289.“祝福”表所有这一切都在主里面，并通过祂在那些天使里面。“祝福”表示人从主所接受的一切良善，如能力和财富及其所属一切，尤其是一切属灵良善，如爱与智慧，仁与信，喜乐和由此而来的幸福，它们属于永生。由于所有这一切皆来自主，故可知，它们在主里面。因为它们若不在主里面，就无法通过祂在其他人里面。正因如此，在圣言中，主被称为“有福的”，还被称为祝福，也就是祝福本身。耶和华，即主，被称为“有福的”。这一点从以下经文明显看出来：
大祭司问耶稣，你是基督，那有福者的儿子吗？（马可福音14:61）
耶稣说，从今以后，你们将见不到我，直等到你们说，奉主名来的，是有福的。（马太福音23:39；路加福音13:35）
麦基洗德给亚伯兰祝福，说，把敌人交在你手里的至高神，是有福的。（创世记14:18-20）
耶和华，闪的神，是有福的。（创世记9:26）
耶和华是有福的，祂听了我的声音。（诗篇28:6）
耶和华是有福的，因为祂显出祂奇妙的慈爱。（诗篇31:21）
耶和华是有福的，从永远直到永远。（诗篇41:13）
同样还有诗篇（66:20；68:19，35；72:18，19；89:52；119:12；124:6；135:21；144:1），路加福音（1:68）。这是为何此处，以及5:12和7:12提及“祝福”的原因。又如诗篇：
你把荣耀、尊贵加给祂，因为你使祂成为永远的祝福。（诗篇21:5，6）
这些话论及主。由此可见，在圣言中，“祝福神”是什么意思，即是指将一切祝福归归给祂，也是求神祝福，并因祂祝福而感恩。这一点从以下经文明显看出来：
撒迦利亚的口舌立刻开了，就出声祝福神。（路加福音1:64，68）
西门把婴儿耶稣接到手臂中，祝福神。（路加福音2:28，30-31）
我要祝福那指教我的耶和华。（诗篇16:7）
天天背负我们重担的主，是有福的；从以色列源头而来的，当在各会中祝福主神。（诗篇68:19，26）
289. "And blessing!" This symbolically means, all these being in Him and from Him in those angels of the lower heavens.
A blessing means every good that a person has from the Lord, such as power and wealth, and everything that accompanies these, but especially every spiritual good, such as love and wisdom, charity and faith, and the accompanying joy and happiness, which have to do with eternal life. And because all of these come from the Lord, it follows that He has them in Him; for if He did not have them in Him, they could not be present in others from Him.
It is for this reason that in the Word the Lord is called blessed, and also a blessing, which is to say, blessing itself.
That Jehovah, or the Lord, is called blessed, is apparent from the following passages:
...the high priest asked (Jesus)..., "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" (Mark 14:61)
(Jesus said,) "you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'" (Matthew 23:39, cf. Luke 13:35)
(Melchizedek) blessed (Abram) and said: ."..blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand." (Genesis 14:18-20)
Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Shem... (Genesis 9:26)
Blessed be Jehovah (who) has heard (my) voice... (Psalms 28:6)
Blessed be Jehovah, for He has shown me His marvelous clemency... (Psalms 31:21)
Blessed be Jehovah... from everlasting to everlasting! (Psalms 41:13)
So likewise Psalms 66:20; 68:19, 35; 72:18-19; 89:52; 119:12; 124:6; 135:21; 144:1, Luke 1:68.
It is owing to this that blessing is mentioned in this verse, as again in verse 12, and in chapter 7, 7:12. And in the book of Psalms:
Glory and honor You have placed upon Him, for You have made Him a blessing forever. (Psalms 21:5-6)
The subject is the Lord.
[2] It can be seen from this what blessing God means in the Word: that it is to attribute all blessing to Him, to pray for Him to bless, and to thank Him for blessing, as can be seen from the following passages:
(Zacharias's) mouth was opened... and he spoke, blessing God. (Luke 1:64, 68)
(Simeon) took (the infant Jesus) up in his arms and blessed God... (Luke 2:28, 30-31)
I will bless Jehovah who has given me counsel. (Psalms 16:7)
...bless (Jehovah's) name; proclaim His salvation from day to day. (Psalms 96:1-3)
Blessed be the Lord from day to day... Bless God in the congregations, the Lord, from the fountain of Israel. (Psalms 68:19, 26)
289. 'And blessing' signifies all these in Him, and from Him in those [angels]. By 'blessing' is understood every good that a man has from the Lord, as power and wealth and the things pertaining thereto; but chiefly every spiritual good, as love and wisdom, charity and faith, and the joy and happiness therefrom, which are of eternal life; and because all these are from the Lord it follows that they are in Him, for if they were not in Him they could not be in others from Him. This is why the Lord is said in the Word to be BLESSED, and also BLESSING, that is, BLESSING ITSELF. That Jehovah, that is, the Lord is termed 'Blessed' is plain from these places:
The chief of the priests asked Jesus, Art Thou the Christ the Son of the Blessed? Mark 14:61.
Jesus said, You shall not see Me henceforth, till you shall say, The Blessed One coming in the Name of the Lord. Matthew 23:39; Luke 13:35.
Melchizedek blessed Abram, and said, Blessed be the Most High God, Who has given thine enemies into thy hand. Genesis 14:18-20.
Blessed be Jehovah, the God of Shem. Genesis 9:26.
Blessed be Jehovah, Who has heard my voice. Psalms 28:6.
Blessed be Jehovah, for He has made wonderful His kindness. Psalms 31:21; [H.B. 22].
Blessed be Jehovah from age to age. Psalms 41:13; [H.B. 14].
Likewise, Psalms 66:20; 68:19, 35 [H.B. 20, 36]; 72:18-19; 89:52 [H.B. 53]; Psalms 119:12; 124:6; 135:21; 144:1; Luke 1:68. It is in consequence of this that it is here said 'Blessing,' as also chapter 7:12; also in David:
Glory and honour dost Thou set over Him, for Thou settest Him a Blessing 1for ever. Psalms 21:5-6 [H.B. 6-7].
[2] This is concerning the Lord. From these [quotations] it can be seen what is understood in the Word by 'blessing God,' that it is to ascribe all blessing to Him, also to pray that He may bless and to give thanks that He has blessed, as can be established from the following places:
The mouth of Zacharias was opened, and he spoke, blessing God. Luke 1:64, 68.
Simeon took the infant Jesus up in his arms, and blessed God. Luke 2:28, 30-31.
Bless 2Jehovah, Who has given me counsel. Psalms 16:7.
Bless the Name of Jehovah, show forth His salvation from day to day. Psalms 96:1-3.
Blessed be the Lord from day to day, bless God in the congregations, the Lord out of the fountain of Israel. Psalms 68:19, 26 [H.B. Psalms 68:20, 27].
Footnotes:
1. Hebrew and AV margin have 'blessings.'
2. Hebrew has 'I will bless.
289. And blessing, signifies all these things in Him, and from Him in them. By "blessing" is meant every good which man receives from the Lord, as power and opulence, and all that is implied by them; but especially every spiritual good, as love and wisdom, charity and faith, and the joy and felicity thence, which are of eternal life; and because all these are from the Lord, it follows that they are in Him, for unless they were in Him, they could not be in others from Him. Hence it is, that, in the Word, the Lord is called "Blessed," and also "Blessing," that is, Blessing Itself. That Jehovah, that is the Lord, is called "Blessed," is evident from these passages:
The high priest asked Jesus, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? (Mark 14:61).
Jesus said, Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord, (Matthew 23:39; Luke 13:35).
Melchizedek blessed Abram, and said, Blessed be God Most High who hath given thine enemies into thy hand, (Genesis 14:18-20).
Blessed be Jehovah the God of Shem, (Genesis 9:26).
Blessed be Jehovah, who hath heard my voice, (Psalms 28:6).
Blessed be Jehovah, for He hath made marvelous His kindness, (Psalms 31:21).
Blessed be Jehovah, from everlasting to everlasting, (Psalms 41:13; 66:20; 68:19, 35; 72:18-19; 89:52; 119:12; 124:6; 135:21; 144:1; Luke 1:68).
This is the reason why "blessing" is here mentioned, as also verse 12; and likewise in David:
Glory and honor dost Thou lay upon Him, for Thou makest Him a blessing for ever, (Psalms 21:5-6).
[2] These are concerning the Lord. Hence it may be seen what is meant in the Word by "blessing God," namely, to ascribe to Him all blessing; also to pray that He would bless, and to give thanks for having blessed; as may appear from the following passages:
The mouth of Zacharias was opened, and he spoke, blessing God, (Luke 1:64, 68).
Simeon took up the infant Jesus in his arms, and blessed God, (Luke 2:28, 30-31).
Bless ye Jehovah, who hath counselled for me, (Psalms 16:7).
Bless the name of Jehovah, evangelize His salvation from day to day, (Psalms 96:1-3).
Blessed be the Lord from day to day, bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord from the fountain of Israel, (Psalms 68:19, 26).
289. "Et benedictionem," significat omnia illa in Ipso et ab Ipso illi illis. - Per "benedictionem" intelligitur omne bonum quod a Domino est homini, ut potentia et opulentia, et quae illarum sunt, sed imprimis omne Bonum spirituale, ut amor et sapientia, charitas et fides, et inde gaudium et felicitas, quae sunt vitae aeternae; et quia haec omnia sunt a Domino, sequitur quod sint in Ipso, nam nisi forent in Ipso, non potuissent esse in aliis ab Ipso: inde est quod Dominus in Verbo dicatur "Benedictus," et quoque "Benedictio," hoc est, Ipsa Benedictio. Quod Jehovah, hoc est, Dominus, dicatur "Benedictus," patet ex his locis:
Princeps sacerdotum interrogavit Jesum, "Tunc es Christus Filius Benedicti," (Marcus 14:61);
"Jesus dixit, Non Me videbitis posthac, donec dicatis, Benedictus veniens in Nomine Domini," (Matthaeus 23:39; Luca 13:3);;
"Malchizedek benedixit Abramo, et dixit, Benedictus Deus Altissimus, Qui dedit hostes tuos in manum tuam," (Genesis 14:18-20);
"Benedictus Jehovah Deus Schemi," (Genesis 9:26);
"Benedictus Jehovah, Qui audivit vocem meam," (Psalm 28:6);
"Benedictus Jehovah, quia admirabilem fecit clementiam Suam," (Psalm 31:22 (B.A. 21));
"Benedictus Jehovah a saeculo in saeculum usque," (Psalm 41:14 (B.A. 13)).
(Pariter, Psalm 66:20; Psalm 68:20, 36 (B.A. 19, 35)); Psalm 72:18-19; Psalm 89:53 (B.A. 52); Psalm 119:12; Psalm 124:6; Psalm 135:21; 1Psalm 144:1; Luca 1:68).
Inde est, quod hic dicatur "benedictio," ut quoque vers. 12; et 7:12; et apud Davidem:
"Gloriam et honorem ponis super illum, quoniam ponis Illum Benedictiones 2in perpetuum," (Psalm 21:6-7 (B.A. 5-6));
haec de Domino. Ex his videri potest, quid in Verbo intelligitur per "benedicere Deo," quod sit addicare Ipsi omnem benedictionem, tum orare ut benedicat, et gratias agere quod benedixerit, ut ex sequentibus his locis constare potest:
Apertum est os Sachariae, "et locutus est Benedicens Deo," (Luca 1:64, 68);
Simeon suscepit Jesum Infantem in ulnas, et Benedixit Deo, (Luca 11:28); 3
"Benedicam 4Jehovae. Qui consuluit mihi," (Psalm 16:7);
"Benedicite Nomini Jehovae, evangelizate e die in diem salutem Ipsius," (Psalm 96:1-3);
"Benedictus Dominus de die in diem: in congregationibus Benedicite Deo, Domino, e fonte Israelis," (Psalm 68:20, 27 (B.A. 19, 26)).
Footnotes:
1. 21 pro "2"
2. Benedictiones pro "Benedictionem"
3. 28 pro "28, 30, 31"
4. Benedicam pro "Benedicite"