10032. 'And the two kidneys and the fat on them' means the more internal truth of the external or natural man, and the good of that truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'the kidneys' as more internal truths, dealt with below; and from the meaning of 'the fat' as good, dealt with above in 10029, the good of that truth being meant here because it was the fat on the kidneys. The expression 'the good of that truth' is used because all good has its own truth, and all truth has its own good. There are countless kinds of good, and each has truth of the same kind. For throughout heaven there are forms of good and of truth which constitute the life there, and everywhere these are different. What type of good it is that is meant by 'the fat on the kidneys' is clear from the truths meant by 'the kidneys'. By 'the kidneys' are meant truths that serve to explore, purify, and correct; they derive this meaning from the function they perform. From this it is evident what 'the kidneys' means in the following places: In Jeremiah,
Jehovah tests the kidneys and the heart. Jer 11:20.
In the same prophet,
Jehovah testing the righteous, seeing the kidneys and the heart. Jer 20:12.
In David,
You test the heart and the kidneys, O righteous God. Ps 7:9.
In the same author,
O Jehovah, explore my kidneys and my heart. Ps 26:2.
In the same author,
O Jehovah, You possess my kidneys. Ps 139:13.
In John,
I am He who examines closely the kidneys and the heart. Rev 2:23.
'Examining the kidneys closely' and 'testing them' mean exploring the truths of faith, and 'examining the heart closely' and 'testing it' mean exploring forms of the good of love; for 'the heart' is the good of love, 3883-3896, 7542, 9050. The fact that the truths of faith are meant by 'the kidneys' is plainly evident in David,
O Jehovah, behold, You desire truth in the kidneys. Ps 51:6.
The reason why more internal truth and the exploration of it is meant by 'the kidneys' is that by 'the ureters and bladder' which lead away from the kidneys is meant more external truth and the exploration of it, and also correction, 5381-5384.
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