2389. 'Sons-in-law' are truths coupled to affections for good and truth, here truths that have yet to be so coupled. This is clear from the meaning of 'sons-in-law'. 'Man' in the Word means truth, and 'wife' good, 265, 749, 915, 1007, the reason being that a likeness of a marriage exists between truth and good, 1432, 1904, 2173. Consequently 'sons-in-law' means cognitions of truth to which affections for good, meant by 'daughters', have been coupled. Here however they are affections that have yet to be so coupled, for it is said in verse 14 below that Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law that were marrying, that is, were about to marry, his daughters.

1007. 'At the hand of man' means from his entire will, and 'at the hand of brother man' from his entire understanding. This is clear from the meaning of 'man' (homo), for the essential element and life of a person is his will - indeed the character of the will determines that of the person; and from the meaning of 'brother man' (vir), for where the understanding resides in man it is called 'brother man', as shown already in 367. Whether the understanding residing there is true, spurious, or false, it is still called 'brother man'. In fact the understanding is called 'a man' (vir), 158, 265, and 'the brother' of the will, 367. The reason why a defiled will and a defiled understanding are here called 'a man' (homo) and 'brother man' (vir) is that the subject here is profanation, the mere mention and consequent representation of which is not tolerated in heaven but instantly rejected with disgust. This is why such mild expressions are employed here. The sense of the words of the verse can be taken two different ways so to speak, so as to prevent those in heaven knowing that this verse contains such matters.