10249. To him and to his seed, to their generations. That this signifies all who receive the things that proceed from the Lord, thus who are being regenerated by Him, is evident from the representation of Aaron, as being the Lord in respect to Divine good (see n. 9806, 9946); from the signification of "seed," as being those who are born of the Lord, thus who are being regenerated, for they who are being regenerated are said to be "born of God," and also to be "His sons." But in the sense abstracted from persons by "the seed of Aaron" are signified the things which proceed from the Lord, thus by virtue of which a man is regenerated, which are the goods of love and the truths of faith. And from the signification of "generations," as being the goods and truths which proceed from the former as from their parents, and their derivations; for by "generations" in the Word in the internal sense are meant spiritual generations, which are those of love and faith (see the places cited in n. 10204). [2] As the Lord is meant by Aaron in the representative sense, therefore by the "seed of Aaron" are specifically meant those who are in the Lord's celestial kingdom; and by "generations" those who are in His spiritual kingdom; for the goods and truths of love and faith in the heavens are born and proceed in this way from the Lord. That by "seed," "those born," and "generations," are meant those who are in love and faith to the Lord, and in the abstract sense the goods of love and the truths of faith, is evident from many passages in the Word, of which only the following may be adduced:
I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west (Isa. 43:5);
this is said of Jacob and Israel, by whom in the internal sense is meant the church external and internal, the "seed" of which is the truth of faith and the good of charity. [3] Again:
I will pour out My spirit upon thy seed, and My blessing upon thine offspring (Isa. 44:3);
"upon seed," and "upon offspring," denote upon those who are of the church, thus upon the things that are of the church, which are goods and truths, or charity and faith, for these make the church with man. Again:
In Jehovah shall all the seed of Israel glory (Isa. 45:25);
where the meaning is the same. Again:
If He shall make His soul guilty, He shall see His seed (Isa. 53:10);
speaking of the Lord, whose "seed" they are called who are born of Him, thus who are regenerated. Again:
To the right hand and to the left thou shalt break forth, and thy seed shall inherit the nations (Isa. 54:3);
where the meaning is similar. [4] In Jeremiah:
Behold the days come that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast (Jer. 31:27). These words are not understood unless it is known what is signified by "the house of Israel," and "the house of Judah," also what by "the seed of man," and "the seed of beast." They who do not think beyond the sense of the letter will believe the meaning to be that man and beast are to be multiplied in Israel and Judah, but this meaning involves nothing holy of the church. But by "the house of Israel" is there meant the spiritual church, and by "the house of Judah" the celestial church; "the seed of man" denotes the internal good of these churches; and "the seed of beast" denotes their external good. (That a "beast" denotes the affection of good, see the places cited in n. 9280; and that when mention is made of "man and beast," it denotes what is internal and what is external, n. 7523.) [5] Again:
As the army of the heavens shall not be numbered, and the sand of the sea is not measured, so will I multiply the seed of David (Jer. 33:22). I have made a covenant with My chosen, I have sworn unto David; thy seed will I establish for an age, and build up thy throne to generation and generation (Ps. 89:3, 4). By the "seed of David" is not meant the posterity of David as a father, for this was not so greatly multiplied, nor of so much importance that it should be multiplied as the army of the heavens and as the sand of the sea; but by "David" in this passage, as also in other places, is meant the Lord as to Divine truth, thus by his "seed" those who have been regenerated or born of the Lord, and in the abstract sense the things which they have from the Lord, namely, the truths of faith and the goods of charity. (That "David" denotes the Lord, see n. 1888, 9954.) [6] And again:
A seed that shall serve Jehovah shall be counted to the Lord for a generation (Ps. 22:30). Their seed shall become known among the nations, and their offspring in the midst of the peoples (Isa. 61:9). Here "seed" denotes those who are regenerate, thus those who are of the church, and in whom the church is; thus in a sense abstracted from persons, those things which make a regenerate man, or which make the church with a man, which are faith and charity from the Lord. [7] And in John:
The dragon was angry against the woman, and went away to make war with the remains of her seed, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Rev. 12:17). By "the dragon" are meant those who will attempt to destroy the church of the Lord hereafter to be set up; by "the woman" is meant this church; and by "those who are of her seed" are meant those who are in love and faith to the Lord from the Lord. But in the opposite sense "seed" signifies those who are against the things of the church, thus who are in evil and the falsities thence derived; and in the abstract sense evils and falsities; as in these passages:
Woe to the sinful nation, a seed of evil ones (Isa. 1:4). Sons of the sorceress, seed of the adulterer, are ye not born of transgression, the seed of a lie? (Isa. 57:3, 4). The seed of evil-doers shall never be mentioned (Isa. 14:20).
This page is part of 
© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church