566、“地面”表示教会所在的整个区域。这从“地（ground）”的含义清楚可知，因为圣言在土地（译注：ground，经上常译为地）和陆地（译注：land，经上也常译为地）或地（earth）之间作了精确区分。“土地”处处表示教会或教会的某个方面。这也是表示土地的人或亚当之名的由来。但“陆地”或“地”在各个地方都表示没有教会或教会某个方面的地方，如在第一章经上只提到“地”，因为教会或重生之人尚未出现。直到第二章经上才使用“土地”一词，因为那时教会已经形成。这同样适用于本节和下一章（创世记7:4，23），在那里，经上说，要从地面（faceoftheground）上除灭一切生物，表示在教会所在的区域内；但在创世记7:3，论到即将被创造的教会，经上说“使种存活于地面（faceoftheground）上”。“土地（译注：ground，经上常译为地）”在圣言的其它地方具有相同的含义，如以赛亚书：
耶和华要怜恤雅各，必再拣选以色列，将他们安置在他们自己的土地上。列民必接受他们，把他们带到他们的地方，以色列家必在耶和华的土地上占有他们。（以赛亚书14:1-2）
这论及被造的教会；而同样在这一章，没有教会的地方则被称为“地”（以赛亚书14:9，12，16，20-21，25-26）。
同一先知书：
犹大的土地必使埃及惊恐。当那日，埃及地必有五城说迦南的语言。（以赛亚书19:17-18）
此处“土地”表示教会，“地”（land）表示没有教会的地方。又：
地要摇摇晃晃，好像醉酒的人。耶和华在高处必察罚高处的军队，在土地上必察罚土地上的列王。（以赛亚书24:20-21）
此处意思一样。耶利米书：
因为无雨降在地上，土地就干裂，农夫为此蒙羞抱头。甚至母鹿在田间生产。（耶利米书14:4-5）
此处“地”包含土地，而“土地”包含田地。
耶利米书：
祂将以色列家的种从北方陆地和我赶他们到的各陆地领出来，他们必住在自己的土地上。（耶利米书23:8）
此处“陆地”和“各陆地”是指没有教会的地方；“土地”是指有教会或真敬拜的地方。又：
我必将耶路撒冷的余民，就是剩在这陆地，并住在埃及陆地的都交出来，我必把他们交给骚乱，成为地上列王的祸害。我必打发剑、饥荒、瘟疫到他们当中，直到他们从我所赐给他们和他们列祖的土地上灭绝。（耶利米书24:8-10）
此处“土地”表示教义和由此产生的敬拜；下一章（25:5）也有类似的话。
以西结书：
我要从你们所分散到的各陆地聚集你们。当我把你们带回以色列的土地，就是进入我举手赐给你们列祖的陆地时，你们必承认我是耶和华。（以西结书20:41-42）
此处“土地”表示内在敬拜；当内在敬拜不存在时，它就称为“陆地”。玛拉基书：
我必为你们斥责吞噬者，不容他毁坏你们土地的果实；你们田间的葡萄树也不会掉落。所有民族都必称你们为有福的，因你们必成为可喜爱的陆地。（玛拉基书3:11-12）
此处“陆地”表示容纳物或器皿，因而明显表示人，当“土地”表示教会或教义时，人就被称为“陆地”。
摩西五经：
列族啊，祂的百姓，你们要歌唱。祂要为祂的土地，祂的百姓赎罪。（申命记32:43）
这明显表示外邦人的教会，它被称为“土地”。以赛亚书：
在这孩子晓得弃恶择善之前，你在那二王面前所憎恶的土地必被撇弃。（以赛亚书7:16）
这论及主的降临，
经上说为教会预备的土地（土地表示教会或信的真正教义）“必被撇弃”。显然，“土地”和“田地”被如此称呼，是因为它们是播种的地方；如以赛亚书：
你撒在（土）地里的种子，主必降雨给它。耕种土地的牛和驴驹。（以赛亚书30:23-24）
约珥书：
田野荒废，土地悲哀，因为五谷毁坏。（约珥书1:10）
从上述经文清楚可知，在希伯来语，因土地一词而被称为“亚当”的“人”表示教会。
New Century Edition
Cooper(2008,2013)
[NCE]566. The symbolism of the face of the ground as that whole area where the church existed can be seen from the symbolism of the ground, since the Word carefully distinguishes ground from the earth or the land. Wherever it appears, ground symbolizes the church, or some aspect of the church. This is the origin of the human's name — Adam, which means ground.{*1} Often when the earth or the land is mentioned in the Word, it means the absence of the church or of anything having to do with the church. The first chapter is an example. In it, only the earth or land is mentioned,{*2} since the church — the regenerate person — did not yet exist. The ground is first mentioned in the second chapter, because by then the church did exist. Something similar occurs here and in the next chapter:
All substance would be destroyed from the face of the ground. (Genesis 7:4, 23)
This means in the territory where the church was. In the same chapter:
... to keep their seed alive on the face of the earth. (Genesis 7:3)
This is about a church yet to be created. The same holds true everywhere in the Word, as in Isaiah:
Jehovah will have mercy on Jacob and will yet choose Israel and will put them on their ground; and the peoples will take them and lead them to their place, and the house of Israel will inherit them upon the ground of Jehovah. (Isaiah 14:1-2)
This is about a church that has been formed; but a place where there was no church is called the earth in verses 9, 12, 16, 20-21, 25, and 26 of the same chapter.
[2] In the same author:
And the ground of Judah will make Egypt quake. On that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt speaking the tongue of Canaan. (Isaiah 19:17-18)
The ground is where the church is and the land is where the church is not. In the same author:
The earth will wander, wander, like a drunkard. Jehovah will punish the army of the heights on high, and the monarchs of the ground down on the ground. (Isaiah 24:20-21)
The meaning is similar. In Jeremiah:
Because of the chastened ground, since there was no rain on the land, the farmers were put to shame, they covered their head; for even the doe in the field gave birth. (Jeremiah 14:4-5)
The land means the area surrounding the ground, and the ground means the area surrounding the field.
[3] In the same author:
He brought the seed of the house of Israel out from the north land and from all the lands to which I drove them, and they will live on their ground. (Jeremiah 23:8)
The land and lands are where there are no churches; the ground is where the church or true worship is. In the same author:
I will make the survivors of Jerusalem — those left in this land and those living in the land of Egypt — I will make them a disturbance, an evil to all the kingdoms of the earth. And I will send against them sword, famine, and contagion to the point of devouring them off the ground that I gave to them and their ancestors. (Jeremiah 24:8-9, 10)
The ground stands for theology and for the worship it gives rise to. The same holds true for Jeremiah 25:5.{*3} [4] In Ezekiel:
I will gather you from the lands to which you have been scattered, and you will acknowledge that I am Jehovah, when I have returned you onto Israel's ground, onto the land in which I lifted my hand to give it to your ancestors. (Ezekiel 20:41-42)
The ground stands for inner worship; it is called land when there is no inner worship. In Malachi:
I will harangue against the devouring pest for you, and it will not spoil the fruit of the ground for you; and the grapevine in the field will not be bereft for you. And all nations will call you fortunate, because you will be a land of pleasure. (Malachi 3:11-12)
The land stands for the whole surrounding area and so, quite obviously, for a person, who is called "a land." The ground surrounded by that land stands for the church, or theology.
[5] In Moses:
Sing, you nations, his people. He will expiate the guilt incurred by his ground, his people. (Deuteronomy 32:43)
Clearly this stands for the church among non-Jewish nations, which is called the "ground."{*4} In Isaiah:
Before the child knew to spurn evil and choose good, the ground that you despise in the presence of its two monarchs would be deserted. (Isaiah 7:16)
This speaks of the Lord's Coming, saying that the ground prepared for the church — the true doctrine concerning faith — would be deserted. It is clear that the words ground and field are used in connection with planting, as in Isaiah:
He will give rain for the seed with which you would sow the ground. Oxen and young donkeys are working the ground. (Isaiah 30:23-24)
And in Joel:
The field was devastated and the ground mourned, because the grain was devastated. (Joel 1:10)
From this it can now be seen that the human — called adam in Hebrew, from the word for ground — symbolizes the church.
Footnotes:
{*1} On the apparent derivation of the name Adam from the Hebrew word for "ground," see note 2 in 313. For more on the name, see note 1 in 475. [RS]
{*2} On the translation of the single Latin word terra with the two English words "earth" and "land," see note 1 in 31. Contrary to the observation Swedenborg makes here, the Latin word rendered by the word "ground" (humus) does in fact appear once in the first chapter, near the end of verse 25, as does the Hebrew word underlying it (אֲדָמָה ['ăḏāmā]). (On this Hebrew word, see also note 2 in 313.) Swedenborg elsewhere reiterates the importance of the distinction between "earth" or "land" and "ground" (see 90, 268, 620, 662, 872, 895), but assigns a wide and varied range of meanings to each term, depending on context. At times the meanings even overlap. For example, "earth" is here said to mean "the absence of the church or of anything having to do with the church" and "ground" is said to mean "the church." In 662 "earth" is said to mean "a person in the church" and "ground" is said to mean "the church itself." In 872 "earth" is said to refer to people before "the seed of faith's truth and goodness can be sown in them" and "ground" is said to mean "people in the church." Nevertheless in each context the distinction between the two terms is emphasized as important. [LHC, SS]
{*3} Jeremiah 25:5 reads, "Turn, please, each of you from your evil and from the wickedness of your deeds, and live on the ground that Jehovah gave you and your ancestors from age to age." [LHC]
{*4} For more about the "church among non-Jewish nations," see note 1 in 231. [LHC]
Potts(1905-1910) 566
566. That by the "faces of the ground" is signified all that region where the church was, is evident from the signification of "ground;" for in the Word there is an accurate distinction made between "ground" and "earth;" by "ground" is everywhere signified the church, or something belonging to the church; and from this comes the name of "man" or "Adam" which is "ground;" by "earth" in various places is meant where there is no church, or anything belonging to the church, as in the first chapter, where "earth" only is named, because as yet there was no church, or regenerate man. The "ground" is first spoken of in the second chapter, because then there was a church. In like manner it is said here, and in the following chapter (Gen. 7:4, 23), that "every substance should be destroyed from off the faces of the ground" signifying in the region where the church was; but in Gen. 7:3, speaking of a church about to be created, it is said, "to keep seed alive on the faces of the ground." "Ground" has the same signification everywhere in the Word; as in Isaiah:
Jehovah will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and will set them upon their own ground, and the peoples shall take them, and shall bring them to their place, and the house of Israel shall inherit them on the ground of Jehovah (Isa. 14:1-2), speaking of the church that has been made; whereas where there is no church it is in the same chapter called "earth" (Isa. 14:9, 12, 16, 20-21, 25-26). [2] Again:
And the ground of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt; in that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt speaking with the lip of Canaan (Isa. 19:17-18), where "ground" signifies the church, and "land" where there is no church. In the same:
The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard; Jehovah shall visit upon the army of the height in the height, and upon the kings of the ground on the ground (Isa. 24:20-21). In Jeremiah:
Because of the ground that is worn, because there was no rain on the earth, the husbandmen were ashamed, they covered their heads, yea, the hind also calved in the field (Jer. 14:4-5), where "earth" is that which contains the "ground" and "ground" that which contains the "field." [3] In the same:
He brought the seed of the house of Israel from the northern land, from all the lands whither I have driven them, and they shall dwell on their own ground (Jer. 23:8), where "land" and "lands" are where there are no churches; "ground" where there is a church or true worship. Again: I will give the remains of Jerusalem, them that are left in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt, and I will deliver them to commotion, for evil to all the kings of the earth, and I will send the sword, the famine, and pestilence among them, till they be consumed from off the ground which I gave to them and to their fathers (Jer. 24:8-10), where "ground" signifies doctrine and the worship thence derived; and in like manner in the same Prophet, chapter 25:5. [4] In Ezekiel:
I will gather you out of the lands wherein ye have been scattered, and ye shall know that I am Jehovah when I shall bring you again into the ground of Israel, into the land for which I lifted up My hand to give it to your fathers (Ezek. 20:41-42), where "ground" signifies internal worship; it is called "land" when there is no internal worship. In Malachi:
I will rebuke him that consumeth for your sakes, and he shall not corrupt for you the fruit of the ground, nor shall the vine be bereaved for you in the field and all nations shall call you blessed, because ye shall be a delightsome land (Mal. 3:11-12), where "land" denotes the containant, and therefore it plainly denotes man, who is called "land" when "ground" denotes the church, or doctrine. [5] In Moses:
Sing, O ye nations, His people, He will make expiation for His ground, His people (Deut. 32:43), evidently signifying the Church of the Gentiles, which is called "ground." In Isaiah:
Before the child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the ground shall be forsaken, which thou abhorrest in presence of both her kings speaking of the advent of the Lord; that the "ground will be forsaken" denotes the church, or the true doctrine of faith. That "ground" and "field" are so called from being sown with seed, is evident; as in Isaiah:
Then shall he give rain of thy seed wherewith thou shalt sow the ground; the oxen also and the young asses that labor on the ground (Isa. 30:23-24). And in Joel:
The field is laid waste, and the ground hath mourned, because the corn is laid waste (Joel 1:10). Hence then it is evident that "man" who in the Hebrew tongue is called "Adam" from "ground" signifies the church.
Elliott(1983-1999) 566
566. 'The facea of the ground' means the whole of that area where the Church was. This is clear from the meaning of 'the ground', for in the Word a careful distinction is made between ground (humus) and land or earth (terra). Whenever 'ground' is used it means the Church or some aspect of the Church. This too is the derivation of the name Man or Adam, which means ground. But when 'land' or earth' occurs in the Word it frequently means where the Church or some aspect of the Church does not exist, as in Chapter 1 where the word 'land' alone is used, because the Church or regenerate person did not as yet exist. Not until Chapter 2 is the word 'ground' used because the Church has by now come into being. The same applies in the present verse and in verses 4, 23, of the next chapter, where it is said that every being was to be wiped off the facea of the ground, meaning within that area where the Church was; and in verse 7 of the next chapter, where the subject is the Church that is to be created, 'to keep their seed alive on the facea of the ground'.b The same applies elsewhere in the Word, as in Isaiah,
Jehovah will have compassion on Jacob, and will still choose Israel, and will set them on their own ground. And the peoples will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will inherit them on Jehovah's ground. Isa 14:1, 2.This refers to the Church once it has come into being; but when in the same chapter the Church does not exist it is called the land, verses 9, 12, 16, 20, 21, 25, 26.
[2] In the same prophet,
And the ground of Judah will be a terror to Egypt. On that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt which speak the languagec of Canaan. Isa 19:17, 18.
Here 'the ground' means where the Church exists, and 'the land' where it does not. In the same prophet,
The land will surely stagger like a drunken man. Jehovah will visit the host of the height on high, and the kings of the ground on the ground. Isa 24:20, 21.
Here the meaning is similar. In Jeremiah, Because of the ground which was cracked since there was no rain on the land, the farmers were put to shame, and covered their heads. Even the hind in the field has calved. Jer 14:4, 5.Here 'the land' stands for that which includes the ground, and 'the ground' for that which includes the field.
[3] In the same prophet, He led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north land and out of all the lands to where I have driven them. And they will dwell on their own ground. Jer 23:8.
Here 'land' and 'lands' mean where Churches do not exist, 'the ground' where the Church or true worship does exist. In the same prophet,
I will render the remnants of Jerusalem, those who are left in this land, and those who are dwelling in the land of Egypt, and I will render them as a horror for evil to all the kingdoms of the land. And I will send sword, famine, and pestilence upon them, until they are consumed from the ground which I gave to them and their fathers. Jer 24:8-10.
'The ground' stands for doctrine and worship arising out of it. And something similar is found in 25:5 of the same book.
[4] In Ezekiel,
I will gather you out of the lands into which you have been scattered. And you will acknowledge that I am Jehovah when I bring you back to the ground of Israel, into the land which I lifted up My hand to give to your fathers. Ezek. 20:41, 42.
'The ground' stands for internal worship. It is called 'the land' when internal worship does not exist. In Malachi,
I will rebuke the devourer for you, and he will not ruin for you the fruit of the ground, nor will the vine in the field fail you. And all the nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of that which is pleasing. Mal. 3:11, 12.
Here 'land' stands for that which includes, and so plainly stands for man who is actually called 'the land', when 'ground' stands for the Church or doctrine.
[5] In Moses,
Sing, O Nations, His people. He will reconcile His ground, His people. Deut. 32:43. This clearly stands for the Church of the gentiles, which is called 'the ground'. In Isaiah,
Before the boy knows to refuse evil and to choose good, the ground will be deserted which you loathe in the presence of its two kings. Isa. 7:16.
This refers to the Coming of the Lord. 'The ground will be deserted' stands for the Church or true doctrine of faith. The words 'ground 'and 'field' are clearly used in this way because they are places that are sown, as in Isaiah,
He will give rain for your seed with which you may sow the ground. Oxen and young asses tilling the ground . . . Isa. 30:23, 24.
And in Joel,
The field has been laid waste, and the ground has been mourning because the corn has been laid waste. Joel 1:10.
From these quotations it is now clear that 'man', who in Hebrew is called Adam from the word for ground, means the Church.
Latin(1748-1756) 566
566. Quod per 'facies humi' significetur omnis ille tractus ubi Ecclesia fuit, constat a significatione 'humi,' nam in Verbo accurate distinguitur humus a terra; per 'humum' ubivis significatur Ecclesia seu aliquid Ecclesiae; inde quoque nomen hominis seu Adam, quod est humus; per 'terram' intelligitur ibi {1} passim non Ecclesia, seu non aliquid Ecclesiae, sicut in capite primo modo nominatur 'terra' quia nondum Ecclesia seu regeneratus homo; in capite secundo primum nominatur 'humus' quia tunc Ecclesia; similiter hic et in cap. seq. quod perderetur 'omnis substantia desuper faciebus humi,' vers. 4, 23; ubi significatur in tractu ubi Ecclesia; et ibidem, 'Ad vivificandum semen super faciebus terrae {2} vers. 3, ubi de Ecclesia creanda: similiter in Verbo ubivis, ut apud Esaiam, Miserebitur Jehovah Jacobi, et eliget adhuc Israelem, et ponet illos super humo illorum,... et accipient eos populi, et deducent eos ad locum suum, et hereditabunt eos domus Israel super humo Jehovae, xiv 1, 2;ubi de Ecclesia facta; at ubi nulla Ecclesia in eodem capite dicitur 'terra,' vers. 9, 12, 16, 20, 21, 25, 26:
[2] apud eundem, Et erit humus Jehudae Aegypto in tremorem;... die illo erant quinque urbes in terra Aegypti loquentes labio Canaanis, xix 17, 18;
ibi 'humus' ubi Ecclesia, et 'terra' ubi non Ecclesia: apud eundem, Vagando vagabitur terra sicut ebrius;... visitabit Jehovah super exercitum altitudinis in altitudine, et super reges humi super humo, xxiv 20, 21;
similiter: apud Jeremiam, Propter humum contritam, quia non fuit pluvia in terra, pudefacti sunt agricolae, operuerunt caput suum; nam etiam cerva in agro peperit, xiv 4, 5;
ibi 'terra' pro continente ubi humus, et 'humus' pro continente ubi ager: [3] apud eundem, Deduxit semen domus Israelis e terra septentrionali, et ex omnibus terris, quo propuli eos, et habitabunt super humo eorum, xxiii 8;
'terra et terrae' ubi non Ecclesiae, 'humus' ubi Ecclesia aut cultus verus: apud eundem, Dabo... reliquias Hierosolymae, relictos in terra hac, et habitantes in terra Aegypti, et dabo illos in commotionem, in malum omnibus regnis terrae,... et mittam in eos gladium, famem et pestem, usque ad consumere eos desuper humo, quam dedi illis et patribus eorum, xxiv 8-10;
'humus' pro doctrina, et cultu inde: similiter apud eundem, cap. xxv 5: [4] apud Ezechielem, Congregabo vos e terris, in quas dispersi fuistis, et agnoscetis, quod Ego Jehovah, cum reduxero vos in humum Israelis, in terram, qua sustuli manum Meam ad dandum eam patribus vestris, xx 41, 42;
'humus' pro cultu interno, 'terra' vocata dum non cultus internus: apud Malachiam, Increpabo vobis in consumentem, et non corrumpet vobis fructum humi, neque orba erit vobis vitis in agro,... et beatos vos dicent omnes gentes, quia eritis vos terra beneplaciti, iii 11, 12;
ubi 'terra' pro continente, ita manifeste pro homine, qui vocatur 'terra'; ubi 'humus' pro Ecclesia aut doctrina: [5] apud Mosen, Cantate gentes, populus Ejus,... expiabit humum Suam, populum Suum, Deut. xxxii 43;
manifeste pro Ecclesia gentium quae vocatur 'humus:' apud Esaiam, Antequam sciat puer reprobare malum, et eligere bonum, deseretur humus, quam tu fastidis coram duobus regibus ejus, vii 16;
de Adventu Domini; quod 'deseretur humus' pro Ecclesia seu doctrina vera fidei. Quod 'humus et ager' dicatur a semente, constat: ut apud Esaiam, Dabit pluviam seminis tui, quo semines humum;... boves et pulli asinini laborantes humum, xxx 23, 24:
et apud Joelem, Vastatus ager, et luxit humus, quia vastatum frumentum, i 10;
inde nunc constat quod 'homo,' qui in Hebraea lingua dicitur Adam ab humo, significet Ecclesiam. @ 1 ubi I.$ @ 2 humi I, but see n. 722; Heb. is 'earth'.$