunction of Truth and Good in the external or natural man, thus a renewed or regenerated natural principle, by which a man is enabled, from the Lord, to "trample upon serpents and scorpions", (Luke 10:19) or to pass over evils and falsities unhurt. Arcana Coelestia 1748, 6844, 7864. See also Apocalypse Explained 219.

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Isaiah Chapter 11

1. AND there shall come forth a Shoot from the trunk of Jesse; and a Sprout from his roots shall become fruitful:

2. And the Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon Him; the spirit of wisdom and understanding; the spirit of counsel and might; the spirit of knowledge and the fear of Jehovah;

3. And His offering of incense shall be in the fear of Jehovah: He shall not judge according to the sight of His eyes; nor shall He reprove according to the hearing of His ears:

4. But with justice shall He judge the poor, and with equity shall He plead for the miserable of the earth: and He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He slay the wicked.

5. And justice shall be the girdle of His loins, and truth the girdle of His reins.

6. And the wolf shall dwell with the lamb; and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

7. And the cow and the bear shall feed; together shall their young ones lie down: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

8. And the suckling shall play upon the hole of the viper; and upon the den of the basilisk shall the weaned child lay his hand.

9. They shall not hurt, nor destroy, in all the mountain of My holiness: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea.

10. And it shall be in that day, that the Root of Jesse shall stand for a standard to the peoples; unto Him shall the nations seek: and His resting-place shall be glorious.

11. And it shall be in that day, that the Lord shall again the second time put forth His hand to recover the remnant of His people that remains, from Assyria, and from Egypt; and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Eiam; and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

12. And He shall lift up a standard to the nations; and He shall gather the outcasts of Israel, and the dispersed of Judah shall He collect from the four wings of the earth.

13. And the envy of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not distress Ephraim.

14. But they shall fly upon the shoulder of the Philistines towards the sea; together shall they spoil he sons of the east: on Edom and Moab they shall lay their hand; and the sons of Ammon shall obey them.

15. And Jehovah shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and He shall shake His hand over the river with His mighty wind: and He shall strike it into seven streams, and make them pass over it in shoes.

16. And there shall be a highway for the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria; as it was unto Israel, in the day of his coming up from the land of Egypt.

696. And to them that fear Thy name, the small and the great, signifies and to all of whatever religion who worship the Lord. This is evident from the signification of "fearing the name" of the Lord God, as being to worship the Lord (of which presently); also from the signification of "the small and the great," as being of whatever religion; for "the small" mean those who have but little knowledge of the truths and goods of the church, and "the great" those who know much, thus those who worship the Lord little and much; for in the measure that a man knows the truths of faith and lives according to them does he worship the Lord, for worship is not from man but from the truths from good that are with man, since these are from the Lord, and the Lord is in them. "They that fear Thy name, the small and the great," mean all of whatever religion who worship the Lord, because just before "the servants, the prophets and the saints," are mentioned, meaning all within the church who are in the truths of doctrine and in a life according to them; therefore "they that fear Thy name, the small and the great," mean all without the church who worship the Lord according to their religion, for those who are in the worship of the Lord, and live in any faith and charity, according to their religious principle, also fear God's name. In fact, this verse treats of the Last Judgment upon all, both the evil and the good; and the Last Judgment is executed upon all, both those within the church and those outside of it; and then all are saved who fear God and live in mutual love, in uprightness of heart and in sincerity from a religious principle, for all such, by an intuitive faith in God and by a life of charity, are consociated as to their souls with the angels of heaven, and are thus conjoined to the Lord and saved. For after death everyone comes to his own in the spiritual world, with whom he was closely consociated as to his spirit while he was living in the natural world.

[2] "The small and the great" signify less or more, that is, those who worship the Lord less or more, thus who are less or more in truths from good, because the spiritual sense of the Word is abstracted from all regard to persons, contemplating the thing nakedly; and the expression "the small and the great" has regard to person, for it means men who worship God; for this reason instead of these less and more are meant in the spiritual sense, thus those who worship less or more from genuine truths and goods. It is similar with "the servants, the prophets and the saints," just above, by whom in the spiritual sense prophets and saints are not meant, but, apart from persons, the truths of doctrine and a life according to them. But while these are meant, all who are in the truths of doctrine and a life according to them are also included, for such truths and life are in subjects which are angels and men; but in such case to think of angels and men only is natural, while to think of the truths of doctrine and life, which make angels and men, is spiritual. Thence it may be clear how the spiritual sense in which the angels are, differs from the natural sense in which men are, namely, that in every particular that a man thinks there inheres something of person, space, time and matter, while angels think things abstractly from all these. Thence it is that the speech of angels is incomprehensible to man, because it is from the intuition of the thing, and thus from a wisdom abstracted from things that are proper to the natural world, and therefore comparatively undetermined to such things.

[3] "To fear Thy name" signifies to worship the Lord, because "to fear" signifies to worship, and "Thy name" signifies the Lord. In a preceding verse it is said that the twenty-four elders gave thanks to the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come;" wherefore "to fear Thy name" means to worship the Lord. In the Word both of the Old and New Testaments, "the name of Jehovah," "the name of the Lord," "the name of God," and "the name of Jesus Christ" are mentioned, and "name" here means all things whereby He is worshipped, thus all things of love and faith, and in the highest sense the Lord Himself is meant, because where He is, there also are all things of love and faith. That such is the signification of "the name of Jehovah," "the Lord God," and "Jesus Christ," may be seen above (n. 102, 135, 224), and is also evident from these words of the Lord:

If two of you shall agree on earth In My name respecting anything that they shall ask it shall be done for them by My Father who is in the heavens. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them (Matthew 18:19, 20).

Here "to agree in the Lord's name" and "to be gathered together in His name" means not in mere name, but in those things that belong to the Lord, which are the truths of faith and the goods of love by which He is worshipped.

[4] "To fear," in reference to the Lord, signifies to worship and reverence, because in worship and in all things of worship there is a holy and reverential fear, which is that the Lord is to be honored and in no way injured; for it is as with children towards parents and parents towards children, with wives towards husbands and husbands towards wives, also as with friends towards friends, in whom there is a fear of injuring and also respect; such a fear with respect is in all love and in all friendship, so that love and friendship without such a fear and respect is like food not salted, which is insipid. This is why "to fear the Lord" means to worship Him from such love.

[5] It is said that "to fear Thy name" signifies to worship the Lord, and yet "those who fear Him" mean here all those who are outside of the church, to whom the Lord is unknown, because they do not have the Word; nevertheless, all such as in respect to God have an idea of the Human are still accepted by the Lord, for God under the Human form is the Lord; but all, whether within or without the church, who do not think of God as Man, when they come into their own spiritual life, which takes place after their departure out of this world, are not accepted by the Lord, because they have no determinate idea of God, but only an indeterminate idea, which is no idea at all, or if it be any is nevertheless dissipated. This is why all who come from the earths into the spiritual world are first explored, as to what idea of God they have had and have brought with them. If they have no idea of Him as Man they are sent to places of instruction, where they are taught that the Lord is the God of heaven and earth, and that when they think of God they must think of the Lord, and that otherwise there can be no conjunction with God, and thus no consociation with angels. Then all who have lived a life of charity receive instruction and worship the Lord. But all those who say that they have had faith, but have not been in the life of faith, which is charity, do not accept instruction; consequently they are separated and sent away into places below the heavens, some into the hells, some into the earth that is called in the Word "the lower earth," where they suffer hard things. Still the Gentiles who have made the laws of religion laws of life receive the doctrine respecting the Lord more readily than Christians, and this especially because they had no other idea of God than that of the Divine Man. This has been said that it may be known why it is that "to fear Thy name" means to worship the Lord.

[6] In many passages in the Word the expression "to fear Jehovah God" is used, and this means to worship Him; therefore it shall be told in a few words what worship in particular is meant by "fearing God." All worship of Jehovah God must be from the good of love by means of truths. Worship that is from the good of love alone is not worship, neither is worship that is from truths alone, without the good of love, worship; there must be both, since the good of love is the essential of worship, but good has its existence and form by means of truths, therefore all worship must be from good by means of truths. For this reason, in many passages in the Word where the expression "to fear Jehovah God" is used it is added, "to keep and to do His words and commandments;" consequently in these places "to fear" signifies worship by means of truths, and "to keep and do" signifies worship from the good of love, for doing is of the will, thus of the love and of good, but "fearing" is of the understanding, thus of faith and of truth, since every truth that is of faith belongs properly to the understanding, and every good that is of love belongs properly to the will. From this it can be seen that "the fear of Jehovah God" is predicated of worship by means of the truths of doctrine, which are also called truths of faith. Such worship is meant by "the fear of Jehovah God," because Divine truth causes fear in that it condemns the evil to hell; but Divine good does not, since so far as it is received through truths by man and angel it takes away condemnation. Thence it may be seen that so far as man is in the good of love there is fear of God; also that dread and terror disappear and become a holy fear attended with reverence so far as man is in the good of love and in truths therefrom, that is, so far as there is good in his truths. From this it follows that fear in worship varies with each one according to the state of his life; and also that the sanctity attended with reverence that there is in fear with those that are in good, varies also according to the reception of good in the will and according to the reception of truth in the understanding, that is, according to the reception of good in the heart and the reception of truth in the soul.

[7] But what has now been said can be seen more clearly from the following passages in the Word. In Moses:

What doth Jehovah thy God ask of thee but to fear Jehovah thy God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, and to serve Jehovah thy God with thy whole heart and with thy whole soul? (Deuteronomy 10:12, 20)

The expressions "to fear Jehovah God," "to walk in His ways," "to love Him," and "to serve Him," are here used, and by all these worship by truths from good is described; worship by truths is meant by "fearing Jehovah God" and by "serving Him," and worship from good by "walking in His ways" and by "loving Him;" therefore it is also said "with the whole heart and with the whole soul," "heart" signifying the good of love and charity that belongs to the will, and "soul" the truth of doctrine and faith that belongs to the understanding; for "heart" corresponds to the good of love, and in man to his will, and "soul" corresponds to the truth of faith, and in man to his understanding, for soul [anima] means the breathing or respiration of man, which is also called his spirit. (That "soul" signifies in the Word the life of faith, and "heart" the life of love, may be seen in Arcana Coelestia 2930, 9050, 9281.)

[8] In the same:

Ye shall go after Jehovah your God and ye shall fear Him, that ye may keep His commandments and hear His voice and serve Him and cleave unto Him (Deuteronomy 13:4).

"To go after Jehovah God, to keep His commandments, and to cleave unto Him," signifies the good of life, thus the good of love from which is worship; and "to fear Jehovah God, to hear His voice, and to serve Him," signifies the truths of doctrine, thus the truths of faith by means of which is worship. As all worship of the Lord must be by means of truths from good, and not by means of truths without good, nor by means of good without truths, therefore in every particular of the Word there is a marriage of good and truth, as in the passages already cited, and also in the following. (On the marriage of good and truth, in the particulars of the Word, see above, n. 238 at the end, 288, 660.)

[9] In the same:

Thou shalt fear Jehovah thy God, Him shalt thou serve, and to Him shalt thou cleave, and in His name shalt thou swear (Deuteronomy 10:20).

Here also "to fear Jehovah God and to serve Him," has reference to the truths of worship, and "to cleave unto Jehovah God and to swear in His name" has reference to the good of worship; for "to cleave to" is a word of the good of love, since one who loves cleaves to; "to swear in the name of Jehovah" in like manner, since the doing of something is confirmed by it. "To serve" has reference to the truths of worship, because in the Word "servants" mean those who are in truths, and for the reason that truths serve good (See above, n. 6, 409).

[10] In the same:

That thou mayest fear Jehovah thy God, to keep all his statutes and His commandments. Thou shalt fear Jehovah thy God and Him shalt thou serve, and shalt swear in His name. Ye shall not go after other gods. Jehovah hath commanded us to do all these statutes to fear Jehovah our God (Deuteronomy 6:2, 13, 14, 24).

Here, too, in like manner worship by means of truths from good, or by means of faith from love is described; "to fear Jehovah God and to serve Him" means worship by means of the truths of faith; and "to keep and do His statutes and commandments, and to swear in the name of Jehovah," means worship from the good of love; for to keep and do statutes and commandments is the good of life, which is the same as the good of love, since he lives that loves; "to swear in the name of Jehovah" has a like meaning, for "to swear" means to confirm by life. It has already been said above that "to fear Jehovah and to serve Him" means worship according to the truths of doctrine. For there are two things that constitute worship, namely, doctrine and life; doctrine without life does not constitute it, neither does life without doctrine.

[11] The like is taught in the following passages. In Deuteronomy:

Assemble the people that they may hear, and that they may learn and fear Jehovah your God, and may observe to do all the words of the law (Deuteronomy 31:12).

In the same:

If thou wilt not observe to do all the precepts of this law, to fear this glorious and venerable name, Jehovah thy God (Deuteronomy 28:58).

In the same:

The king shall write for himself a copy of the law, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, whereby he may learn to fear Jehovah his God, to keep all the words of the law, and the statutes to do them (Deuteronomy 17:18, 19).

Thou shalt keep the commandments of Jehovah thy God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him (Deuteronomy 8:6).

In the same:

Who will give that they may have a heart to fear Me, and to keep all My commandments all the days (Deuteronomy 5:29).

In these passages where is mentioned "fearing Jehovah God" there is adjoined "keeping and doing the commandments of the law," also "walking in His ways," for the reason, as has been said, that all internal spiritual worship of God, which consists in the good of life, must be according to the truths of doctrine, because these must teach. Worship according to the truths of doctrine is signified by "fearing Jehovah," and worship from the good of life by "keeping His commandments and walking in his ways," "to walk in the ways of Jehovah" meaning to live according to the truths of doctrine; and as worship according to the truths of doctrine is meant by "fearing Jehovah," therefore it is said that the fear of Jehovah must be learned from the law. But let it be known that "the fear of Jehovah" means the internal spiritual worship that must be in external natural worship, for internal spiritual worship is thinking and understanding truths, thus thinking in a reverent and holy way about God, which is "fearing Him," and external natural worship is doing truths, that is, keeping the commandments and words of the law.

[12] In David:

Teach me Thy way, O Jehovah, teach it ¹ in truth, unite my heart to the fear of Thy name (Psalms 86:11).

"To teach the way" signifies to teach the truth according to which man must live; therefore it is said "teach it in truth." That the good of love must be conjoined with the truths of faith is signified by "unite my heart to the fear of Thy name," "heart" signifying the love, "fear" the holiness of faith, and these must be "united," that is, be together in worship.

[13] In the same:

Blessed is everyone that feareth Jehovah, that walketh in His ways (Psalms 128:1).

Here again, "to fear Jehovah" means to think in a reverent and holy way about God, and "to walk in His ways" means to live according to the Divine truths; it is by means of these two that there is worship. But in external worship, which is living according to Divine truths, there must be internal worship, which is fearing Jehovah; and this is why it is said that "he that feareth Jehovah walketh in His ways." In the same:

Blessed is the man that feareth Jehovah, that delighteth exceedingly in His commandments (Psalms 112:1).

The signification of this is similar as above; for "to delight exceedingly in Jehovah's commandments" is to love them, thus to will and to do them.

[14] In Jeremiah:

They feared not, neither did they go in My law and in My statutes (Jeremiah 44:10).

"Not fearing" stands for not thinking about God from the truths of the Word, thus not thinking in a holy and reverent way; "not to go in God's law and in His statutes," stands for not living according to them, "commandments" meaning the laws of internal worship, and "statutes" the laws of external worship.

[15] In Malachi:

If I be a Father, where is My honor? If I be a Lord, where is the fear of Me? (Malachi 1:6)

The terms "honor" and "fear" are used because "honor" is predicated of the worship from good, and "fear" of the worship by means of truths (that "honor" is predicated of good may be seen above, n. 288, 345; therefore "honor" is also predicated of Father, and "fear" of Lord, for Jehovah is called "Father" from Divine good, and "Lord" here from Divine truth.

[16] In the same:

My covenant was with Levi of life and of peace, which I gave him with fear, and he feared Me (Malachi 2:5).

"Levi" means here the Lord in relation to the Divine Human, and "the covenant of life and peace" signifies the union of His Divine with Himself, and "fear" and "to fear" signify holy truth, with which there is union.

[17] In Isaiah:

The spirit of Jehovah resteth upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and intelligence, the spirit of counsel and of might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah, whence his offering of incense shall be in the fear of Jehovah (Isaiah 11:2, 3).

This, too, is said of the Lord, and these words describe Divine truth, in which and from which is all wisdom and all intelligence. The Divine truth that was in the Lord when He was in the world, and that since the glorification of His Human proceeds from Him, is meant by "the spirit of Jehovah that rested upon Him;" that thence He has Divine wisdom and Divine power from that source is meant by "the spirit of wisdom and intelligence; and the spirit of council and of might;" that He has omniscience and essential holiness in worship from that source is meant by "the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah;" and as "fear" signifies the holiness of worship from Divine truth it is added "whence His offering of incense shall be in the fear of Jehovah," "to offer incense" signifying worship from the Divine spiritual, which is Divine truth. (That this is what "offering incense" signifies see above, n. 324, 491, 492, 494, 567.) It is said "the spirit of wisdom, intelligence, knowledge, and fear," for "spirit" means the Divine proceeding, "the spirit of wisdom" the celestial Divine, which is the Divine proceeding as received by the angels of the kingdom of the inmost or third heaven, "the spirit of intelligence" the spiritual Divine which is the Divine proceeding as received by the angels of the middle or second heaven, "the spirit of knowledge" the natural Divine, which is the Divine proceeding as received by the angels of the lowest or first heaven, and "the spirit of the fear of Jehovah" all holiness of worship from the celestial, spiritual, and natural Divine.

[18] In Jeremiah:

I will give them one heart and one way, to fear Me all the days for good to them; and I will make with them the covenant of an age; and My fear will I give into their heart that they may not depart from with Me (Jeremiah 32:39, 40).

"I will give them one heart and one way to fear Me" signifies one will and one understanding to worship the Lord, "heart" signifying the good of the will, "way" the truth of the understanding which leads, and "fear" holy worship therefrom. "I will make with them the covenant of an age, and My fear will I give into their heart," signifies conjunction through the good of love and through the truth of that good in worship, "covenant" meaning conjunction, and "fear in the heart" the holiness of worship from truth in the good of love; "that they may not depart from with Me" signifies for the sake of conjunction. Because conjunction with the Lord is effected by means of truths from good, and not by means of truth without good, nor by means of good without truths, both are here mentioned.

[19] In David:

O house of Aaron trust ye in Jehovah, ye that fear Jehovah trust in Jehovah (Psalms 115:10, 11).

"House of Aaron" signifies all who are in the good of love, and "those that fear Jehovah" signify all who are in truth from that good. In Revelation:

The angel who had the eternal Gospel said, Fear ye God and give Him glory, worship Him (Revelation 14:7).

"To fear God and to give Him glory" signifies to worship the Lord from holy truths; and "to worship Him" signifies from the good of love. In David:

Let all the earth fear Jehovah; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. Behold, the eye of Jehovah is upon them that fear Him, that wait for His mercy (Psalms 33:8, 18).

The good pleasure of Jehovah is in them that fear Him, in them that wait for His mercy (Psalms 147:11).

Because "the fear of Jehovah" signifies the reception of Divine truth, and "mercy" the reception of Divine good, it is said that "the eye" and "the good pleasure of Jehovah are upon them that fear Him, that wait for His mercy."

[20] In Isaiah:

The strong people shall honor Thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear Thee (Isaiah 25:3).

Here again, worship from good is signified by "to honor," for "honor" is predicated of the good of love; and worship from truths is signified by "fearing the Lord," as has been said above. "The strong people" signifies men of the church who are in truths from good, wherefrom is all power; "the city of the terrible nations" signifies those who are in truths of doctrine, and through these in the good of love; and as all spiritual power is therefrom they are called "terrible nations." These words, too, show clearly that there is a marriage of good and truth in every particular of the Word; for "to honor" is predicated of good, "to fear" of truth, both in worship; the term "people" is used of those who are in truths, and through these in good, but the term "nations" of those who are in good, and from good in truths; and as all power in the spiritual world is from the conjunction of good and truth, the people are called "strong," and the nations are called "terrible."

[21] "The fear of Jehovah" signifies worship in which there is holiness through truths, in the following passages also. In Isaiah:

The heart of the people hath departed far from Me, and their fear toward Me hath become a commandment taught of men (Isaiah 29:13).

In the same

Who among you feareth Jehovah, heareth the voice of His servant? He that walketh in darkness, and hath no brightness, that trusteth in the name of Jehovah, and leaneth upon his God (Isaiah 50:10).

In Jeremiah:

They shall hear every good that I do unto them, that they may dread and tremble for all the good and for all the peace that I am about to do unto them (Jeremiah 33:9).

In David:

The angel of Jehovah encampeth about them that fear Him to deliver them. Fear Jehovah, ye His saints, for there is no want to them that fear Him (Psalms 34:7, 9).

In the same:

Who have no changes, neither fear they God (Psalms 55:19).

In the same:

The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do them [Hi s commandments] (Psalms 111:10).

Because "fear" has respect to Divine truth, from which is holiness in worship and wisdom and intelligence, therefore it is said, "the fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom, a good understanding, that is intelligence, have all they that do them." In the same:

They that fear Jehovah shall praise Him, all the seed of Jacob shall honor Him, and all the seed of Israel shall fear Him (Psalms 22:23).

In Luke:

The mercy of God is unto generation of generations to them that fear Him (Luke 1:50).

[22] That "to fear Jehovah God" involves and thence signifies to have a sense of holiness and reverence and accordingly to worship with holiness and reverence, can be seen from these passages. In Moses:

Ye shall keep My Sabbaths, and My sanctuary ye shall fear; ye shall reverence (Leviticus 19:30;26:2).

In the same:

A work of Jehovah, how is that to be feared [reverenced] which I will do (Exodus 34:10).

In the same:

And Jacob feared and said, How to be feared [reverenced] is this place; this is none other than the house of God, and the gate of heaven (Genesis 28:17).

That in reference to the Divine and the holiness of heaven and the church, "to fear" signifies to revere and to hold in reverence, is evident from these passages, also from this, that the same word in the Hebrew that means "to fear" means also to revere and to venerate. This is evident, too, from those words in Luke:

There was a judge in a certain city who feared not God and reverenced not man. And he said within himself, Although I fear not God and reverence not man. .. (Luke 18:2, 4).

It is said "to fear God" and "to reverence man" because fearing means reverencing in a higher degree.

[23] In Matthew:

Jesus said, Fear not them who are able to kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather fear Him who is able to destroy both body and soul in Gehenna (Matthew 10:28; Luke 12:4, 5, 7).

Here, however, "to fear" signifies to have a fear of dying spiritually, thence a natural fear, which is fearfulness and dread; but spiritual fear is a holy fear that abides within every spiritual love variously according to the quality and quantity of the love. In such a fear is the spiritual man, and he knows that the Lord does not do evil to anyone, much less does He destroy anyone as to body and soul in Gehenna, but that He does good to all and desires to raise up everyone as to body and soul into heaven to Himself. This is why the fear of the spiritual man is a holy fear lest by the evil of life and the falsity of doctrine man should turn away, and thus do harm to that Divine love in himself. But natural fear is a fearfulness, dread, and terror of dangers and punishments, and thus of hell; this fear abides within every corporeal love, also variously according to the quality and quantity of the love. The natural man who has such fear does not know otherwise than that the Lord does evil to the evil, condemns them, casts them into hell, and punishes them, and on this account such persons are in fear and dread of the Lord. In this fear were most of the Jewish and Israelitish nation, because they were natural men; and this is why they are so often said in the Word "to be afraid of" and "to tremble before Jehovah," and also "to be in fear and trembling;" and for the same reason it is said of the sons of Israel that they were "sore afraid" when the Divine law or Divine truth was promulgated from Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:18-20; Deuteronomy 5:23-25).

[24] This fear is what is meant in part by:

The dread of Isaac by which Jacob sware to Laban (Genesis 31:42, 53);

for "Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob," mean in the Word the Lord, "Abraham," the Lord in respect to the celestial Divine, "Isaac," in respect to the spiritual Divine, and "Jacob," in respect to the natural Divine; the spiritual Divine which "Isaac" signifies is the Divine truth, which terrifies the natural man, and as "Laban" was a natural man, so Jacob sware to him "by the dread or terror of Isaac." Nearly the same fear is meant in Isaiah:

Ye shall sanctify Jehovah of Hosts, for He is your fear and your dread (Isaiah 8:13).

Here the term "fear" has reference to the spiritual man, and "dread" to the natural man. That the spiritual man may not be in such fear as the natural man is in, it is said "Fear not." In Isaiah:

Jacob and Israel, Fear not, for I have redeemed thee, calling thee by thy name, thou art Mine (Isaiah 43:1).

In Luke:

Fear not, little flock; for it hath pleased your Father to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32).

And in Jeremiah:

Fear not, O Jacob, My servant, and be not dismayed, O Israel, for I will save thee from afar; Jacob shall be tranquil and quiet, none shall make him afraid (Jeremiah 30:9, 10).

And in many other passages. Moreover, that "fear," "terror," "consternation," and the like, signify various commotions of the disposition and changes of state of the mind, may be seen above (n. 667, 677).

Imibhalo yaphansi: