624. [verse 5] 'And in their mouth is found no deceit' signifies that they do not from cunning and intention speak and persuade to what is untrue and evil. By 'mouth' is signified speech, preaching, and doctrine (n. 452 [, 574]); and by 'deceit' is signified the persuasion to evil by means of what is untrue, properly from cunning and intention; for he who persuades to anything from cunning or deceit, also persuades from intention, for cunning or deceit proposes something to itself, conceals its purpose, and does it when given the opportunity. By 'a lie' in the Word is signified untruth and false-speaking, by 'deceit' is signified both of these from intention. These (hoc et illud) are signified in the following passages:-
Jesus said of Nathanael, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit John i 47.
The remnant of Israel shall not speak a lie, neither shall a tongue of deceit be found in their mouth Zeph. iii 13.
He has done no violence, neither was deceit in his mouth Isa. liii 9.
The rich men are full of violence, and the inhabitants speak a lie, and as to the tongue, deceit is in their mouth Micah vi 12.
Thou shalt destroy those speaking a lie, Jehovah will abhor the man of blood and deceit Ps. v 6 [H.B. 7].
O Jehovah, deliver my soul from the lip of a lie, from the tongue of deceit Ps. cxx 2, 3.
They have taught their tongue to speak a lie, thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they have refused to recognise Me Jer. ix 5.
They have encompassed Me, Ephraim with a lie, and the house of Israel with deceit Hosea xii 1.
If anyone has a design to kill his companion with deceit, thou shalt take him from Mine altar, and he shall die Exod. xxi 14.
Cursed is one doing the work of Jehovah with deceit Jer. xlviii 10;
besides elsewhere, as Jer. v 26, 27; viii 5; xiv 14; xxiii 26; Hosea vii 16; Zeph. i 9; Ps. xvii 1; xxiv 4; xxxv 20, 21; xxxvi 3 [H.B. 4]; l 19; lii 2, 4 [H.B. 4, 6]; lxxii 14; cix 2; cxix 118; Job xiii 7; xxvii 4. In the Word the deceitful are signified by 'poisonous serpents' such as crocodiles and vipers, and deceit is signified by their poison.
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