426、“铁”表示属世真理，这一点从以西结论到推罗的话进一步清楚看出来：
他施人因你多有各类的财物，就作你的客商，拿银、铁、锡、铅兑换你的货物。但人和雅完人，并乌萨拿锻铁兑换你的货物；桂皮和菖蒲在你的集市上。（以西结书27:12，19）
从这些话，以及本章上下文很清楚地看出，所表示的是属天和属灵的财富。每种商品，以及那里所提到的每个名字都有某种特定含义，因为主的圣言是属灵的，而不仅仅是文字上的。
耶利米书：
谁可以折断铁，就是从北方来的铁，和铜呢？因你的一切罪，我必将你的资财和宝物，毫无代价地作掠物。（耶利米书15:12-13）
此处“铁和铜”表示属世的真理和良善；“从北方来的”表示感官和属世之物，因为属世之物相对于属灵和属天之物，如同黑暗或北方相对于光明或南方；属世之物还如同阴影，这也是此处作为母亲的“洗拉”的含义。“资财和宝物”是指属天和属灵的财富，这也是显而易见的。
以西结书：
你要拿个铁鏊，放在你和城之间，作为铁墙。你要把你的脸对着这城，使城被困，你要加紧围攻它。（以西结书4:3）
此处也很明显，“铁”表示真理。大力属于真理，因为它不可阻挡，这也是为何经上论到表示真理或信之真理的“铁”，就说它“打碎或粉碎”和“砸碎”，如在但以理书（2:34，40）。启示录：
那得胜的，我要赐给他权柄制伏列族；他必用铁杖辖管或牧养他们，将他们如同窑户的瓦器打得粉碎。（启示录2:26-27）
又：
妇人生了一个男孩子，是将来要用铁杖辖管或牧养所有民族的。（启示录12:5）
“铁杖”表示属于主之圣言的真理，启示录解释了这一点：
我看见天开了，见有一匹白马，骑在马上的称为忠信真实，祂审判、争战都按着公义。祂穿着溅了血的衣服，祂的名称为神的圣言。有利剑从祂口中出来，可以击杀列族。祂必用铁杖牧养他们。（启示录19:11，13，15）
New Century Edition
Cooper(2008,2013)
[NCE]426. The symbolism of iron as earthly truth is established not only by the places just cited but also by Ezekiel's words concerning Tyre:
Tarshish{*1} was your dealer, on account of the vastness of all your affluence; for silver, iron, tin, and lead they sold your merchandise. Dan and Javan and Meuzal for your trade goods gave polished iron; cassia and calamus were in your market. (Ezekiel 27:12, 19)
From these verses and those before and after them in the same chapter it can be seen clearly that heavenly and spiritual riches are being symbolized and that each item named means some specific entity. So do the personal names. The Lord's Word, after all, is spiritual, not mere words.
[2] In Jeremiah:
Will anyone crush iron, iron from the north, and bronze? Your resources and treasures I will turn into plunder, [in exchange] not for a price but for all your sins. (Jeremiah 15:12-13)
Iron and bronze stand for earthly truth and goodness. What comes from the north symbolizes the level of the senses and the earthly level, because the earthly level in respect to the spiritual and heavenly level is like northern darkness in relation to southern sunlight. Or it is like a shadow, which Zillah (Tubal-cain's mother) also symbolizes here.{*2} Plainly the resources and treasures mean heavenly, spiritual riches.
[3] In Ezekiel:
Take yourself an iron griddle and put it as an iron partition between yourself and the city; and set your face toward it, and let it be for a siege, and tighten the siege against it. (Ezekiel 4:3)
Clearly iron symbolizes truth here. Truth is considered strong because nothing can resist it. So iron, which symbolizes truth, or the verities of faith, is said to crush and bruise, as in Daniel 2:33, 40. And in John it says:
To those who conquer I will give authority over the nations, to shepherd them with an iron rod, as if clay pots were being crushed. (Revelation 2:26-27)
In the same author:
The woman delivered a male child, who is to shepherd all the nations with an iron rod. (Revelation 12:5)
[4] An iron rod is the truth in the Lord's Word, as John himself explains:
I saw the sky opened, when look! A white horse. And the one sitting on it was called faithful and true, and he judges and fights in justice. He was dressed in a garment dyed with blood, and his name is called God's Word. From his mouth issues a sharp saber, and with it he will strike the nations, and he will shepherd them with an iron rod. (Revelation 19:11, 13, 15)
Footnotes:
{*1} For the place called Tarshish, see note 2 in 117. [RS]
{*2} The name Zillah itself also means "shadow." In identifying the north with darkness and the south with light, Swedenborg presumes a readership in the northern hemisphere. [LHC]
Potts(1905-1910) 426
426. That "iron" signifies natural truth, is further evident from what Ezekiel says of Tyre:
Tarshish was thy trader by reason of the multitude of all riches; in silver, iron, tin, and lead, they gave thy traffickings. Dan, and Javan, and Meusal furnished bright iron in thy tradings; cassia and calamus were in thy mart (Ezek. 27:12, 19). From these words, as well as from what is said both previously and subsequently in the same chapter, it is very evident that celestial and spiritual riches are signified; and that every particular expression, and even the names mentioned, have some specific signification, for the Word of the Lord is spiritual, and not verbal. [2] In Jeremiah:
Can one break iron, even iron from the north, and brass? Thy substance [facultates] and thy treasures will I give for a spoil without price, and this for all thy sins (Jer. 15:12-13), where "iron" and "brass" signify natural truth and good; that it came from the "north" signifies what is sensuous and natural; for what is natural, relatively to what is spiritual and celestial, is like thick darkness (that is, the "north") relatively to light or the "south;" or like shade, which is also signified here by "Zillah" who is the "mother." That the "substance" and "treasures" are celestial and spiritual riches, is also very evident. [3] Again in Ezekiel:
Take thou unto thee a pan of iron, and set it for a wall of iron between thee and the city, and set thy faces toward it, and let it be for a siege, and thou shalt straiten against it (Ezek. 4:3),where also it is evident that "iron" signifies truth. Strength is attributed to truth, because it cannot be resisted, and for this reason it is said of iron-by which is signified truth, or the truth of faith-that it "breaks in pieces" and "crushes"; as in Daniel (2:34, 40), and in John:
He that overcometh, to him will I give sovereign power over the nations, that he may pasture them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers (Rev. 2:26-27). Again:
The woman brought forth a man child, who should pasture all nations with a rod of iron (Rev. 12:5). [4] That a "rod of iron" is the truth which is of the Word of the Lord, is explained in John:
I saw heaven open, and behold a white horse, and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and fight; He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood, and His name is called the Word of God; out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations; and He shall pasture them with a rod of iron (Rev. 19:11, 13, 15).
Elliott(1983-1999) 426
426. As regards 'iron' meaning natural truth, this is clear from the places quoted already, and from the following as well: In Ezekiel in reference to Tyre,
Tarshish was your trader because of the vastness of all your wealth - in silver, iron, tin, and lead they provided Your wares. Dan and Javan, and Meusal, exchanged wrought iron in your tradings; cassla and calamus were in your market. Ezek 27:12, 19.From these verses, and from those before and after them in the same chapter, it is quite clear that celestial and spiritual riches are meant. Each commodity, and also each name mentioned there, has some specific meaning, for the Word of the Lord is spiritual and not just verbal in content.
[2] In Jeremiah,
Can one smash iron, iron from the north, and bronze? Your resources and your treasures I will give as spoil, without price, even for all your sins. Jer 15:12, 13.
Here 'iron' and 'bronze' stand for natural truth and good. 'That which comes from the north' means that which is sensory and natural, for natural in comparison with spiritual and celestial is as thick darkness or the north to light or the south. The natural also resembles shade, which is also the meaning here of 'Zillah' who was the mother. It is also quite plain that 'resources and treasures' are celestial and spiritual riches.
[3] In Ezekiel, Take an iron pan and place it as an iron wall between you and the city, and set your facea towards it, and let it be in a state of siege, and oppress it. Ezek 4:3.
Here too it is clear that 'iron' means truth. Great strength is attributed to truth because nothing is able to withstand it. This in addition is why iron, which means truth, that is, the truth of faith, is referred to as smashing and crushing to pieces, as in Dan 2:33, 40. And in John,
He who overcomes, to him will I give power over the nations to ruleb them with an iron rod as when earthen pots are broken in pieces. Rev 2:26, 27.
In the same author,
The woman gave birth to a male child, who was to ruleb all nations with an iron rod. Rev 12:5.
[4] The explanation appears in John that an 'iron rod' means truth which belongs to the Word of the Lord,
I saw heaven opened, when behold, a white horse! And He who sat upon it was called faithful and true, and in righteousness He judges and fights. He was clothed in a robe dipped in blood and His name is called the Word of God. From His mouth issues a sharp sword, and with it He will smite the nations, and will ruleb them with an iron rod. Rev. 19, 11, 13, 15.
Latin(1748-1756) 426
426. Quod 'ferrum' significet verum naturale, praeter ab illis quae allata sunt, etiam constat apud Ezechielem de Tyro, Tarshish negotiatrix tua, prae multitudine omnis affluentiae, in argento, ferro, stanno et plumbo, dederunt mercaturas tuas:Dan et Javan, et Meusal {1}, in negotiationibus tuis dederunt ferrum tersum; casia et calamus in foro tuo fuit, xxvii 12, 19;
ex his et quae praecedunt et sequuntur in eodem capite, constat manifeste quod significentur divitiae caelestes et spirituales, et quod per singula quae nominantur, aliquid speciale; tum etiam per nomina; nam Verbum Domini est spirituale non verbale: [2] apud Jeremiam, Num conteret ferrum, ferrum a septentrione et aes? facultates tuas et thesauros in praedam dabo, non in pretio, et quidem pro omnibus peccatis His, xv 12, 13;
ubi 'ferrum et aes' pro vero et bono naturali; 'quod venit a septentrione' significat sensuale et naturale, nam naturale respective ad spirituale et caeleste est sicut caligo seu septentrio ad lucem aut meridiem;' aut sicut umbra, quam significat quoque 'Zillah' {2} hic, quae mater: quod 'facultates et thesauri' sint divitiae caelestes et spirituales, etiam manifeste patet: [3] apud Ezechielem, Accipe tibi sartaginem ferri; et da eam parietem ferri, inter te et inter urbem, et disponas facies tuas ad eam, et sit in obsidionem, et angustes contra eam, iv 3;
quod per 'ferrum' hic significetur veritas, etiam constat; veritati tribuitur robur quia ei non resisti potest, quare etiam praedicatur de ferro, quo significatur veritas seu verum fidei, quod confringat et contundat; ut apud Dan. ii 33, 40; et apud Johannem, Qui vicerit,... illi dabo potestatem super gentes, illi pascat {4} eas virga ferrea; sicut vasa figulinorum {3} conterantur, Apoc.ii 26,27:
apud eundem, Mulier peperit filium masculum, qui pasturus4 erit omnes gentes virga ferrea, Apoc. xii 5;
[4] quod 'virga ferrea' sit veritas quae est Verbi Domini, apud Johannem explicatur, Vidi caelum apertam, cum ecce equus albus, et qui sedens super illo, vocabatur fidelis et verus, qui in justitia judicat pugnat;... indutus erat vestimento tincto sanguine, vocaturque nomen ejus Verbum Dei,... ex ore illius exit romphaea: acuta, et per illam percutiet gentes, ac ille {4} pascet eos virga ferrea Apoc. xix 11, 13, 15. @ 1 The Heb. here is doubtful. In 3923 S. has Dan et Javan, adveniens in nundinis tuis, in 10256 and 10258 he has Dan et Javan netum in negotiationibus tuis. R.V. has 'traded with yarn' or in m. traded from Uzal. R.V. has Vedan for Dan, but the existence of such a place seems doubtful.$ @ 2 Heb. (zillah) means 'screen,' or 'shade.'$ @ 3 In 4876 and A.R. S. has figulina; in A.E. fictilia.$ @ 4 Gk. is poimaino = 'to shepherd,' hence 'feed, guide or rule.' The usual verb for 'rule' is hegeomai. Cf. Matt. ii 6, R.V.$