6119.“我们的银子都用尽了，我们为什么死在你旁边呢”表否则，属灵的死亡就会因真理的缺乏而出现。这从“死”和“银子用尽”的含义清楚可知：“死”是指属灵的死亡，如下文所述；“银子用尽”表示真理的缺乏，因为“银子”表示含有真理在里面并适合的记忆知识（参看6112节）。至于这一事实，即属灵的死亡因真理的缺乏而出现，情况是这样：属灵的生命在于照真理行事，因而在于功用或有用的服务。因为具有属灵生命的人都对关注生活（也就是说，他们的目的是照这些真理生活）、因而关注功用或有用服务的真理拥有一种欲求和渴望。因此，他们能吸收功用或有用服务可照之成就的真理的程度，就决定了他们拥有多少属灵生命，因为它取决了他们拥有多少聪明和智慧之光。故当真理缺乏时，如阴影状态到来时的情形，在圣言中，这种状态由“晚上”来表示（6110节），属灵的生命就会衰竭。它之所以衰竭，是因为诸如属于阴影状态，也就是属于属灵死亡的那类事物进来了。当这种情况发生时，人们无法被保持在他们之前所在的光中，而是在某种程度上回到自我状态。因此，一个属灵死亡，即诅咒的形像从这阴影中产生。
“死”表示属灵的死亡或诅咒，这一点从圣言中的许多经文清楚看出来；在此只引用以下经文就足够了。以赛亚书：
祂却要以公义审判贫穷人，以正直责备地上的困苦人。以口中的杖击打全地，以嘴里的气处死恶人。（以赛亚书11:4）
这论及主。“口中的杖”和“嘴里的气”表示神性真理，就是审判的源头；“处死”表示受到诅咒。又：
祂已经吞灭死亡直到永远。主耶和华必擦去各人脸上的眼泪。（以赛亚书25:8）
又：
死了的不能再活；利乏音必不能再起；因为你刑罚他们，毁灭他们。（以赛亚书26:14）
又：
你的死人要活过来，我的尸首在兴起。（以赛亚书26:19）
又：
你们曾说，我们与死亡立约，与阴间结盟。你们与死亡所立的约必然废掉；与阴间所结的盟必立不住。（以赛亚书28:15，18）
耶利米书：
免得你们盼望光明，祂使光明变为死荫，成为幽暗。（耶利米书13:16）
以西结书：
你们为几把大麦，为几块饼，在我民中亵渎我，杀死不该死的人，救活不该活的人。（以西结书13:19）
何西阿书：
我必救赎他们脱离阴间之手，救赎他们脱离死亡。死亡啊，我要做你的灾害；阴间哪，我要做你的毁灭。（何西阿书13:14）
诗篇：
你是从死门把我提拔起来的。（诗篇9:13）
又：
求你使我眼目光明，免得我沉睡至死。（诗篇13:3）
又：
曾有死亡的绳索缠绕我，阴间的绳索缠绕我。（诗篇18:4，5）
又：
他们如同羊群被派定下阴间；死亡必牧养他们。（诗篇49:14）
启示录：
我拿着阴间和死亡的钥匙。（启示录1:18）
又：
得胜的，必不受第二次死的害。（启示录2:11）
又：
我知道你的行为，按名你是活的，其实是死的。你要警醒！坚固那剩下将近死去的。（启示录3:1，2）
马太福音：
那坐在黑暗里的百姓，看见了大光；坐在死荫之地的人，有光发现照着他们。（马太福音4:16）
约翰福音：
那听我话、又信差我来者的，就有永生，不至于定罪，是已经出死入生了。（约翰福音5:24）
又：
我要去了，你们要找我，并且你们要死在罪中。所以我对你们说，你们要死在罪中；你们若不信我就是那位，必要死在罪中。人若遵守我的道，就永远不见死。（约翰福音8:21，24，51，52）
由于“死”表示诅咒，所以属于代表性教会的人被禁止摸死人，若摸了，便不洁净，就不得不去洁净（以西结书44:25；利未记15:31；21:1，2；22:8；民数记6:6-12；19:11至末尾）。
Potts(1905-1910) 6119
6119. For why should we die beside thee because the silver faileth? That this signifies that otherwise by reason of the lack of truth there would be spiritual death, is evident from the signification of "dying," as being spiritual death (of which in what follows); and from the signification of "silver failing," as being a lack of truth (that "silver" denotes true and adaptable memory-knowledge may be seen above, n. 6112). In regard to the fact that there is spiritual death when there is a lack of truth, the case is this. Spiritual life consists in activities according to truths, consequently in uses; for they who are in spiritual life have an appetite and a longing for truths with a view to life, that is, that they may live according to them, thus with a view to uses. So far therefore as they are able to receive truths in accordance with which uses may be done, so far they are in spiritual life, because so far they are in the light of intelligence and of wisdom. When therefore truths fail, as is the case when a state of shade comes, which is signified in the Word by "evening" (n. 6110), the spiritual life labors; for such things present themselves as belong to shade, that is, to spiritual death; for in this case they are not as before kept in the light, but are in part let back into their own; and hence there arises from the shade an image of spiritual death, that is, of damnation. [2] That by "death" is signified spiritual death, or damnation, is evident from very many passages in the Word, of which it will suffice to adduce the following. In Isaiah:
In righteousness He shall judge the poor, and reprove with rectitude the wretched of the earth. But He shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips shall He cause the wicked to die (Isa. 11:4); speaking of the Lord. The "rod of His mouth," and the "breath of His lips," denote the Divine truth from which is judgment; "to die" denotes to be damned. Again:
He will swallow up death eternally; and the Lord Jehovih will wipe away the tear from upon all faces (Isa. 25:8). Again:
The dead shall not live; the Rephaim shall not rise; because Thou hast visited, Thou hast extinguished them (Isa. 26:14). Again:
Thy dead shall live, my carcass, they shall arise (Isa. 26:19). Again:
Ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell have we made a vision; your covenant with death shall be abolished, and your vision with hell shall not stand (Isa. 28:15, 18). [3] In Jeremiah:
Ye wait for the light, but He turns it into the shadow of death, He makes it thick darkness (Jer. 13:16). In Ezekiel:
Ye have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to make the souls live that should not live (Ezek. 13:19). In Hosea:
I will redeem them from the hand of hell; from death I will deliver them; O death, I will be thy pests; O hell, I will be thy destruction (Hos. 13:14). In David:
Thou liftest me up from the gates of death (Ps. 9:13). Again:
Enlighten mine eyes, lest perchance I sleep death (Ps. 13:3). Again:
The cords of death compassed me, and the cords of hell (Ps. 18:4, 5). Again:
They shall be set as a flock in hell; death shall pasture them (Ps. 49:14). In John:
I have the keys of hell and of death (Rev. 1:18). Again:
He that overcometh shall not be hurt in the second death (Rev. 2:11). [4] Again:
I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, but thou art dead. Be thou watchful, and establish the things that remain, which are ready to die (Rev. 3:1, 2). In Matthew:
The people that sitteth in darkness saw a great light; and to them that sit in the region and shadow of death, to them light hath arisen (Matt. 4:16). In John:
He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, shall have eternal life, and shall not come into judgment, but hath passed from death unto life (John 5:24). Again:
I go away, and ye shall seek Me, but ye shall die in your sin. I said therefore unto you that ye shall die in your sins; for unless ye believe that I am, ye shall die in your sins. If anyone shall keep My word, he shall never see death (John 8:21, 24, 51, 52). As "death" signified damnation, the people of the representative church were forbidden to touch the dead, and if they touched they were unclean, and were to be cleansed (Ezek. 44:25; Lev. 15:31; 21:1, 2; 22:8; Num. 6:6-12; 19:11 to the end).
Elliott(1983-1999) 6119
6119. 'And why should we die near by you because the silver is lacking?' means that otherwise spiritual death takes place because of the lack of truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'dying' as spiritual death, dealt with below; and from the meaning of 'the silver lacking' as a lack of truth - 'silver' being factual knowledge that holds truth in it and is appropriate, see 6112. What is implied by the notion that spiritual death takes place when there is a lack of truth is that spiritual life consists in deeds carried out in accordance with truths, consequently in useful services. For people endowed with spiritual life possess a yearning and desire for truths with life in view - that is, their end in view is to lead a life according to those truths - thus with useful services in view. Therefore the extent to which they can absorb truths, in accordance with which useful services are to be rendered, determines how much spiritual life they possess, because it determines how much of the light of intelligence and wisdom they possess. When truths are lacking therefore, as happens when a state of shade arrives - a state meant in the Word by 'evening', 6110 - spiritual life languishes. It languishes because things such as belong to the state of shade, that is, to spiritual death, enter in. When this happens people cannot be kept in the light in which they were before but are returned in part to a state of selfhood. As a consequence there emerges from the shade an image of spiritual death, that is, of damnation.
[2] It is clear from very many places in the Word that 'death' means spiritual death, or damnation; but let simply the following be quoted here: In Isaiah,
With righteousness He will judge the poor, and will reprove with uprightness the wretched of the earth. On the other hand He will smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breatha of His lips He will make the wicked die. Isa 11:4.
This refers to the Lord. 'The rod of His mouth' and 'the breath of His lips stand for Divine Truth, the source of judgement. 'Dying' stands for suffering damnation. In the same prophet, He Will swallow up death for ever, and the Lord Jehovih will wipe away tears from upon all faces. Isa 15:8.
In the same prophet,
The dead will not live, the Rephaim will not rise. To that end You have visited them, You have wiped them out. Isa 16:14.
In the same prophet,
Your dead will live, my corpse will rise again. Isa 26:19.
In the same prophet,
You have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell we have shaped a vision. Your covenant with death will be annulled, and your vision with hell will not stand. Isa 28:15, 18.
[3] In Jeremiah,
You look for light, but He will turn it into the shadow of death, He will place it in thick darkness. Jer.13:16.
In Ezekiel,
You have desecrated Me among My people for handfuls of barley and for crusts of bread, to slay souls that ought not to die and to bestow life on souls that ought not to live. Ezek 13:19, 22.
In Hosea,
Out of the hand of hell I will redeem them, from death I will deliver them. I will be your plagues, O death; I will be your destruction, O hell! Hosea 13:14.
In David,
You lift me up from the gates of death. Ps 9:13.
In the same author,
Lighten my eyes, lest perhaps I sleep [the sleep of] death. Ps 13:3.
In the same author,
The cords of death encompassed me, and the cords of hell. Ps 18:4, 5.
In the same author,
Like sheep they will be placed in hell, death will feed them. Ps 49:14.
In John,
I have the keys of hell and of death. Rev 1:18.
In the same book,
He who overcomes will not suffer harm in the second death. Rev 1:11.
[4] In the same book,
I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive; but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen what remains, which is at the point of death. Rev 3:1, 2.
In Matthew,
The people sitting in darkness have seen a great light; and for those sitting in the region and shadow of death, the light has arisen. Matt 4:16.
In John,
He who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me will have eternal life, and will not come into judgement, but has passed from death to life. John 5:24.
In the same gospel,
I am going away and you will seek Me, but you will die in your sin. I have said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins. If anyone keeps My word he will not ever see death. John 8:21, 14, 51, 52.
Because 'death' meant damnation those who belonged to the representative Church were forbidden to touch the dead. If they did touch them they were unclean and had to be cleansed, Ezek 44:25; Lev 15:71; 21:2, 3; 22:8; Num 6:6-12; 19:11-end.
Latin(1748-1756) 6119
6119. `Et cur moriemur juxta te, quia deficit argentum?': quod significet quod alioquin ob defectum veri mors spiritualis, constat e significatione `mori' quod sit mors spiritualis, de qua sequitur; et ex significatione `deficere argentum' quod sit defectus veri; quod `argentum' sit scientificum verum et aptabile, videatur n. 6112. Cum hoc quod mors spiritualis sit cum defectus veri est, ita se habet: vita spiritualis consistit in exercitiis secundum vera, consequenter in usibus; nam qui in vita spirituali sunt, appetunt et desiderant vera ob finem vitae, hoc est, ut vivant secundum illa, ita ob finem usuum; quantum itaque haurire possunt vera secundum quae usus fient, tantum in vita spirituali sunt, quia tantum in luce intelligentiae et sapientiae; cum itaque deficiunt vera, quod fit cum status umbrae venit, qui per `vesperam' in Verbo significatur, n. 6110, tunc laborat vita spiritualis, obveniunt enim talia quae sunt umbrae, hoc est, quae sunt mortis spiritualis; nam non tunc tenentur in luce ut prius, sed remittuntur quoad partem aliquam in suum proprium, inde obvenit ex umbra imago mortis spiritualis, hoc est, damnationis.[2] Quod per `mortem' significetur mors spiritualis seu damnatio, a perpluribus locis in Verbo constat, ex quibus solum haec licet afferre: apud Esaiam, Judicabit in justitia pauperes, et corripiet cum rectitudine miseros terrae: contra percutiet terram virga oris Sui, et spiritu labiorum Suorum mori faciet impium, xi 4;
ibi de Domino; `virga oris' et `spiritus labiorum' pro Divino Vero ex quo judicium; `mori' pro damnari: apud eundem, Absorbebit mortem in aeternum, et absterget Dominus Jehovih lacrimam desuper omnibus faciebus, xxv 8:
apud eundem, Mortui non vivent, Rephaim non resurgent, eo quod visitasti, exstinxisti eos, xxvi 14:
apud eundem, Vivent mortui tui, cadaver meum, resurgent, xxvi 19:
apud eundem, Dixistis, Excidimus foedus cum morte, et cum inferno fecimus visionem:... abolebitur foedus vestrum cum morte, et visio vestra cum inferno non (x)consistet, xxviii 15, 18:
[3] apud Jeremiam, Exspectatis lucem, sed ponet illam in umbram mortis, ponet in caliginem, xiii 16:
apud Ezechielem, Profanastis Me apud populum Meum pro pugillis hordeorum, et pro frustis panis; ad occidendum animas quae non mori debent, et ad vivificandum animas quae non vivere debent, xiii 19, 22:
apud Hosheam, E manu inferni redimam eos, e morte liberabo eos: ero pestes tuae, mors, ero exitium tuum, inferne, xiii 14:
apud Davidem, Extollis me e portis mortis, Ps. ix 14 [A.L. 13]:
apud eundem, Illumina oculos meos, ne forte dormiam mortem, Ps. xiii (x)14 [A.V. 3]:
apud eundem, Circumdederunt me funes mortis,... et funes inferni, Ps. xviii 5, 6 [A.V. 4, 5]:
apud eundem, Sicut pecus in inferno ponentur, mors pascet eos, Ps. xlix 15 [A.V. 14]:
apud Johannem, Habeo claves inferni et mortis, Apoc. i 18:
apud eundem, Qui vicerit, non damnum patietur in morte altera, Apoc. ii 11:
[4] apud eundem, Novi opera tua, quod nomen habeas quod vivas, sed mortuus es: esto vigilans, et stabili reliqua quae moribunda sunt, Apoc.iii 1, 2:
apud Matthaeum, Populus sedens in tenebris vidit lumen magnum; et sedentibus in regione et umbra mortis lux exorta illis est, iv 16:
apud Johannem, Qui Verbum Meum audit, et credit Ei Qui misit Me, habebit vitam aeternam, et in judicium non veniet, sed transcendit a morte ad vitam, 24:
apud eundem, Ego abeo et (x)quaeretis Me, sed in peccato vestro moriemini;... dixi vobis quod morituri sitis in peccatis vestris: nisi enim credideritis quod Ego sim, moriemini in peccatis vestris:... si quis verbum Meum servaverit, mortem non videbit in aeternum, (x)viii 21, 24, 51, 52. Quia `mors' significabat damnationem, idcirco illis qui ab Ecclesia repraesentativa erant, vetitum fuit ne tangerent mortuos, et si tangerent quod immundi essent ac mundarentur, Ezech. xliv 25, Lev. xv 31, xxi 2, 3, xxii (x)8, Num. vi 6-12, 11 ad finem.