Arcana Coelestia (Potts) n. 5645

Previous Number Next Number Next Translation See Latin 

5645. And the man brought the men to Joseph's house. That this signifies the first introduction into the good which is from the celestial of the spiritual, is evident from the signification of "bringing," as being introduction (as above, n. 5641); from the signification of "Jacob's sons," as being the truths of the church in the natural (see n. 5403, 5419, 5427, 5428, 5512); from the signification of a "house," as being good (n. 3652, 3720, 4982), and hence also the church (n. 3720), for the church is the church from good; and from the representation of Joseph, as being the celestial of the spiritual (of which often above). From this it is plain that by "the man's bringing the men to Joseph's house" is signified that the truths in the natural were to be introduced into the good which is from the celestial of the spiritual. That the first introduction is what is signified, is because they now only ate with Joseph, and did not know him. By this is signified a general conjunction, which is the first introduction; for truth from the Divine then flows in generally, and is not discerned. But when the truth which flows in is observed, there is then a second conjunction, which is signified by Joseph's manifesting himself to his brethren, as related in a subsequent chapter (Gen. 45).


This page is part of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church