790、在此处和下文，“水”都表示虚假。这从本章开头和第6节（705，739节）所引用的论述洪水或诸水泛滥的圣言经文清楚可知。这两处经文表明，“诸水的泛滥”表示荒凉和试探，它们与虚假有同样的含义，因为荒凉和试探无非是恶灵所激活的虚假的泛滥。这些水之所以表示虚假，是因为在圣言中，“水”通常表示属灵之物，也就是属于理解力、理性和记忆知识之物。这些水因表示这些事物，故也表示它们的对立面。事实上，一切虚假都是属于记忆知识的东西，只是看似理性和理解力的事物，因为它们属于思维。
“水”表示属灵事物，这一点从圣言中的大量经文明显看出来。但它们也表示虚假，除了已引用的经文外，再引用以下经文来证实这一点。以赛亚书：
这百姓弃绝西罗亚缓流的水。因此，看哪，主必使又强又多的河水起来漫过他们，它必涨过一切的水道，漫过所有的河岸。（以赛亚书8:6-7）
此处“缓流的水”表示属灵事物，“又强又多的水”表示虚假。又：
唉！古实河外用翅膀投下阴影的陆地，差遣使者到海上，在水面上乘坐蒲草船。去吧！你们快行的使者，到分地界践踏人的民族那里去，江河毁掉了他们的陆地。（以赛亚书18:1-2）
这表示属于“用翅膀投下阴影的陆地”的虚假。
又：
你从水中经过，我必与你同在；你趟过江河，它们必不淹没你。（以赛亚书43:2）
“水”和“江河”表示艰难，也表示虚假。耶利米书：
你为何在埃及路上要喝西曷的水呢？你为何在亚述路上要喝大河的水呢？（耶利米书2:18）
此处“水”表示由推理产生的虚假。同一先知书：
这像河涨起、其水翻腾像江河的，是谁呢？埃及像河涨起，其水翻腾像江河；他说，我要涨起，我要遮盖这地，我要毁灭城邑和住在其中的。（耶利米书46:7-8）
此处“水”也表示由推理产生的虚假。
以西结书：
主耶和华如此说，我使你变为荒凉的城市，如同无人居住的城市，我使深渊上升漫过你，多水覆盖你，那时，我使你与那些下阴坑的人一同下去。（以西结书26:19-20）
此处“水”表示邪恶和由此衍生的虚假。哈巴谷书：
你乘马践踏海，践踏汹涌的诸水。（哈巴谷书3:15）
此处“水”表示虚假。启示录：
蛇在妇人后面，从口中吐出水来，像河一样，要使她被这河流吞没。（启示录12:15-16）
此处“水”表示虚假和谎言。诗篇：
求你从高处伸手救拔我，救我出离多水，脱离外邦人的手，他们的口说谎话，他们的右手是虚假的右手。（诗篇144:7-8）
此处“多水”明显表示虚假，“外邦人”也表示虚假。
New Century Edition
Cooper(2008,2013)
[NCE]790. The symbolism of water here and below as falsity is established by the passages dealing with a flood of water that were cited from the Word in the prefatory section of this chapter and at verse 6 [705, 739]. The quotations in those two places show that floods of water symbolize times of desolation and trial, which carry the same consequences as false notions, since desolation and trial are nothing but deluges of the falsities stirred up by evil spirits. The symbolism of flood water as falsities comes from the general meaning of water in the Word as something spiritual, that is, as the things we truly understand, grasp rationally, and know about. Because water symbolizes these things, it also symbolizes their opposites, since every falsity, being a matter of thought, is a "fact," so to speak, and seems capable of being grasped rationally and understood.
The symbolism of water as things that are spiritual can be seen from many places in the Word.{*1} In support of its symbolism as falsity, though, I offer the following in addition to previous quotations.{*2} [2] In Isaiah:
This people spurned the waters of Shiloah, which go gently. Therefore (look, now!) the Lord is bringing up over them the waters of a river, strong and abundant; and it will come up over all their brooks and go on all their banks. (Isaiah 8:6-7)
The waters going gently stand for things that are spiritual, waters strong and abundant for things that are false. In the same author:
Doom to a land casting shadow with its wings,{*3} a land across the rivers of Cush, that sends ambassadors onto the sea and [puts them] in rattan vessels on the face of the water. Go, speedy envoys, to a nation marked out and trampled, whose land the rivers plunder. (Isaiah 18:1-2)
Here they stand for the falsities that belong to a "land casting shadow with its wings."
[3] In the same author:
When you cross through the water, I will be with you, and [when you cross] through the rivers, they will not drown you. (Isaiah 43:2)
The water and rivers stand for difficulties and for falsities. In Jeremiah:
Why should you go to Egypt to drink the waters of the Sihor? And why should you go to Assyria to drink the waters of the river? (Jeremiah 2:18)
The waters stand for the falsities produced by crooked reasoning. In the same author:
Who is this who rises like a river, whose waters churn like rivers? Egypt rises like a river, and like rivers its waters churn, and it said, "I will go up; I will cover the land; I will destroy the city and those living in it." (Jeremiah 46:7-8)
The waters stand for the falsities produced by crooked reasoning.
[4] In Ezekiel:
This is what the Lord Jehovih has said, "When I turn you into a devastated city, like cities that are not inhabited; when I bring up over you the abyss, and many waters cover you, and I make you go down with those going down into the pit ..." (Ezekiel 26:19-20)
The waters stand for evil and the falsity it engenders. In Habakkuk:
You trod the sea with your horses, the mud of many waters. (Habakkuk 3:15)
The waters stand for falsity. In John:
The dragon hurled water like a river from its mouth after the woman to cause her to be swallowed up by the stream. (Revelation 12:15-16)
The water here stands for falsities and lies. In David:
Put out your hands from high up, rescue me and free me from the many waters, from the hand of a foreigner's children, whose mouth speaks a lie, and their right hand is the right hand of falsity. (Psalms 144:7-8)
The many waters clearly stand for falsities. A foreigner's children also symbolize falsities.
Footnotes:
{*1} On the meaning of water as spiritual things, see the biblical passages quoted and explained in 28, 680:3. [LHC]
{*2} On the meaning of water as falsity, see the biblical passages previously quoted and explained in 705, 739. See also note 1 in 790. [LHC]
{*3} The land seems to be pictured as a huge bird throwing a shadow with its wings or, alternatively, perhaps a cloud of locusts. Swedenborg, Schmidt 1696, and some other older Bible translators read the key Hebrew word as meaning "shadowing;" modern translators take it as referring to the sound of bird or insect wings. The Hebrew root in question is צָלַל (ṣālal), which represents several homographs, including one that means to be dark and one that means to tingle in the ears. [LHC]
Potts(1905-1910) 790
790. That the "waters" here and in the following verses signify falsities, is evident from the passages of the Word adduced at the beginning of this chapter, and at verse 6, where a "flood" or inundation of waters is treated of. It is there shown that inundations of waters signify desolations and temptations, which involve the same as falsities; for desolations and temptations are nothing else than inundations of falsities that are excited by evil spirits. That such "waters" signify falsities, is because in the Word "waters" in general signify what is spiritual, that is, what is of understanding, of reason, and of memory-knowledge [intellectuale, rationale, et scientificum]; and as they signify these they also signify their contraries, for every falsity is a something pertaining to memory-knowledge, and appears as a thing of reason and understanding, because it is of the thought. [2] That "waters" signify spiritual things, is evident from many passages in the Word; and that they also signify falsities, let the following passages, in addition to those already cited, serve for confirmation. In Isaiah:
This people hath refused the waters of Shiloah that go softly; therefore behold the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, and he shall go over all his banks (Isa. 8:6-7). The "waters that go softly" here denote things spiritual, "waters strong and many" falsities. Again:
Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia; that sendeth ambassadors upon the sea, and in vessels of papyrus upon the waters. Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled (Isa. 18:1-2), denoting the falsities which are of the "land shadowing with wings." [3] Again:
When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee (Isa. 43:2). The "waters" and "rivers" denote difficulties, and also falsities. In Jeremiah:
What hast thou to do with the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Shihor? And what hast thou to do with the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river? (Isa. 2:18), where "waters" denote falsities from reasonings. Again:
Who is this that riseth up as a river? as the rivers his waters are in commotion. Egypt riseth up as a river, and as the rivers his waters toss themselves; and he said, I will rise up, I will cover the earth, I will destroy the city and the inhabitants thereof (Isa. 46:7-8), where again "waters" denote falsities from reasonings. [4] In Ezekiel:
Thus saith the Lord Jehovih, When I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited, when I shall bring up the deep upon thee, and the great waters shall cover thee, then will I bring thee down with them that descend into the pit (Ezek. 26:19-20). "Waters" here denote evils and the falsities therefrom. In Habakkuk: Thou didst tread the sea with thine horses, the mire of many waters (Hab. 3:15), where "waters" denote falsities. In John:
And the serpent cast forth after the woman, out of his mouth, water as a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream (Rev. 12:15-16). Here "waters" denote falsities and lies. In David:
Send Thine hand from above, rescue me and deliver me out of great waters, out of the hand of the sons of the stranger, whose mouth speaketh a lie, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood (Ps. 144:7-8). "Great waters" here manifestly denote falsities; the "sons of the stranger" also signify falsities.
Elliott(1983-1999) 790
790. 'Waters' here and in what follows means falsities. This becomes clear from the places in the Word quoted in the preliminary section of this chapter
[2] That 'waters' means spiritual things is clear from very many places in the Word. But that 'waters' also means falsities, let the passages that follow, in addition to those quoted already, serve to confirm the point. In Isaiah,
This people have refused the waters of Shiloah that go out gently. Therefore, behold the Lord is causing to rise up over them the waters of the river, mighty and many. And it will rise up over all its channels and go over all its banks. Isa 8:6, 7.
Here 'waters that go out gently' stands for spiritual things, 'waters mighty and many' for falsities. In the same prophet,
Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Gush, sending ambassadors to the sea, and in vessels of papyrus over the face' of the waters! Go, you swift ambassadors, to a nation marked out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled. Isa 18:1, 2.
This stands for falsities, which belong to 'the land shadowing with wings'.
[3] In the same prophet,
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. Isa 43:2.
'Waters' and 'rivers' stand for difficulties, and also for falsities. In Jeremiah,
What have you to do with the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of Shihor? And what have you to do with the way to Asshur, to drink the waters of the River? Jer 2:18.
'Waters' stands for falsities arising out of reasonings. In the same prophet,
Who is this coming up like a river, like the rivers his waters are tossed about? Egypt comes up like the river, and like the rivers his waters are tossed about. And he said, I will go up, I will cover the earth, I will destroy the city and those who dwell in it. Jer 46:7, 8.
'Waters' stands for falsities arising out of reasonings.
[4] In Ezekiel,
Thus said the Lord Jehovah, When I make you a city laid waste, like the cities that are not inhabited, when I shall cause the deep to come up over you, and many waters have covered you, I will cause you to go down with those who go down into the Pit. Ezek 16:19, 20.
'Waters' stands for evils and derivative falsities. In Habakkuk,
You did trample the sea with Your horses, the mud of many waters. Hab 3:15.
'Waters' stands for falsities. In John,
The dragon poured water like a stream out of his mouth after the woman, to swallow her up in the river. Rev 11:15, 16.
Here 'waters' stands for falsities and lies. In David,
Send forth Your hands from on high, rescue me, and deliver me from the many waters, from the hands of sons of the foreigner, whose mouths speak lies, and whose right hands are right hands of falsity. Ps 144:7, 8.
Here 'many waters' clearly stands for falsities, and 'sons of the foreigner also means falsities.
Latin(1748-1756) 790
790. Quod 'aquae' hic et in sequentibus significent falsa, constare potest ab illis locis ex Verbo quae in praemissis hujus capitis et quae ad vers. 6 hujus capitis allata sunt, ubi de diluvio seu inundatione aquarum; ibi ostensum est quod 'inundationes aquarum' significaverint desolationes et tentationes, quae idem involvunt ac falsa, nam desolationes et tentationes non sunt nisi quam inundationes falsorum excitatorum a malis spiritibus; quod tales aquae falsa significent, inde est quia in genere 'aquae' in Verbo significant spirituale, hoc est, intellectuale, rationale et scientificum; et quia haec, etiam significant contraria, omne enim falsum est scientificum quoddam, et apparet sicut rationale et intellectuale, quia est cogitationis: [2] quod 'aquae' spiritualia significent, ex plurimis locis in Verbo constat; at quod etiam falsa, praeter illa quae prius adducta sunt, sint sequentia haec confirmationi: apud Esaiam, Reprobavit populus hic aquas Shiloah euntes leniter;... ideo ecce Dominus ascendere faciens super eos aquas fluminis validas et multas;... et ascendet super omnes rivos ejus, et ibit super omnes ripas ejus, viii 6, 7;ubi 'aquae leniter euntes' pro spiritualibus, 'aquae validae et multae' pro falsis: apud eundem, Vae terrae inumbranti alis, quae trans flumina Kushi, mittens in mare legatos, et in vasis junci super faciebus aquarum: ite legati celeres... ad gentem delineatam et conculcatam, cujus terram depraedata sunt flumina, xviii 1, 2;
pro falsis, quae sunt 'terrae inumbrantis alis': [3] apud eundem, Cum transibis per aquas, tecum Ego; et per flumina, non submergent te, xliii 2;
'aquae et flumina' pro difficultatibus, tum pro falsis: apud Jeremiam, Quid tibi cum via Aegypti, ad bibendum aquas Shihoris? et quid tibi cum via Asshuris, ad bibendum aquas fluminis? ii 18;
'aquae' pro falsis ex ratiociniis: apud eundem, Quis hic sicut flumen ascendit, sicut flumina commoventur aquae ejus? Aegyptus sicut flumen ascendit, et sicut flumina commoventur aquae, et dixit, Ascendam, operiam terram, perdam urbem, et habitantes in ea, xlvi 7, 8;
[4] 'aquae' pro falsis ex ratiociniis: apud Ezechielem, Sic dixit Dominus Jehovih, Cum dedero te urbem vastatam, sicut urbes quae non habitantur, cum ascendere fecero supra te abyssum, et operuerint te aquae multae, et descendere te fecero cum descendentibus in foveam, xxvi 19 [20];
'aquae' pro malis et falsis inde: apud Habakkuk, Calcasti mare equis Tuis, lutum aquarum multarum, iii 15;
'aquae' pro falsis: apud Johannem, Ejecit draco post mulierem ex ore suo aquam sicut fluvium {1}, ut eam a flumine absorptam faceret, Apoc. xii 15, 16;
ubi 'aquae' pro falsis et mendaciis: apud Davidem, Mitte manus Tuas de alto, eripe me, et libera me ex aquis multis, e manu filiorum alienigenae, quorum os loquitur mendacium, et dextra eorum dextra falsitatis, Ps. cxliv 7, 8;
ubi 'aquae multae' manifeste pro falsis: 'filii alienigenae' quoque significant falsa. 1 S. apparently follows Sch. Gk. has potamon and potamo phoreton. In A.R. sicut flumen is used.