Arcana Coelestia (Potts) n. 10445

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10445. I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens. That this signifies goods and truths, and the knowledges of these, is evident from the signification of "seed," when said of heaven and the church, as being the good and truth therein (see n. 1940, 3038, 3310, 3373, 3671, 6158, 10249); and from the signification of "stars," as being the knowledges of good and truth (n. 2495, 2849, 4697). In the sense of the letter, by "multiplying the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel as the stars of the heavens," is meant to multiply without number the Israelitish and Jewish nation. But as by the names in the Word are signified spiritual and celestial realities, and by the above names heaven and the church, therefore by their "seed" are signified the goods and truths which are in heaven and in the church. It is said "as the stars of the heavens" for the reason that the comparatives also in the Word are from significatives (see n. 3579, 8989); in this case comparison is made with the stars of the heavens, because by these are signified goods and truths in respect to knowledges.


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