1212、“又伸向所多玛、蛾摩拉、押玛、洗扁，直到拉沙”表示这些知识或认知终结所在的虚假和邪恶，或说围绕它们的虚假和邪恶。这从圣言的历史和预言部分提到的这些地方的含义清楚可知。一般来说，虚假有两个来源：一个是属于爱自己和爱世界的欲望；另一个是藉着推理的认知和知识或事实。如此产生的虚假当想要统治真理时，就由“所多玛、蛾摩拉、押玛、洗扁”来表示。谁都能清楚看出，虚假和源于它们的邪恶是缺乏内在的外在敬拜的边界。这种敬拜只有死物在里面；因此，处于这种敬拜的人无论转到哪个方向，都会陷入虚假。没有内在之物引导他，并将他保持在真理的路上；只有外在之物把他带到恶欲和幻觉所引向的任何地方。由于所多玛、蛾摩拉、押玛、洗扁在圣言的历史和预言部分都有所提及，所以蒙主的神性怜悯，我们将在那些地方解释它们各自的具体含义。
New Century Edition
Cooper(2008,2013)
[NCE]1212. The fact that as you come to Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, as far as Lasha, symbolizes the falsity and evil in which that knowledge ends can be seen from the symbolism of those nations in the narrative and prophetic parts of the Word.
Falsity comes from two general sources. One is the cravings that constitute selfishness and materialism; the other is the religious and secular concepts yielded by flimsy reasoning. Falsity from these sources that tries to gain the upper hand over truth is symbolized by Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim.
Anyone can see that falsity and the evil stemming from it are the ultimate bounds of outward worship that has nothing inside. This kind of worship contains only what is dead. Wherever the people who practice it turn, they fall into falsity. They have no inner voice to guide them in the path of truth or keep them on it. They have only an external drive that carries them off wherever craving and delusion lead.
The narrative and prophetic books of the Word mention Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, so the specific symbolism of each will be told in the appropriate places, with the Lord's divine mercy.{*1}
Footnotes:
{*1} Swedenborg briefly discuses Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim as a group in 1663:1, 1666:1, 1682. He deals with Sodom and Gomorrah in 1587, 2141, 2220, 2240:8, 2323:2, 2444, 2455:3, 2468:13, 7418:2, and specifically with Sodom in 1721, 1749, 2219, 2246, 2314, 2322. [LHC]
Potts(1905-1910) 1212
1212. In coming to Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, even unto Lasha. That these signify the falsities and evils in which they terminate, can be seen from the signification of the same in the historical and prophetical parts of the Word. There are, in general, two origins of falsities; one is the cupidities that belong to the love of self and of the world; the other is knowledges [cognitiones et scientifica], through reasonings; and the falsities which thus originate, when they would domineer over truths, are signified by "Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim." That falsities and evils from them are the boundaries of external worship which is without internal, anyone may see. In such worship there is nothing but what is dead; and therefore whichever way the man who is in such worship turns, he sinks into falsities. There is nothing internal that leads and keeps him in the way of truth, but only what is external, which carries him whithersoever cupidity and phantasy lead. As Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim are mentioned in both the historical and prophetical parts of the Word, what each specifically signifies, will of the Lord's Divine mercy be there explained.
Elliott(1983-1999) 1212
1212. 'As you come towards Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, as far as Lasha' means the falsities and evils which encompass them. This becomes clear from the meaning of these same locations when mentioned in historical and prophetical sections of the Word. In general falsities have two sources. The first group derive from the desires that belong to self-love and love of the world, the second from cognitions and facts by way of reasonings. Falsities derived in this way, when they wish to have dominion over truths, are meant by 'Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim'. The fact that falsities and derivative evils are the borders of external worship which is devoid of internal may become clear to anyone. Such worship has nothing within it other than that which is dead. Consequently whichever way someone turns whose worship is such he stumbles into falsities. There is nothing internal to guide him and keep him on the path of truth, only that which is external to take hold of him wherever evil desire and delusion lead him. Since Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim are all mentioned in historical and prophetical sections of the Word, the specific meaning of each one will in the Lord's Divine mercy be discussed in those places.
Latin(1748-1756) 1212
1212. 'Veniendo ad Sodomam, Amoram, Admam, Zeboim usque ad Lasha': quod significent falsa et mala in quibus terminantur, constare potest a significatione earundem in Verbi historicis et propheticis. Sunt in genere binae origines falsitatum: una est ex cupiditatibus quae sunt amoris sui et mundi; altera ex cognitionibus et scientificis, per ratiocinia; falsa quae inde, cum dominari volunt super vera, significantur per 'Sodomam, Amoram, Admam et Zeboim: quod falsa et inde mala sint termini cultus externi qui est absque interno, unicuivis constare potest; in cultu tali nihil est nisi mortuum, quare quocumque se vertit homo qui in tali cultu, in falsitates labitur; nihil internum est quod ducit et detinet in via veritatis, sed modo externam, quod rapit eum quocumque cupiditas et phantasia. Quia in Verbi historicis et propheticis memorantur Sodoma, Amora, Adma et Zeboim, quid unaquaeque in specie significat, ibi, ex Divina Domini Misericordia, dicetur.