Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 4427

Previous Number Next Number Next Translation See Latin 

4427. 'Dinah went out' means the affection for all things of faith, and also means the Church arising from that affection. This is clear from the representation of 'Dinah' as the affection for all truths, and as the Church arising from that affection, dealt with in 3963, 3964. For 'the twelve sons of Jacob' represented all things of faith, and so all things that constitute the Church, 2129, 2130, 3858, 3926, 3939; and therefore 'Dinah', who was born after Jacob's ten sons by Leah and the servant-girls, means the affection for those things of faith, and so means the Church. Indeed the Church arises from the affection for truth, so much so that whether you speak of the affection for truth or of the Church it amounts to the same; for it is by virtue of the affection for truth that anyone is a Church.


This page is part of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church