9052.“以牙还牙”表如果在理解力的外在部分有什么东西（被伤害）。这从“牙”的含义清楚可知，“牙”是指理解力的外在部分，因此，是指属世真理，因为这真理构成理解力这一部分的生命。“牙”具有这种含义的原因是，它们像石磨一样磨碎，从而预备用来滋养身体的食物；在此磨碎并预备用来滋养灵魂的食物。滋养灵魂的食物就是聪明和智慧；这食物首先被接受，磨碎，并通过属世层中关于真理和良善的认知或知识而得到预备；聪明和智慧就是那被称为“属灵和属天食物”的（参看56-58，680，1480，4792，5147，5293，5340，5342，5576，5579，5915，8562，9003节）。由此可见为何“牙”表示理解力的外在部分。至于何为理解力的外在部分，这从刚才关于理解力的内在部分的说明（9051节）可以看出来。
“牙”表示属于理解力外在部分的属世真理，在反面意义上表示摧毁这真理的虚假，这一点从以下圣言经文明显看出来。在摩西五经，它们表示属世真理：
他的眼睛将比酒红润；他的牙齿将比奶白亮。（创世记49:12）
这些话同时提到“眼睛”和“牙齿”这二者。所论述的主题是犹大，犹大表示主的神性属天层（6363节）；“他的眼睛”表示主的神性理智（Divine Intellect）层（6379节）；“他的牙齿”表示主的神性属世层，因而也表示祂的属世层中神性真理。
阿摩司书：
我在一切城中使你们牙齿空虚，使你们各处的粮食缺乏。（阿摩司书4:6）
“牙齿空虚”表示真理的匮乏；“粮食缺乏”表示良善的匮乏。由此明显可知，地狱之人当中的“咬牙切齿”（马太福音8:12；13:42，50；22:13；25:30；路加福音13:28）表示什么，即表示虚假与信之真理的碰撞或冲突（4424e节）。因为如前所述，“牙齿”在反面意义上表示摧毁真理的虚假，如在大卫的诗中：
耶和华啊，求你起来！我的神啊，求你救我！因为你必击打我一切仇敌的下颚，必敲碎恶人的牙齿。（诗篇3:7）
“敲碎恶人的牙齿”表示打碎恶人用来摧毁真理的虚假。又：
我的灵魂在狮子中间；它们的牙齿是枪、箭；他们的舌头是利剑。（诗篇57:4）
“狮子的牙齿”表示摧毁真理的虚假；“狮子”是指在其能力中的邪恶所生的虚假（6367，6369节）。
又：
神啊，求你毁坏他们口中的牙；耶和华啊，求你敲碎少壮狮子的臼齿！（诗篇58:6）
约珥书：
有一民族上到我的地，又强盛又无数，侵犯我的地。它的牙齿是狮子的牙齿，它有猛狮的臼齿。它使我的葡萄树荒凉，把我的无花果树变成泡沫。（约珥书1:6，7）
“牙齿”和“臼齿”表示摧毁教会真理的虚假；“葡萄树”是指属灵教会（1069，5113，6376节）；“无花果树”是指它的属世良善（217，4231，5113节）。“牙齿”具有这种含义，这一点也可从以下事实明显看出来：它们被归于一个将要荒凉的民族。启示录：
蝗虫的形状好像预备出战的马一样；它们有头发像女人的头发，牙齿像狮子的牙齿。（启示录9:7，8）
“蝗虫”是指那些沉浸于外在虚假的人（7643节），由此也明显可知“牙齿”是指摧毁真理的虚假。
Potts(1905-1910) 9052
9052. Tooth for tooth. That this signifies if anything in the exterior intellectual, is evident from the signification of "a tooth," as being the exterior intellectual, and therefore natural truth, for this makes the life of this understanding. That "the teeth" have this signification is because they grind like a mill, and thus prepare, the food which is to nourish the body; here the food which is to nourish the soul. The food which nourishes the soul is intelligence and wisdom. This is first received, ground, and prepared by means of the knowledges of truth and good in the natural. (That it is intelligence and wisdom which is called "spiritual and celestial food," see n. 56-58, 680, 1480, 4792, 5147, 5293, 5340, 5342, 5576, 5579, 5915, 8562, 9003.) From this it is plain whence it is that "the teeth" signify the exterior understanding. What the exterior understanding is can be seen from what was shown just above (n. 9051) concerning the interior understanding. [2] That "the teeth" signify natural truth, which belongs to the exterior understanding, and in the opposite sense the falsity which destroys this truth, is evident from the following passages in the Word. That they signify natural truth, in Moses:
His eyes shall be redder than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk (Gen. 49:12). Here also both "eyes" and "teeth" are mentioned together. The subject treated of is Judah, by whom is meant the Lord as to the Divine celestial (n. 6363); "the eyes" signify the Divine intellectual of the Lord (n. 6379); and "the teeth," His Divine natural (n. 6380), thus also the Divine truth in the natural. [3] In Amos:
I have given you emptiness of teeth in all your cities, and lack of bread in all your places (Amos. 4:6). "Emptiness of teeth" denotes scarcity of truth; and "lack of bread," scarcity of good. From all this it is evident what is meant by the "gnashing of teeth" among those who are in hell (Matt. 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 25:30; Luke 13:28), namely, the collision of falsities with the truths of faith. For as before said, "the teeth," in the opposite sense, signify the falsity which destroys truth; as in David:
Arise, O Jehovah; save me, O my God; for Thou wilt smite all mine enemies on the jaw; Thou wilt break the teeth of the wicked (Ps. 3:7). "To break the teeth of the wicked" denotes to break the falsities by which they destroy truths. In the same:
As to my soul I lie in the midst of lions, their teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword (Ps. 57:4). "The teeth of lions" denote the falsities that destroy truths; "lions," falsities from evil in their power (n. 6367, 6369). [4] In the same:
Destroy their teeth, O God, in their mouth; turn aside the grinders of the young lions (Ps. 58:6). In Joel:
A nation is come up upon My land, strong, and without number; his teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the grinders of a great lion. He hath reduced My vine to a waste; and My fig-tree into froth (Joel 1:6, 7). "Teeth" and "grinders" denote the falsities that destroy the truths of the church; a "vine" denotes the spiritual church (n. 1069, 5113, 6376); and a "fig-tree" its natural good (n. 217, 4231, 5113). That "teeth" have this signification is plain also from the fact that they are attributed to a nation which will lay waste. In John:
The shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared for war; they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions (John 9:7, 8). "Locusts" denote those who are in external falsities (n. 7643), from which it is also evident that "teeth" denote falsities that destroy truths.
Elliott(1983-1999) 9052
9052. 'Tooth for tooth' means if anything [is injured] in the outer part of the understanding. This is clear from the meaning of 'tooth' as the outer part of the understanding, and therefore as natural truth since this composes the life of that part of the understanding The reason why 'the teeth' have this meaning is that like a mill they grind and so prepare the food which will serve as nourishment for the body, at this point the food which will serve as nourishment for the soul. The food that nourishes the soul is intelligence and wisdom; this food is first received, ground, and prepared by cognitions or knowledge of truth and good in the natural - intelligence and wisdom being what spiritual and celestial food is called, see 56-58, 680, 1480, 4792, 5147, 5293, 5340, 5342, 5576, 5579, 5915, 8562, 9003. From this one may see why it is that 'the teeth' means the outer part of the understanding What this outer area is becomes clear from what has been shown immediately above in 9051 regarding the inner area of the understanding.
[2] 'The teeth' means natural truth, which belongs to the outer part of the understanding, and in the contrary sense falsity destroying that truth, as is clear from the following places in the Word Natural truth is meant in Moses,
His eyes will be redder than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk. Gen 49:12.
These words too mention both eyes and teeth together. They refer to Judah, by whom the Lord's Divine Celestial is meant, 6363. 'His eyes' means the Lord's Divine Intellect, 6379, and 'his teeth' the Lord's Divine Natural, 6380, thus also Divine Truth in His Natural.
[3] In Amos,
I gave you emptiness of teeth in all your cities, and lack of bread in all your places. Amos 4:6
'Emptiness of teeth' stands for scarcity of truth, and 'lack of bread' for scarcity of good.
All this makes plain what the gnashing of teeth is among those in hell, Matt 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 25:30; Luke 13:28.It is the clash of falsities with the truths of faith, 4424 (end); for as has been stated, 'the teeth' in the contrary sense means falsity destroying truth, as in David,
Rise up, O Jehovah; save me, O my God! For You will strike all my enemies on the jaw, You will break the teeth of the wicked. Ps 3:7.
'Breaking the teeth of the wicked' stands for breaking the falsities that the wicked use to destroy truths. In the same author,
As to my soul, I lie in the midst of lions; their teeth are a spear and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. Ps 57:4.
'The teeth of lions' stands for falsities destructive of truths, 'lions' being falsities arising from evil in their power, 6367, 6369.
[4] In the same author,
O God, destroy their teeth in their mouth; tear outa the molars of the young lions. Ps 58:6.
A nation has come up over My land, strong and innumerable; its teeth are the teeth of a lion, and it has the molars of a fierce lion. It has turned My vine into a waste, and My fig tree into froth. Joel 1:6, 7.
'Teeth' and 'molars' stand for falsities destructive of the Church's truths. 'Vine' is the spiritual Church, 1069, 5113, 6376, and 'fig tree' is its natural good, 217, 4231, 5113. The fact that 'teeth' has that meaning is also evident from their being attributed to a nation which will lay waste. In John,
The shapes of the locusts were like horses prepared for war. They had hair like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions'. Rev 9:7, 8.
'The locusts' are those who are steeped in external falsities, 7643, from which it is evident that again 'teeth' are falsities destructive of truths.
Latin(1748-1756) 9052
9052. `Dentem pro dente': quod significet si aliquid in intellectuali exteriore, constat ex significatione `dentis' quod sit intellectuale exterius, et inde verum naturale, nam hoc illius intellectus vitam facit; quod `dentes' id significent, est quia cibum qui erit nutricioni corpori, sicut mola comminuunt et sic praeparant, hic {1} cibum qui erit nutricioni animae; {2}cibus qui nutrit animam est intelligentia et sapientia; ille primum recipitur, commolitur, et praeparatur per cognitiones veri et boni in naturali; quod intelligentia et sapientia sit quae vocatur cibus spiritualis (c)et caelestis, videatur n. 56-58, 680, 1480, 4792, 5147, 5293, 5340, 5342, 5576, 5579, 5915, 8562, 9003; inde patet unde est quod `dentes' significent intellectum exteriorem; quid intellectus exterior, constare potest ex illis quae mox supra n. 9051 de intellectu interiore ostensa sunt. Quod `dentes' significent verum naturale, quod est intellectus 2 exterioris, ac in opposito sensu falsum destruens id verum, constat (c)ex his locis in Verbo: quod verum naturale, apud Moschen, Ruber oculis prae vino, et albus dentes prae lacte, Gen. xlix 12;hic quoque et oculi et dentes simul dicuntur; agitur ibi de Jehudah, per quem intelligitur Dominus quoad Divinum Caeleste, n. 6363; `oculi' significant {3} Divinum Intellectuale Domini, n. 6379, et `dentes' Divinum Naturale Ipsius, n. 6380, ita quoque Divinum Verum in 3 Naturali: apud {4}Amos, Ego dedi vobis vacuitatem dentium in omnibus civitatibus vestris, et defectum panis in omnibus locis vestris, iv 6;
`vacuitas dentium' pro penuria veri, `defectus panis' pro penuria boni; {5}ex his patet quid stridor dentium {6} qui illis in inferno, Matth. viii 12, xiii 42, 50, (x)xxii 13, xxv 30; Luc. xiii 28, quod {7}sit collisio falsorum cum veris fidei n. 4424 fin.; {8}dentes enim, ut dictum est, in opposito sensu significant falsum destruens verum, ut apud Davidem, Surge, Jehovah, serva me, Deus mi, quia (x)percuties omnes hostes meos maxillam, dentes impiorum confringes, Ps. iii 8 [A. V. 7];
`dentes impiorum confringere' pro falsa per quae destruunt vera: apud eundem, Anima mea in medio leonum cubo, dentes eorum hasta et tela, et lingua eorum gladius acutus, Ps. (x)lvii 5 [A.V. 4];
`dentes leonum' pro falsis destruentibus vera; `leones' sunt falsa ex 4 malo in sua potentia, n. 6367, 6369: apud eundem, Deus, destrue dentes eorum in ore eorum, molares leonum juvenum {9}everte, Ps. (x)lviii 7 [A. V. 6]:
et apud Joelem, Gens ascendit super terram meam, robusta et non numerus, dentes ejus dentes leonis, et molares leonis immanis illi, (x)redegit vitem meam in vastitatem, et ficum meam in spumam, i 6, 7;
{10}'dentes et molares' pro falsis destruentibus vera Ecclesiae; `vitis' Ecclesia spiritualis, n. 1069, 5113, 6376, et `ficus' bonum ejus naturale, n. 217, 4231, 5113; quod dentes id sint, patet etiam ex eo quod tribuantur genti quae vastabit: apud Johannem, Figurae locustarum similes equis paratis ad bellum, habebant capillos sicut capillos mulierum, {11}et dentes {12}earum quasi leonum (x)erant, Apoc. ix 7, 8;
`locustae' sunt {13}qui in falsis externis, n. 7643, {14}inde patet quod etiam dentes sint falsa destruentia vera. @1 i autem$ @2 cibus qui nutrit animam est scientia veri et boni, quae est (m)intellectui exteriori, quae ex vero naturali facit, inde fit intelligentia et sapientia, quae est intellectui interiori, qui est ex vero spirituali,(n) ille inde$ @3 i ibi$ @4 This reference, and its exposition as far as 4424 fin., were written at the end of n. 9052 with directions for insertion here.$ @5 inde$ @6 i sit$ @7 nempe$ @8 quod dentes in opposito sensu significent falsum quod destruit verum,$ @9 averte IT$ @10 etiam hic dentes leonis ac molares ejus$ @11 at$ @12 eorum$ @13 falsa in$ @14 inde etiam patet dentes sunt altered to inde dentes sunt$