654. 'For a thousand six hundred stadia*' signifies nothing but untruths of evil. By 'stadia' the like is signified as by 'ways', because stadia are measurements of ways, and by 'ways' are signified truths leading (n. 176), and in the opposite sense untruths likewise; and by 'a thousand six hundred' are signified evils in a whole complex. For by 1600 the like is signified as by 16, and by 16 the like as by 4, because 16 arises out of 4 multiplied into itself. And 'four' is said of good and of a conjunction of good and truth (n. 322). Consequently in the opposite sense it is said of evil and of a conjunction of evil and untruth, as here. And as the multiplication of a number by 100 does not take away the signification, but exalts it, therefore by 'for a thousand six hundred stadia' is signified nothing but untruth of evil. That all the numbers in the Word signify things may be seen above (n. 348), and that a number signifies the quality of a thing (n. 448, 608, 609, 610). * Plural of stadium=approx. one-eighth of a mile.