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79. And he laid his right hand upon me. That this signifies life from Him, is evident from the signification of right hand, when said of the Lord, as being life from Him (concerning this see above, n. 72). The reason why this signifies life from the Lord, is, that it follows immediately after the words, "I fell at his feet as dead." And, moreover, by touching with the hand, is signified to communicate and transfer to another that which belongs to oneself, and also to receive from another and to communicate and transfer to another what belongs to oneself, when said of the Lord, as in this passage, denotes life, such as is communicated to those who are in a state of enlightenment, and see and hear such things as are in heaven. This also was the case with John; for he was in such a state of enlightenment when he saw and heard the things described in the Apocalypse.
[2] The reason why to touch with the hand denotes to communicate, and to transfer to another, is, because all the power of man is transferred from the body into the hands; therefore, what the mind wills that the body should do, the arms and hands perform accordingly. Hence it is that by arms and hands in the Word is signified power (as may be seen, Arcana Coelestia 878, 3091, 4931-4937. 7673, 10019); this power, however, is natural power, and communication thereby is the exertion of the forces of the body; but spiritual power is to will the good of another, and, as much as possible, to be willing to transfer to another what belongs to oneself. This power is signified by hand in the spiritual sense, and its communication and translation by touching with the hand.
From these considerations it is evident that, by the Lord, who is there called the Son of man, laying His right hand upon John, when he lay as dead, is signified, that He communicated and transferred to him life from Himself (concerning which, see above).
[3] To touch, and to touch with the hand, has a similar signification in many passages in the Word, as in the following. In Daniel:
The Lord, who there appeared to him as a man clothed in linen, whose aspect was as the appearance of lightning, and His eyes as torches of fire, and His feet as the brightness of polished brass, touched him; restored him to his station; set him upon his knees; touched his lips, and opened his mouth; and again touched him, and strengthened him (10:4 to the end).
In Jeremiah:
"Jehovah put forth his hand and touched my mouth, and said, I give my words into thy mouth" (1:9).
And in Matthew:
Jesus put forth His and to the leper "and touched him, saying, I will, be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed" (8:3).
In the same:
Jesus saw Peter's wife's mother sick of a fever "and he touched her hand, and the fever left her" (8:14, 15).
In the same:
Jesus touched the eyes of two blind men and their eyes were opened (9:29).
In the same:
"While Peter was speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed the disciples, and behold a voice out of the cloud which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell upon their face, and were sore afraid. Then Jesus came near and touched them, and said, Arise, be not afraid" (17:5-7).
In Luke:
Jesus came and touched the bier of the dead man, and said, "Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. Then he that was dead sat up, and began to speak" (7:14, 15).
In the same:
Jesus touched the ear of the deaf man, and healed him (22:51).
In Mark:
"They brought young children to him, that he should touch them. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them" (10:13, 16).
In the same:
They brought unto Jesus those that were sick "that they might touch the hem of his garment; and as many as touched were made whole" (Matthew 14:35, 36).
In Luke:
"A woman having an issue of blood, touched the border of Jesus' garment; and immediately her issue of blood stanched. Jesus said, Some one hath touched me, for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me" (8:43, 44, 46).
[4] Because by the touching and laying on of hands, is signified to communicate and transfer to another what is one's own, therefore from ancient times it has been customary in the churches to lay hands upon the heads of those who were inaugurated and blessed, as Moses was commanded to do in the case of Joshua (Numbers 27:18-23; Deuteronomy 34:9). Since all things among the sons of Israel were representative and significative of spiritual things, so also was the touch; therefore those were sanctified who touched what was holy, and those were polluted who touched what was unclean, for the touch signified communication and transference from one to another, and reception from one by another; as is evident from the following passages in Moses: whosoever shall touch the tent of the assembly, the ark of the testimony, the table and all its vessels, the lampstand and its vessels, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its vessels, and the laver and its foot, shall be holy (Exodus 30:26-29). Whatsoever touched the altar should be holy (Exodus 29:37). Every thing which touched the remainder of the meat-offering, and the remainder of the flesh from the sacrifices, should be holy (Leviticus 6:11-20).
"Whosoever touched a dead body, and purified not himself, defiled the tabernacle of Jehovah; therefore that soul should be cut off from Israel. Whosoever touched one that was slain with a sword in the open fields, or a bone of a man, or a grave, should be unclean seven days. He that toucheth the waters of separation, shall be unclean until even. Whatsoever the unclean person toucheth shall be unclean until even" (Numbers 19:11, 13, 16, 21, 22).
He who toucheth unclean beasts, and unclean creeping things, shall be unclean; everything upon which they shall fall shall be unclean, whether a vessel of wood, raiment, water, an earthen vessel, food, drink, an oven, except a fountain, pit, a receptacle of waters, shall be unclean (Leviticus 11:31-36). Besides other places, as Leviticus 5:2, 3; 7:21; 11:37, 38; 15:1 to the end; 22:4; Numbers 16:26; Isaiah 52:11; Lam, 4:14, 15; Hos. 4:2, 3; Hagg. 2:12, 13, 14.
79. And He laid His right hand upon me, signifies life from Him. This is evident from the signification of "right hand," as being, in reference to the Lord, life from Him (See above, n. Daniel 10:4-21).
In Jeremiah:
Jehovah put forth His hand, and touched my mouth, and said, I put My words into thy mouth (Jeremiah 1:9).
And in Matthew:
Jesus stretching forth His hand to the leper, touched him, saying, I will; be thou made clean. And straightway his leprosy was cleansed (Matthew 8:3).
In the same:
Jesus saw Peter's wife's mother sick of a fever, and he touched her hand, and the fever left her (Matthew 8:14-15).
In the same:
Jesus touched the eyes of the two blind men, and their eyes were opened (Matthew 9:29-30).
In the same:
When Peter was yet speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed the disciples, and behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him. And when the disciples heard these things they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. Then came Jesus and touched them, and said, Arise, be not afraid (Matthew 17:5-8).
In Luke:
Jesus came and touched the bier of the dead, and said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. Then he that was dead sat up, and began to speak (Luke 7:14-15).
In the same:
Jesus touched the ear of the deaf one, 1and healed him (Luke 22:51).
In Mark:
And they brought [to Jesus] little children, that He should touch them; and He took them in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them (Mark 10:13, 16).
In the same:
They brought unto Jesus those that were ill, that they might touch if it were but the border of His garment; and as many as touched were made whole (Mark 6:56; Matthew 14:35, 36).
In Luke:
A woman suffering from an issue of blood touched the border of His garment; and immediately the issue of her blood stanched. Jesus said, Who is it that touched Me? Some one did touch Me; I knew that power went forth from Me (Luke 8:43-46).
Because "touching" and "laying on of hands" signify communicating and transferring to another what pertains to oneself, therefore it has been customary in the churches from ancient times to lay hands upon the head of those who are inaugurated and blessed:
This Moses also was commanded to do to Joshua (Numbers 27:18-23; Deuteronomy 34:9).
As all things among the sons of Israel were representative and significative of spiritual things, so also was touch; wherefore those who touched what was holy were sanctified, and those who touched what was unclean were polluted; for "touch" signified communication and transference to another, and reception from another, as can be seen from the following passages in Moses:
Whosoever shall touch the tent of meeting; the ark of the Testimony; the table, and all the vessels thereof; the lampstand and the vessels thereof; the altar of incense; the altar of burnt-offering, and all the vessels thereof, and the laver and the base thereof, shall be holy (Exodus 30:26-29).
Whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy (Exodus 29:37).
Everything that toucheth the remainder of the meal-offering, and the remainder of the flesh from the sacrifice, shall be holy (Leviticus 6:18, 27).
Whosoever toucheth the dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of Jehovah; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel. And whosoever in the open field toucheth one that is slain with a sword, or the bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days. He that toucheth the waters of separation shall be unclean until even. And whatsoever the unclean person toucheth shall become unclean, and the soul that toucheth it shall be unclean until even (Numbers 19:11, 13, 16, 21-22).
He that toucheth unclean beasts and unclean reptiles shall be unclean. Everything upon which they shall fall shall be unclean, whether it be a vessel of wood, raiment, water, an earthen vessel, food, drink, an oven, (but not a fountain, pit, or receptacle of water) shall be unclean (Leviticus 11:31-36, besides other places, as Leviticus 5:2, 3; 7:21; 11:37, 38; 15 to the end; Leviticus 17:4; 22:4; Numbers 16:26; Isaiah 52:11; Lamentations 4:14, 15; Hosea 4:2, 3; Haggai 2:12, 13, 14).
Footnotes:
1. In the Greek we have "servant"; but Arcana Coelestia 10130 also has "deaf one."
79. "Et imposuit dextram (suam) manum super me." - Quod significet vita in ab Ipso, constat ex significatione "dextrae manus", cum de Domino, quod sit vita ab Ipso (de qua supra, n. 72); quod significet vitam ab Ipso, est quia immediate sequitur post id, quod "ceciderit ad pedes Ipsius tanquam mortuus"; et praeterea per "tangere manu" significatur communicare et transferre in alterum quod apud se, et quoque recipere ab altero; ac communicare et transferre in alterum quod apud se, cum de Domino, ut hic, est vitam, qualis est illis qui in illustratione sunt, ac vident et audiunt talia quae in caelo; quod etiam factum est cum Johanne, nam is in tali illustratione fuit cum vidit et audivit illa quae in Apocalypsi descripta sunt.
Quod "tangere manu" sit communicare et transferre in alterum, est quia in manus translata est omnis potentia hominis e corpore; quare quod mens vult ut corpus faciat, brachia et manus faciunt; inde est quod per "brachia" et "manus" in Verbo significetur potentia (videatur n. 878, 3091, 4931-4937, 6947, 7673, 10019 1
): sed haec potentia est potentia naturalis, et communicatio per illam est exsertio virium corporis; potentia autem spiritualis est velle alterius bonum, et quantum potest, velle transferre in alterum quod apud se est; haec potentia est quae per "manum" in sensu spirituali significatur, et ejus communicatio et translatio per "tangere manu." Ex his constare potest quid significatur per quod Dominus, qui ibi vocatur "Filius hominis", imposuerit dextram suam manum super Johannem, cum jacuit sicut mortuus, quod nempe communicaverit et transtulerit in illum vitam a Se (de qua supra). Simile significatur per "tangere" et "tangere manu" pluribus in locis in Verbo, ut in his sequentibus:
- Apud Danielem,
Dominus qui ibi apparuit illi ut Vir indutus linteis, cujus aspectus sicut aspectus fulguris, et oculi sicut faces ignis, ac pedes sicut splendor aeris levigati, tetigit illum, et restituit super stationem suam, ac sustulit illum super genua sua; ac tetigit labia ejus, et aperuit os ejus; et addidit tangere illum, et corroboravit illum (Dan. 10:4 ad finem);
apud Jeremiam,
"Emisit Jehovah manum suam, et tetigit os meum, et dixit, Do verba mea in os tuum" (1:9);
apud Matthaeum,
Jesus extendens manum ad leprosum, "tetigit illum, dicens, Volo, mundatus esto; et statim mundata est illius lepra" (8:3);
apud eundem,
Jesus Vidit socrum Petri febri afflictam; "et tetigit manum ejus, et reliquit eam febris" (8:14, 15);
apud eundem,
Jesus tetigit oculos duorum caecorum, et aperti sunt eorum oculi (Matthaeum 9:29, 30);
apud eundem,
"Adhuc Petro loquente, ecce nubes lucida inumbravit discipulos, et ecce vox e nube dicens, Hic est Filius meus dilectus, in quo acquiesco, Ipsum audite; et cum haec audissent discipuli, ceciderunt in faciem suam, et timuerunt valde: tunc accedens Jesus tetigit illos, et dixit, Surgite, ne timete" (17:5-7 2
);
apud Lucam,
Jesus accessit et tetigit loculum defuncti, et dixit, "Adolescens, tibi dico, surge. Tunc resedit qui mortuus, et coepit loqui" (7:14, 15);
apud eundem,
Jesus tetigit aurem 3
surdi, et sanavit (22:51);
apud Marcum,
"Attulerunt ad Jesum infantes, ut tangeret eos; .... et suscepit in ulnas, posuit manus super eos, et benedixit illis" (10:13 [, 16]);
apud eundem,
Attulerunt male habentes ad Jesum, "ut saltem tangerent fimbriam vestimenti Ipsius; et quotquot tetigerunt salvi facti sunt" ( 4
Marcus 6:56; Matthaeus 14:36);
apud Lucam,
"Mulier profluvio sanguinis laborans, .... tetigit fimbriam vestimenti Jesu, et statim constitit fluxus sanguinis; Jesus dixit, Quis est qui tetigit Me? .... . . Tetigit Me aliquis; Ego cognovi virtutem a Me egressam" (8:43, 44, (45,) 46).
Quia per "tangere" et "imponere manus" significatur communicare et transferre in alterum quod apud se, ideo ab antiquis temporibus receptum est in ecclesiis imponere manus capiti eorum qui inaugurantur et benedicuntur,
Sicut etiam mandatum est Moschi, ut faceret Josuae (Numeri 27:18-23; Deuteronomius 34:9).
Quoniam omnia erant repraesentativa et significativa spiritualium apud filios Israelis, ideo etiam tactus; quare sanctificabantur qui tetigerunt sanctum, et polluebantur qui tetigerunt immundum, significabat enim "tactus" communicationem et translationem in alterum et receptionem ab altero, ut constare potest ex sequentibus his locis, apud Mosen:
Omnis qui tetigerit tentorium conventus et arcam testimonii, et mensam et omnia vasa ejus, et candelabrum et vasa ejus, et altare suffimenti, et altare holocausti et omnia vasa ejus, et labrum et basin ejus, sanctificabitur (Exodus 30:26-29);
Quicquid tetigerit altare, sanctum erit (Exodus 29:37);
Omne quod tetigerit residuum minchae, et residuum carnis ex sacrificiis, sanctificabitur (Leviticus 6:11, 20 [B.A. 18, 27]);
"Omnis tangens mortuum, .... et non expiaverit se, . . . habitaculum Jehovae polluit; ideo exscindetur anima haec ex Israele .... Omnis qui tetigerit super superficie agri confossum gladio, .... aut os hominis, aut sepulcrum, immundus erit septem dies .... Tangens aquas separationis immundus ad vesperam. Omne quod tetigerit immundus immundum fiet; et anima quae tetigerit, immunda ad vesperam" (Numeri 19:11, 13, 16, 21, 22);
Qui tangit immundas bestias, et immunda reptilia, immundus erit: omne super quod ceciderint, immundum erit; sive vas ligni, vestis, aqua, vas testae, cibus, potus, clibanus (non autem) fons, cisterna, receptaculum aquarum), immunda erunt (Leviticus 11:31-36);
(Praeter alibi, ut Leviticus 5:2, 3; 7:21; 11:37, 38; 5
1 15:1 ad fin. ; cap. 22:4; Numeri 16:26; Esaias 3:11; Threni 4:14, 15; Hoschea 4:2, 3; Haggaeus 2:12-14).
Footnotes:
1. The editors made a correction or note here.
2. The editors made a correction or note here.
3. The editors made a correction or note here.
4. The editors made a correction or note here.
5. The editors made a correction or note here.