Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 4770

Previous Number Next Number Next Translation See Latin 

4770. 'And dipped the tunic in the blood' means that they defiled those appearances with falsities arising from evils. This is clear from the meaning of 'dipping in blood' as defiling with falsities, for in the contrary sense 'blood' means truth that has been falsified, 4735. Because it was the blood of 'a he-goat, which means external truths derived from delights such as adherents to faith separated from charity enjoy, it is plain that falsities arising from evils are meant. This is also evident from what follows below where Jacob says, 'An evil wild animal has devoured him; Joseph has been torn to pieces'; for these words mean that desires for evil annihilated [truth possessed by the Church], thus that falsities rendered this entirely non-existent. For falsity arises from three different sources - the teaching of the Church, the illusions of the senses, and the life of evil desires, the last of the three being the worst kind of falsity, see 4729.


This page is part of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church