5440.“他们说，你的仆人们本是弟兄十二人”表信的全部事物以这种方式被联结起来。这从“十二”和“弟兄”的含义清楚可知：“十二”是指一切事物，当论及雅各的儿子们或以他们命名的各支派，以及众使徒时，是指作为一个整体的信的全部事物（参看577，2089，2129，2130，2553，3272，3488，3858，3862，3913，3926，3939，4060节）；“弟兄”是指它们通过良善被联结在一起；因为当真理通过良善被联结在一起时，它们可以说彼此具有一种兄弟般的关系。没有良善，它们看似联结在一起，其实并未联结在一起；因为由邪恶所产生的虚假总是进入并并将它们分开。之所以发生这种情况，是因为那时它们没有同一个它们所来源的源头，也没有同一个它们所指向、关注的目的。它们若真要联结起来，就必须从开始直到最后都联结起来。这个开始必是它们所来源的良善，而这个最后必是它们趋向、关注的良善。此外，为了真理被联结起来，良善必处处掌权；因为处处掌权的，才是那产生联结者。“弟兄”表示对良善的情感，因而表示良善本身（参看2360，2524，3303，3459，3803，3815，4121节）。
Potts(1905-1910) 5440
5440. And they said, We thy servants are twelve brethren. That this signifies that all things of faith were thus conjoined together, is evident from the signification of "twelve," as being all things, and when as here predicated of the sons of Jacob, or of the tribes named after them, and also of the apostles, all things of faith in one complex (see n. 577, 2089, 2129, 2130, 2553, 3272, 3488, 3858, 3862, 3913, 3926, 3939, 4060); and from the signification of "brethren," as being conjunction through good; for when truths are conjoined by means of good, they take on as it were a brotherhood among themselves. If when without good they appear conjoined, they nevertheless are not conjoined; for falsities of evil are always entering and disjoining them. The reason of this is that they have not one origin from which they are derived, nor one end to which they are directed. For there to be conjunction the first and the last must be conjoined; the first must be the good from which they come, and the last must be the good to which they tend. Furthermore, for truths to be conjoined, good must reign universally; for that which reigns universally, conjoins. (That a "brother" denotes the affection of good, thus good, may be seen above, n. 2360, 2524, 3303, 3459, 3803, 3815, 4121.)
Elliott(1983-1999) 5440
5440. 'And they said, Twelve are your servants, brothers are we' means that all aspects of faith existed joined together in this manner. This is clear from the meaning of 'twelve' as all, and when used as it is here in reference to the sons of Jacob, or to the tribes named after them, and also when used in reference to the apostles, all aspects of faith in their entirety are meant, dealt with in 577, 2089, 2129, 2130, 2553, 3272, 3488, 3858, 3862, 3913, 3926, 3939, 4060; and from the meaning of 'brothers' as their existing joined together through good, for when joined together through good truths assume a kind of brotherly relationship with one another. If in the absence of good they appear to be joined together, they are not in fact so joined; falsities resulting from evil always come in and set them apart. The reason this happens is that those truths do not then have the same origin from which they spring, nor do they have the same end to which they look. If they are to exist joined together they must do so from start to finish. Good from which they spring must be there right from the start, and good to which they look must be there through to the finish. Furthermore, that good must reign everywhere there if the truths are to exist joined together; for that which reigns everywhere effects the joining together. 'A brother' means the affection for good, and so good itself, see 2524, 2360, 3303, 3459, 3803, 3815, 4121.
Latin(1748-1756) 5440
5440. `Et dixerunt, Duodecim servi tui fratres nos': quod significet quod omnia fidei simul ita conjuncta, constat ex significatione `duodecim' quod sint omnia, et cum praedicantur de filiis Jacobi, ut hic, seu de tribubus ab illis nominatis, et quoque de apostolis, sunt omnia fidei in uno complexu, de qua n. 577, 2089, 2129, 2130, 2553, 3272, 3488, 3858, 3862, 3913, 3926, 3939, 4060; et ex significatione `fratrum' quod sit conjunctio per bonum, nam vera cum conjunguntur per bonum, induunt inter se quasi fraternitatem; si absque bono conjuncta appareant, usque tamen non conjuncta sunt; falsa mali semper intrant et disjungunt; causa est quia non habent unam originem ex qua, nec habent unum finem ad quem; primum et ultimum conjungent, ut sit conjunctio, primum erit bonum a quo, et ultimum erit bonum ad quod; et praeterea ut conjuncta sint vera, erit bonum universaliter regnans; {1} quod universaliter regnat, hoc conjungit. Quod `frater' sit affectio boni, ita bonum, videatur n. 2524, 2360, 3303, 3459, 3803, 3815, 4121. @1 i nam $