2383、“他们以瞎眼击打”表示他们充满虚假，这从“瞎眼”的含义清楚可知。在圣言中，“瞎眼”论及那些沉浸于虚假的人，以及那些不知道真理的人。这两种人都被称为“瞎眼的”；至于表示这两种人当中的哪一种，这从整个思路，尤其从内义可以看出来。那些沉浸于虚假的人被称为“瞎眼的或瞎子”，这一点从以下经文清楚看出来。以赛亚书：
他的守望者是瞎眼的，都没有知识，都是哑巴狗，不能叫唤。（以赛亚书56:10）
“瞎眼的守望者”表示那些因推理而沉浸于虚假的人。同一先知书：
我们指望光，看哪，却是黑暗；指望光明，却行于幽暗。我们摸索墙壁，好像瞎子。（以赛亚书59:9-10）
耶利米哀歌：
他们在街上如瞎子游荡，他们被血玷污；以致不能摸的东西，他们竟用衣服来摸。（耶利米哀歌4:14）
这是在说一切真理都被玷污了；“街”表示真理，他们在真理中游荡，
撒迦利亚书：
到那日，我必以惊惶击打一切马匹，以疯狂击打骑马的；我必以瞎眼击打列民的一切马匹。（撒迦利亚书12:4）
在圣言中，无论此处还是别处，“马”都表示理解力。这就是为何经上说马匹要受到惊惶的击打，列民的马匹要受到瞎眼的击打，也就是说，要充满虚假。
约翰福音：
我为审判来到这世界，叫看不见的，可以看见；看得见的，反而成为瞎子。一些法利赛人听见这些话，就说，难道我们也瞎了眼吗？耶稣对他们说，你们若瞎了眼，就没有罪了；但如今你们说，我们看得见，所以你们的罪还在。（约翰福音9:39-41）
此处论及两层意义上的“瞎眼”，即：那些沉浸于虚假的人和那些不知道真理的人。对教会里那些知道何为真理的人来说，“瞎眼”是指虚假；但对那些不知道何为真理的人来说，如教会之外的人，“瞎眼”是指对真理的无知；后者是无可指责的。
同一福音书：
主叫他们瞎了眼、硬了心，免得他们眼睛看见，心里明白，我会医治他们。（约翰福音12:40；以赛亚书6:9-11）
此处的意思是，对他们来说，处于虚假比处于真理更好，因为他们过着邪恶的生活；他们若学习真理，不仅会歪曲它们，还会以邪恶玷污它们。由于同样的原因，所多玛人受到瞎眼的击打，换句话说，他们的教义充满虚假。至于这样做的原因，前面已经说明（301-303，593，1008，1010，1059，1327，1328，2426节）。
由于“瞎眼”表示虚假，所以在代表性的犹太教会，人们不可将瞎眼的献上（利未记22:22；申命记15:21；玛拉基书1:8）。凡瞎眼的祭司也不可近前来在坛上献祭（利未记21:18，21）。
“瞎眼”论及那些不知道真理的人，如外邦人或非基督徒的那种无知，这一点清楚可见于以赛亚书：
当那日，聋子必听见这书上的话；瞎子的眼，必从幽暗和黑暗中看见。（以赛亚书29:18）
此处“瞎子”表示那些不知道真理的人，主要是教会之外的人。同一先知书：
你要将瞎眼的民带出来，他们必有眼睛；将聋子带出来，他们必有耳朵。（以赛亚书43:8）
这论及外邦人或非基督徒当中的教会。又：
我要引瞎子行不认识的道，在他们面前使黑暗变为光明。（以赛亚书42:16）
又：
我必使你作人民的光，开瞎子的眼，领被囚的出监狱，领坐黑暗的出牢房。（以赛亚书42:6-7）
这论及主的降临，并说，到那时，缺乏真理知识的人要接受教导。那些沉浸于虚假的人不让自己接受教导，因为他们知道真理，却坚定反对它，将真理之光变成无法驱散的黑暗。路加福音：
家主就对仆人说，快出去，到城里大街小巷，把贫穷的、残废的、瘸腿的、瞎眼的都领到这里来。（路加福音14:21）
这论及主的国度；显然，这不是在谈论字面上的贫穷的、残废的、瘸腿的、瞎眼的，而是在谈论灵义上像这样的人。
又：
耶稣说，他们把瞎子看见，瘸子行走，长大麻疯的洁净，聋子听见，死人复活，穷人有福音传给他们告诉约翰。（路加福音7:22）
按照字义，瞎子、瘸子、长大麻疯的、聋子、死人和穷人仅仅是指身体上是这样的人，因为主说的话也实际发生了，即：瞎子看见了，聋子听见了，长大麻疯的恢复了健康，死人复活了。
然而，他们在内义上是指以赛亚书所提到的这些人：
那时，瞎子的眼必打开，聋子的耳必开通；瘸子必跳跃像鹿，哑巴的舌头必歌唱。（以赛亚书35:5-6）
这论及主的降临和那时的新教会，该新教会被称为外邦人的教会；这段经文把外邦人描述为“瞎子”、“聋子”、“瘸子”和“哑巴”；他们在教义和生活方面被如此称呼。因为要知道，主所行的一切神迹总是涉及并因此表示瞎子、瘸子、长大麻疯的、死人和穷人在内义上所指的那类事物。这就是为何主的神迹，和在埃及和旷野所行的神迹，以及圣言所提到的其它一切神迹一样，都是神性。这是一个奥秘。
Potts(1905-1910) 2383
2383. They smote with blindness. That this signifies that they were filled with falsities, is evident from the signification of "blindness." In the Word "blindness" is predicated of those who are in falsity, and also of those who are in ignorance of truth. Both are called the "blind;" but which are meant in any special instance can be seen from the series or connection, especially in the internal sense. That they who are in falsity are called the "blind," is evident from the following passages. In Isaiah:
His watchmen are blind, they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark (Isa. 56:10). "Blind watchmen," denotes those who from reasoning are in falsity. Again:
We look for light, and behold darkness; for brightness, but we walk in thick darkness; we grope for the wall like the blind (Isa. 59:9-10). In Jeremiah:
They have wandered as the blind in the streets; they have polluted themselves with blood; what they cannot pollute, they touch with their garments (Lam. 4:14);
meaning that all truths have been polluted; the "streets" denoting the truths wherein they have gone astray (n. 2336). [2] In Zechariah:
In that day I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness; every horse of the peoples will I smite with blindness (Zech. 12:4). Here and elsewhere in the Word a "horse" denotes the understanding; hence it is said that the "horse should be smitten with astonishment," and that the "horse of the peoples should be smitten with blindness," that is, should be filled with falsities. [3] In John:
For judgment am I come into the world, that they that see not may see, and that they that see may become blind. They of the Pharisees heard these things, and said, Are we also blind? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye would not have sin; but now ye say, We see, therefore your sin remaineth (John 9:39-41). Here the "blind" in both senses are spoken of, namely, those who are in falsity, and those who are in ignorance of truth. With those who are within the church and know what the truth is, "blindness" is falsity; but with those who do not know what the truth is (as is the case with those who are outside the church), "blindness" is ignorance of the truth, and these are blameless. [4] Again:
He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart, that they may not see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and I should heal them (John 12:40; Isa. 6:9-11);
meaning that it would be better for them to be in falsities than to be in truths, because they are in a life of evil, and if they were instructed in truths, they would not only still falsify them, but would also defile them with evils; for the like reason that the men of Sodom were smitten with blindness, that is, the doctrinal things were filled with falsities. (Why this was done was shown above, n. 301-303, 593, 1008, 1010, 1059, 1327, 1328, 2426.) [5] As what is blind signified what is false, therefore in the representative Jewish Church it was forbidden to sacrifice anything that was blind (Lev. 22:22; Deut. 15:21; Mal. 1:8). It was also forbidden that any one of the priests who was blind should draw near to offer upon the altar (Lev. 21:18, 21). [6] That "blindness" is predicated of ignorance of truth, such as prevails with the Gentiles, is evident in Isaiah:
In that day shall the deaf hear the words of the Book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of thick darkness and out of darkness (Isa. 29:18). Here the "blind" denotes those who are in ignorance of truth, being chiefly those outside the church. Again:
Bring forth the blind people and they shall have eyes;* and the deaf and they shall have ears (Isa. 43:8);
where the church of the Gentiles is spoken of. Again:
I will lead the blind in a way that they have not known; I will make darkness light before them (Isa. 42:16). [7] And again:
I will give Thee for a light of the people, to open the blind eyes, to bring out the bound from the dungeon, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house (Isa. 42:6-7);
where the Lord's advent is treated of, in that they who are in ignorance of truth should then be instructed; for those who are in falsity do not suffer themselves to be so instructed, because they are acquainted with the truth and have confirmed themselves against it, and have turned the light into darkness, which cannot be dispelled. In Luke:
The master of the house said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the lame, and the blind (Luke 14:21);
where the Lord's kingdom is treated of, and it is evident that the poor, maimed, lame, and blind are not meant, but those who are such in the spiritual sense. [8] Again:
Jesus said that they should tell John that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and to the poor the gospel is preached (Luke 7:22). According to the sense of the letter, by the "blind," the "lame," the "lepers," the "deaf," the "dead," the "poor," only these are meant; because it was actually the case that the blind received sight, the deaf hearing, the lepers health, the dead life. [9] But yet in the internal sense the same are meant as in Isaiah:
Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped, and the lame shall leap as the hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing (Isa. 35:5-6);
where the Lord's advent is treated of, and the new church at that time, which is called that of the Gentiles; of whom it is declared that they were "blind," "deaf," "lame," and "dumb;" being so called in respect to doctrine and to life. For be it known that all the miracles performed by the Lord always involved, and thence signified, such things as are meant in the internal sense by the healing of the blind, of the lame, of the lepers, the deaf, the dead, and the poor. For this reason the Lord's miracles were Divine, as also were those performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, as well as all the other miracles that are treated of in the Word. This is an arcanum. * Et oculi erunt; but cui oculi sunt in n. 6989. [Rotch ed.]
Elliott(1983-1999) 2383
2383. That 'they struck with blindness' means that they were filled with falsities is clear from the meaning of 'blindness'. In the Word blindness is used in reference to people who are immersed in falsity, and also to people who have no knowledge of the truth. Both kinds of people are called blind, though who are meant in any one place becomes clear from the train of thought, especially that in the internal sense. That those immersed in falsity are called 'blind' is clear from the following places: In Isaiah,
His watchmen are blind, they are all without knowledge; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark. Isa 56: 10.
'Blind watchmen' stands for those who, because of reasoning, are immersed in falsity. In the same prophet,
We look for light, and, behold, darkness; for brightness, but we walk in thick darkness. We grope for the wall like the blind. Isa 59: 9, 10,In Jeremiah,
They went astray blind in the streets; they defiled themselves with blood. Things which have no power they touch with their garments. Lam 4: 14.
This stands for the fact that all truths have been defiled, 'streets' standing for truths in which they have gone astray, 2336.
[2] In Zechariah,
On that day I will strike every horse with panic, and its rider with madness. Every horse of the peoples I will strike with blindness. Zech 12: 4.
Here and elsewhere in the Word 'a horse' stands for what has to do with the understanding. This is why it is said that the horse would be struck with panic, and [every] horse of the peoples with blindness, that is, it would be filled with falsities.
[3] In John,
For judgement I came into the world, that those who do not see may see, but that those who see may become blind. Some of the Pharisees heard these words and said, Are we also blind? Jesus said to them, If you were blind you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see', therefore your sin remains. John 9:-39-41.
Here the blind in both senses are referred to, that is to say, those who are immersed in falsity and those who have no knowledge of truth. With those inside the Church who know what the truth is, 'blindness' is falsity; but with those who do not know what the truth is, as with those outside the Church, 'blindness' is having no knowledge of the truth. The latter are blameless.
[4] In the same gospel,
He has blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes and understand with their heart and I heal them. John 12: 40; Isa 6: 9-11.
The meaning here is that it would be better for falsities to exist with them than truths, for they lead a life of evil and if they received instruction in truths they would not only continue to falsify them but would also pollute them with evils. They would do so for the same reason that the men of Sodom were struck with blindness, that is, matters of doctrine were filled with falsities. Why this is done has been shown in 301-303, 593, 1008, 1010, 1059, 1327, 1328, 2426.
[5] Because 'blind' meant that which was false, therefore people were not allowed in the Jewish representative Church to sacrifice anything blind, Lev 22: 22; Deut 15: 21; Mal 1: 8. Also any priest who was blind was forbidden to approach and offer on the altar, Lev 21: 18, 21.
[6] That 'blindness' is used in reference to those, like gentiles, who have no knowledge of the truth, is clear in Isaiah,
On that day the deaf will hear the words of the Book, and out of thick darkness and out of darkness the eyes of the blind will see. Isa 29: 18.
'The blind' stands for people who have no knowledge of the truth, chiefly those who are outside the Church. In the same prophet,
Bring forth the blind people and they will have eyes; and the deaf, and they will have ears. Isa 43: 8.
This refers to the Church of the gentiles. In the same prophet,
I will lead the blind in a way they do not know; I will turn the darkness before them into light. Isa 42: 16.
[7] In the same prophet,
I will give You to be a light of the people, to open the blind eyes, to bring the bound out of the dungeon, from the prison-house those who sit in darkness. Isa 42: 6, 7.
This refers to the Lord's Coming and the fact that at that time people who had no knowledge of truth were to receive instruction. For those immersed in falsity do not allow themselves to receive such instruction, for they know the truth but have set themselves against it and have turned the light of truth into darkness which is not dispelled. In Luke,
The householder said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor, and the maimed, and the lame, and the blind. Luke 14:-21.
This refers to the Lord's kingdom. Not those who are literally poor, maimed, lame, and blind are meant but those who are so in the spiritual sense.
[8] In the same gospel,
Jesus said that they were to report to John: The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them. Luke 7:-22.
According to the sense of the letter nobody else is meant by the blind, the lame, lepers, the deaf, the dead, and the poor than those who were so physically, for such cures did take place, that is to say, the blind received sight, the deaf hearing, lepers were restored to health, and the dead to life.
[9] But in the internal sense the same people are meant as are referred to in
Isaiah,
Then will be opened the eyes of the blind, and the ears of the deaf will be opened; then will the lame man leap like a hart, and the dumb man sing with his tongue. Isa 35: 5, 6.
This refers to the Lord's Coming and a new Church at that time called the Church of the gentiles who are described as being blind, deaf, lame, and dumb; they were so called as regards their doctrine and life. For it should be recognized that all the miracles which the Lord performed always embodied such matters and therefore meant the things which the blind, the lame, lepers, the deaf, the dead, and the poor are used to mean in the internal sense. Consequently the Lord's miracles were Divine, as also those performed in Egypt, in the wilderness, and all the rest described in the Word, had been. This is an arcanum.
Latin(1748-1756) 2383
2383. Quod `percusserunt caecitatibus' significet quod opplerentur falsitatibus, constat a significatione `caecitatis': caecitas praedicatur in Verbo de iis qui in falso sunt, tum quoque de iis qui in ignorantia veri; utrique vocantur `caeci,' sed quinam intelliguntur, a serie rerum, imprimis in sensu interno, constare potest: quod `caeci' vocentur {1} qui in falso, constat ab his locis; apud Esaiam, Speculatores ejus caeci, omnes ii non sciunt, omnes ii canes muti, non possunt latrare, lvi 10;`speculatores caeci' pro iis qui ex ratiocinatione sunt in falso: apud eundem, Exspectamus lucem, et ecce tenebrae; splendores, in caliginibus ambulamus; palpamus sicut caeci parietem, lix 9, 10:
apud Jeremiam, Errarunt caeci in plateis, polluerunt se sanguine, ea quae non possunt, tangunt vestimentis [suis], Thren. iv 14;
pro quod omnia vera polluta sint, `platea' pro veris in quibus errarunt, n. 2336: [2] apud Zachariam, In die illo percutiam omnem equum stupore, et equitem ejus furore,... omnem equum populorum percutiam caecitate xii 4;
`equus' hic et alibi in Verbo pro intellectuali, inde dicitur quod `equus percuteretur stupore,' et quod `equus populorum percuteretur caecitate,' hoc est, oppleretur falsitatibus: [3] apud Johannem, In judicium Ego in mundum veri, ut non videntes videant, videntes vero caeci fiant: audiverunt ex Pharisaeis haec, dixerunt, Num etiam nos caeci sumus? Dixit illis Jesus, Si caeci essetis, non haberetis peccatum; jam autem dicitis, quod videamus {2} ideo peccatum vestrum manet, ix 39-41;
hic caeci in utroque sensu, qui nempe in falso et qui in ignorant veri; qui intra Ecclesiam et sciunt quid verum, `caecitas' apud eos e falsitas; at qui non sciunt quid verum, ut qui extra Ecclesiam, `caecitas' apud eos est ignorantia veri, qui inculpati: [4] apud eundem, Occaecavit (c)eorum oculos, et obturavit eorum cor, ut non videant oculis tuis, et intelligant corde, et sanem eos, xii 40; Esai. vi 9-11;
pro quod satius foret ut in falsitatibus essent quam in veris, quia in vita mali qui si instruerentur in veris, ea non solum adhuc falsificarent, sed etiam malis conspurcarent; ex simili causa qua viri Sodomae percussi sunt caecitatibus, hoc est, doctrinalia opplerentur falsitatibus; cur hoc fiat, ostensum est, n. 301-303, 593, 1008, 1010, 1059, 1327, 1328, 2426; [5] (m)quia `caecum' significabat falsum, ideo Ecclesia repraesentativa Judaica prohibitum fuit sacrificare aliquod caecum, Lev. xxii 22; Deut. xv 21; Mal. i 8; tam vetitum quod caecus ex sacerdotibus accederet ad offerendum super altari, Lev. xxi 18, 21.(n) [6] Quod `caecitas' praedicetur de ignorantia veri, in quali sunt gentes, constat apud Esaiam, Audient in die illa surdi verba Libri, et ex caligine, eque tenebris oculi caecorum videbunt, xxix 18;
`caeci' pro illis qui in ignorantia veri, praecipue qui extra Ecclesiam apud eundem, Educ populum caelum, et oculi erunt; et surdos, et aures eis, xliii 8;
ubi de Ecclesia gentium: apud eundem, Ducam caecos in via non noverunt,... ponam tenebras coram iis in lucem, xlii 16:
[7] et apud eundem, Dabo Te in lucem populi, ad aperiendum oculos caecos, ad educendum e claustro vinctum, e domo carceris sedentes tenebris, xiii 6, 7;
ubi de Adventu Domini, quod tunc instruerentur illi qui in ignorantia veri; qui enim in falsitate sunt, ii se non ita patiuntur instrui, quia norunt verum, et confirmarunt se contra illud, et verterunt lucem in {3} tenebras, quae non discutiuntur: (m)apud Lucam, Dixit paterfamilias servo suo, Abi ocius in plateas {4} et vicos urbis, ac pauperes et mancos, et claudos, et caecos, introduc huc, xiv 21;
ubi de regno Domini; quod pauperes, manci, claudi, caeci non significentur, patet, sed qui in sensu spirituali tales sunt(n): [8] apud eundem, Dixit Jesus, ut renuntiarent Johanni: quod caeci videant, claudi ambulent, leprosi mundentur, surdi audiant, mortui resurgant, pauperibus evangelium praedicetur, vii 22;
secundum sensum litterae, per `caecos, claudos, leprosos, surdos, mortuos, pauperes' non alii intelliguntur quam tales, quia ita etiam factam, nempe quod caeci receperint visum, surdi auditum, leprosi sanitatem, mortui vitam, [9] sed usque in sensu interno intelliguntur iidem qui apud Esaiam, Tunc aperientur oculi caecorum, et aures surdorum aperientur, et saliet sicut cervus claudus, et cantabit lingua mutus, xxxv 5, 6;
ubi de Adventu Domini et de nova tunc Ecclesia quae vocatur gentium, de quibus praedicatur quod essent `caeci, surdi, claudi, muti,' ita dicti quoad doctrinam et vitam; nam sciendum, quod omnia miracula quae a Domino facta sunt, semper involverint talia, et inde significaverint quae per `caecos, claudos, leprosos, surdos, mortuos, pauperes' in sensu interno intelliguntur; inde miracula Domini fuerunt Divina, sicut etiam illa quae facta sunt in Aegypto, in deserto, et reliqua de quibus in Verbo; quod est arcanum. @1 dicantur.$ @2 quia videmus.$ @3 i veri.$ @4 ocyus in plateis I.$