6239.“你在他们以后所生的后裔”表以后所生的内层真理与良善。这从“后裔”和“他们以后”的含义清楚可知：“后裔”是指属于信与仁的事物（参看613，2020，2584节），因而是指真理与良善；“他们以后”是指以后所生的内层事物。之所以表示内层事物，是因为以后从内在所生的事物更为内在。事实上，以前所生的那些事物相继作为手段或方法而服务于内在，以便产生以后所生的更为内在的事物，因为内在逐渐将属世层提升到自己这里。
这一点从构成人里面理解力的一切的产生明显看出来；因为人一开始是感官的，或说在感官层面，后来变得越来越内在，直到他能充分利用自己的理解力。通过信与仁所实现的新一代或新生与此类似。正因如此，人是逐渐得以完善的（参看前面关于当人正在重生时，逐渐提升到内层的说明，6183节）。
在圣言中，“后裔（经上或译为族类、后代、世代、代、出身、出世、出生）”表示属于信与仁的事物，这是因为就内义而言，所指的是属灵的出生，而非其它出生。在诗篇，所表示的也是这种后裔：
他们必大大地害怕，因为神在义人的族类中。（诗篇14:5）
“义人的族类”表示从良善流出的真理，因为“义人”论及良善。以赛亚书：
他们必不徒然劳碌，也不在惊恐中生产后代。因为他们都是蒙耶和华赐福的种。（以赛亚书65:23）
又：
谁做成这事，从起初宣召历代呢？就是我耶和华；我是首先的，也与末后的同在。（以赛亚书41:4）
以西结书：
你的根源，你的出身，是在迦南地；你父亲是亚摩利人，你母亲是赫人。论到你出世的景况，在你出生的日子没有为你断脐带，也没有用水洗你，好使我看见。（以西结书16:3，4）
这段经文论及耶路撒冷的可憎，很明显，“出生”或“后代”表示灵义上的出生或后代。
以赛亚书：
像永恒之日、不朽的世代兴起一样。（以赛亚书51:9）
“永恒之日”表示上古教会的状态和时间。之所以用“永恒”来论及上古教会，是因为这个教会处于对主之爱的良善，该良善因直接从主流出，故被称为“永恒”；“不朽的世代”表示源于这良善的良善。
与此类似的事也出现在摩西五经中：
你当追想永恒之日，思念代代之年。（申命记32:7）
此处“永恒之日”表示大洪水之前的上古教会的状态和时间，该教会是一个属天教会；“代代之年”表示大洪水后古教会的状态和时间，该教会是一个属灵教会；此处论述的是这些教会。
约珥书：
犹大必存到永远，耶路撒冷必存到代代。（约珥书3:20）
“永远”在此论及犹大，是因为“犹大”代表属天教会（3881节）；“代代”论及耶路撒冷，是因为“耶路撒冷”表示属灵教会（402节）。
以赛亚书：
惟有我的公义永远长存，我的救恩直到代代。（以赛亚书51:8）
此处“永远”论及爱之良善，因为“公义”论及这良善（612，2235节）；“代代”论及信之良善。
诗篇：
你的国是万世永恒的国；你的统治代代长存。（诗篇145:13）
此处意思也一样；因为除非“永恒”论及属天之物，“代代”论及属灵之物，否则只提及其中一个就行了；用这二者只是一个毫无意义的重复。
属于信之状态的事物也由以下律法来表示：私生子直到十代不可入耶和华的会（申命记23:2）；亚扪人或是摩押人甚至直到十代不可入耶和华的会（申命记23:3），以东人和埃及人第三代可以入耶和华的会（申命记23:8）。在十诫中，同样表示与信之状态有关的事物，在那里，经上说：恨耶和华神的，祂必追讨自父及子，直到三四代的罪（出埃及记20:5）。
“后裔（经上或译为族类、后代、世代、代、出身、出世、出生）”之所以表示属于信与仁的事物，是因为就灵义而言，所指的是与重生有关的事物，或已经重生的人，而非别的出生。在圣言中，“生产”、“生育”、“怀孕”也一样；这些词表示信与仁的生产、生育和怀孕（1145，1255，3860，3868，4668，5160，5598节）。
Potts(1905-1910) 6239
6239. And thy generation which thou begettest after them. That this signifies interior truths and goods, which are afterward, is evident from the signification of "generation," as being the things that belong to faith and charity (see n. 613, 2020, 2584), thus truths and goods; and from the signification of "after them" as being the interior things which are afterward. That interior things are signified is because the things which are begotten from the internal afterward, are more interior; for those things which have been begotten previously serve successively for producing those which are begotten afterward more interiorly, for the internal elevates the natural to itself by degrees. This is plain from the generation of all things of the intellectual in man; for man is first sensuous, afterward he becomes more and more interior, even until he becomes intellectual. It is the same with the new generation which is effected by means of faith and charity. Hence it is that man is perfected by degrees (see what was said above about the successive elevation toward the interiors when man is being regenerated, n. 6183). [2] That "generation" in the Word signifies the things that belong to faith and charity, is because no other generation than a spiritual one can be understood in the internal sense. This generation is also meant in David:
They shall fear a fear; for God is in the generation of the righteous (Ps. 14:5);
the "generation of the righteous" denotes truths from good, for "righteousness" is predicated of good. In Isaiah:
They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for terror; they are the seed of the blessed of Jehovah (Isa. 65:23). Again:
Who hath wrought and done it? Who calleth the generations from the beginning? I, Jehovah, the first, and with the last I am the same (Isa. 41:4). In Ezekiel:
Thy tradings and thy generations are of the land of the Canaanite; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother was a Hittite. As to thy generations, in the day when thou wast born thy navel was not cut off, and thou wast not washed with waters for My sight (Ezek. 16:3, 4);
speaking of the abominations of Jerusalem, where it is very manifest that "generations" are generations in a spiritual sense. [3] Again in Isaiah:
Awake as in the days of eternity, the generations of eternities (Isa. 51:9);
the "days of eternity" denote the state and time of the Most Ancient Church, of which "eternity" is predicated because it was in the good of love to the Lord, to which good, because it is immediately from the Lord, "eternity" is ascribed; "generations of eternities" are the goods thence derived. [4] So in Moses:
Remember the days of eternity, understand the years of generation and generation (Deut. 32:7);
where the "days of eternity" denote the state and time of the Most Ancient Church which was before the flood, and was a celestial church; the "years of generation and generation" denote the state and time of the Ancient Church which was after the flood, and was a spiritual church; which churches are here treated of. [5] And in Joel:
Judah shall abide to eternity, and Jerusalem to generation and generation (Joel 3:20);
"eternity" is here predicated of Judah, because by Judah is represented the celestial church (n. 3881); and "generation and generation" is predicated of Jerusalem, because by "Jerusalem" is signified the spiritual church (n. 402). [6] In Isaiah:
My righteousness shall be to eternity, and My salvation to generation of generations (Isa. 51:8);
where "eternity" is predicated of the good of love, for "righteousness" is predicated of this good (n. 612, 2235); and "generation," of the good of faith. [7] And in David:
Thy kingdom is a kingdom of all eternities, and Thy dominion to all generation and generation (Ps. 145:13);
where the sense is the same; for unless "eternity" is predicated of what is celestial, and "generation" of what is spiritual, only one would be mentioned; both would be a useless repetition. [8] The things that belong to a state of faith are also signified by the command that a bastard should not come into the congregation of Jehovah to the tenth generation (Deut. 23:2); an Ammonite and a Moabite not even to the tenth generation (Deut. 23:3), and that an Edomite and an Egyptian might come into the congregation of Jehovah in the third generation (Deut. 23:8). So in the commandment of the Decalogue, in that Jehovah God would visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons, upon the third and fourth generation with respect to those who hate Him (Exod. 20:5). [9] That "generations" denote the things of faith and charity, is because in the spiritual sense no other generations can be meant than those which are of regeneration, or of one who is regenerate; in like manner as the "births," "childbearings," and "conceptions" in the Word: that these terms denote the births, childbearings, and conceptions of faith and charity (n. 1145, 1255, 3860, 3868, 4668, 5160, 5598).
Elliott(1983-1999) 6239
6239. 'And your offspring that you beget after them' means interior truths and forms of good which are begotten later on. This is clear from the meaning of 'offspring' or 'generation' as matters of faith and charity, dealt with in 613, 2020, 2584, thus truths and forms of good; and from the meaning of 'after them' as interior ones which are begotten later on. The reason interior ones are meant is that what is begotten from the internal at a later time is more interior. For in every consecutive stage all that has already been begotten serves the internal as the means by which what is begotten subsequently can be introduced into a more interior position, for the internal raises the natural by degrees up to itself. This is evident from the birth of all that constitutes the understanding in a person. At first he is on the level of his senses; later on he rises to more and more internal levels until he arrives at full use of his understanding. Similar to this is the new generation or birth which is effected by means of faith and charity. Thus it is that a person is perfected by degrees; see what has been stated in 6183 about the gradual raising up to more interior levels when a person is being regenerated.
[2] In the Word 'generation' means things which have to do with faith and charity, for the reason that no generation other than that of a spiritual kind is meant in the internal sense. That kind of generation is also meant in David,
They will fear greatly, for God is in the generation of the righteous. Ps 14:5.
'The generation of the righteous' stands for truths that flow from good, for righteousness is an attribute of good. In Isaiah 41:4.
They will not labour in vain, and they will not produce offspringa in terror; they will be the seed of the blessed of Jehovah. Isa 65:23.
In the same prophet,
Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, Jehovah, am the first, and with the last I am the same. Isa 41:4.
In Ezekiel,
Your tradings and your births' are of the land of the Canaanite. Your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. As for your births,b on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, and you were not washed with water for Me to see. Ezek 16:3, 4.
In these verses, which refer to the abominations of Jerusalem, it is quite evident that 'generations' or 'births' means generations in a spiritual sense.
[3] In Isaiah,
Awake as in the days of eternity, in the generations of eternity.c Isa 51:9.
'The days of eternity' stands for the state and time of the Most Ancient Church. The expression 'eternity' is used in reference to that Church because the good of love to the Lord reigned in it, and that good, since it flows directly from the Lord, is called eternal. 'The generations of eternity' stands for the forms of good that spring from that good.
[4] Something similar to this appears in Moses,
Remember the days of eternity, understand the years of generation after generation. Deut 32:7.
'The days of eternity' stands for the state and time of the Most Ancient Church which existed before the Flood and was a celestial Church. 'The years of generation after generation' stands for the state and time of the Ancient Church which existed after the Flood and was a spiritual Church. Those Churches are the subject at that point in Moses.
[5] In Joel,
Judah will abide into eternity, and Jerusalem into generation after generation. Joel 3:20.
'Eternity' is used in reference to Judah because 'Judah' represents the celestial Church, 3881, and 'generation after generation' is used in reference to Jerusalem because by 'Jerusalem' is meant the spiritual Church, 402.
[6] In Isaiah,
My righteousness will exist into eternity, and My salvation into each generation.d Isa 51:8.
Here 'eternity' has reference to the good of love, for the word 'righteousness' is used in connection with that good, 612, 2235, and 'generation' has reference to the good of faith.
[7] In David,
Your kingdom is a kingdom to all eternity,e and Your dominion to every generation after generation. Ps 145:13.
Here the meaning is similar, for unless 'eternity' had had reference to what was celestial, and 'generation' to what was spiritual, one expression alone would have been used. The use of two would be pointless repetition.
[8] Things that have to do with a state of faith are also meant in the laws which forbade one who was illegitimate, down to the tenth generation of his descendants, to come into the assembly of Jehovah, Deut 23:2, or an Ammonite or Moabite, down to the tenth generation of his descendants, Deut 23:3; and in the law which allowed the third generation of an Edomite or Egyptian to come into the assembly of Jehovah, Deut 23:8. Things that have to do with a state of faith are meant similarly in the Ten Commandments, where it says that Jehovah God will visit the iniquity of the fathers on the sons, on the third and the fourth generation, inasmuch as they hate Him, Exod 20:5.
[9] The reason why forms of faith and charity are meant by 'generations' is that in the spiritual sense no other kinds of offspring are meant than those associated with regeneration or one who has been regenerated. Similarly with references in the Word to birth, bearing. and conception; forms of faith and charity are meant, see 1145, 1255, 3860, 3863, 4668, 5160, 5598.
Latin(1748-1756) 6239
6239. `Et generatio tua quam generas post illos': quod significet vera et bona interiora quae postea, constat ex significatione `generationis' quod sint illa quae fidei et charitatis, de qua n. 613, 2020, 2584, ita vera et bona; et ex significatione `post illos' quod sint interiora quae postea; quod interiora significentur, est quia illa quae generantur {1} ab interno {2} postea, sunt interiora magis; inserviunt enim ei successive illa quae prius generata sunt, pro mediis {3}perducendi illa quae postea generantur, magis interius, nam internum per gradus {4}elevat naturale ad se; hoc patet a generatione omnium quae intellectualis sunt in homine, primum enim homo sensualis est, postea fit interior magis et magis usque dum intellectualis; similiter se habet cum nova generatione quae fit per fidem et charitatem; inde est quod homo per gradus perficiatur; videantur quae de elevatione successiva versus Interiora cum regeneratur homo, n. 6183 dicta sunt. [2] Quod `generatio' in Verbo significet illa quae sunt fidei et charitatis, est quia alia generatio quam spiritualis, in sensu {5}interno, intelligi nequeat; quae generatio etiam intelligitur apud Davidem, Timebunt timorem, quia Deus in generatione justi, Ps. xiv 5;`generatio justi' pro veris ex bono, justitia enim praedicatur de bono: apud Esaiam, {6}Non laborabunt in (x)vanum, et non generabunt in terrorem; semen benedictorum Jehovae illi, (x)lxv 23:
apud eundem, {6}Quis operatus est, et fecit, qui vocat generationes ab initio? Ego Jehovah primus, et cum postremis ego idem, xli 4:
apud Ezechielem, Negotiationes tuae, et generationes tuae de terra Cananaei, pater tuus Emoraeus, et mater tua Hittaea. Quod generationes tuas attinet, in die quo nata es, non abscissus fuit umbilicus tuus, et aquis non lota es ad aspectum Meum, xvi 3, 4;
hic de abominationibus Hierosolymae, ubi quod `generationes' sint generationes {7}in spirituali sensu, manifeste patet: {8}apud Esaiam, (s)Expergiscere juxta dies aeternitatis, generationes aeternitatum, li 9;
`dies aeternitatis' pro statu et tempore Ecclesiae Antiquissimae; aeternitas de {9}illa praedicatur quia in bono amoris in Dominum {10}fuit, de quo bono quia immediate a Domino {11}, dicitur aeternum; {12}generationes aeternitatum pro bonis inde': [4] similiter apud Mosen, Memento dierum aeternitatis, intelligite amos generationis et generationis, Deut. xxxii 7;
`dies aeternitatis' pro statu et tempore Ecclesiae Antiquissimae quae ante diluvium, et fuit Ecclesia caelestis; {13} `anni generationis et generationis' pro statu et tempore Ecclesiae Antiquae quae post diluvium, et fuit Ecclesia spiritualis; de illis Ecclesiis ibi apud Mosen agitur: [5] apud Joelem, Jehudah in aeternum sedebit, et Hierosolyma in generationem et generationem, iv 20 [A. V. iii 20];
`aeternum' praedicatur de Jehuda, quia per `Jehudam' repraesentatur Ecclesia caelestis, n. 3881, ac `generatio et generatio' praedicatur de Hierosolyma quia per `Hierosolymam' significatur Ecclesia spiritualis, n. 402: [6] apud Esaiam, Justitia Mea in aeternum erit, et salus Mea in generationem generationum, ii 8;
ubi `aeternum' praedicatur de bono amoris, nam `justitia' dicitur de illo, n. 612,2235'; et `generatio' de bono fidei: [7] apud Davidem, Regnum Tuum, regnum omnium aeternitatum, et dominium Tuum in omnem generationem et generationem, Ps. cxlv 13;
similiter; nisi enim `aeternum' praedicatur de caelesti, et `generatio' de spirituali, modo unum diceretur, utrumque foret repetitio inanis.(n) [8] Illa quae sunt status fidei, etiam significantur per quod Spurius non veniret in congregationem Jehovae ad decimam generationem, (x)Deut. xxiii 3 [A. V. 2]:
Quod Ammonita et Moabita ne quidem ad decimam generationem, (x)Deut. xxiii 4 [A. V. 3]:
Et quod Edomita et Aegyptius veniret in congregationem Jehovae ad tertiam generationem, ibid. vers. 9 [A. V. 8]:
similiter in praecepto decalogi, Quod Jehovah Deus visitaret iniquitatem patrum super filios, super tertiam et quartam generationem, quantum ad osores, Exod. xx 5. [9] Quod `generationes' sint illa quae sunt fidei et charitatis, est quia in sensu spirituali non aliae {14}intelligi queunt (m)quam quae sunt regenerationis {15} seu regenerati; similiter ac nativitates, partus et conceptiones in Verbo, quae quod sint fidei et charitatis, videatur n. 1145, 1255, 3860, 3868, 4668, 5160, 5598(n). @1 i immediate$ @2 i quod hic est Josephus$ @3 perveniendi$ @4 ducit affectionem veri et boni propius versus se$ @5 spirituali$ @6 A transposes these refs.$ @7 fidei$ @8 ut quoque in locis apud Esaiam supra citatis et quoque in his$ @9 illis$ @10 fuerunt$ @11 i est$ @12 inde generationes aeternitatum pro bono charitatis et bono fidei, nam haec ab illius amoris bono generantur$ @13 i ac$ @14 regenerationes intelligi queant$ @15 intellig-$