Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 6422

Previous Number Next Number Next Translation See Latin 

6422. 'And hate him, do the archers' means with utter hostility. This is clear from the meaning of 'hatred' as utter hostility, for one who hates another treats him, so far as he can, with utter hostility; and from the meaning of 'the archers' here as those who are opposed to members of the spiritual Church. For one who shoots with the bow or an archer is the spiritual man, for the reason that 'a bow' means matters of doctrine which the spiritual Church possesses, 2686, 2709, and therefore in the contrary sense one who shoots with the bow or an archer is he who as an enemy fights against the spiritual man. For the meaning of one who shoots with the bow or an archer as the spiritual man, see 2686, 2709. From this it is evident that 'hate him, do the archers' means that those led by falsities treat with utter hostility the member of the spiritual Church.


This page is part of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church