538.“七头”表因被歪曲和亵渎的圣言真理而疯狂。“头”表示智慧与聪明，在反面意义上表示疯狂；不过，此处“七头”因是龙的，故严格来说表示因被歪曲和亵渎的圣言真理而疯狂；因为“七”论及神圣事物，在反面意义上论及亵渎事物（10节）；所以接下来经上说，只见他头上“戴着七个冠冕”，“冠冕”表示圣言的真理，在此表示被歪曲和亵渎的圣言真理。“头”（经上或译为首领）表示智慧与聪明，这一点从以下经文明显看出来：
我要赠给你们智慧聪明人，立他们为你们的首领。（申命记1:13）
耶和华封闭你们的眼，就是先知，蒙盖你们的头，就是先见。（以赛亚书29:10）
尼布甲尼撒所梦之像的精金头（但以理书2:32）无非表示最初时代（即黄金时代）的智慧，就在上古教会之人当中。“头”在反面意义上表示疯狂和愚蠢；诗篇：神打破仇敌的头，就是那常犯罪之人的发顶冠。（诗篇68:21）
要被践踏的“蛇头”（创世记3:15）并非表示别的；还有“痛击众国的头”（诗篇110:6，7）；以及当他们因行事疯狂、不明智而蒙羞或痛苦时，“撒灰在头上”、“光秃着头”、“双手抱头”（以赛亚书7:20；15:2；以西结书7:18；27:30；耶利米书2:37；14:3，4；耶利米哀歌2:10；撒母耳记下13:19）也并非表示别的。但在启示录后面的经文（13:1，3；17:3，7，9）中，“七头”也表示因被歪曲和亵渎的真理而疯狂。
538. Having seven heads. This symbolizes irrationality owing to their falsifying and profaning the Word's truths.
A head symbolizes wisdom and intelligence, and in an opposite sense, irrationality. However, the seven heads here, being the heads of the dragon, symbolize more specifically irrationality owing to a falsification and profanation of the Word's truths. For the number seven is predicated of things that are holy, and in an opposite sense, of things that are profane (no. 10). Consequently we are told next that on its heads were seen seven jewels, 1and jewels symbolize the Word's truths, there truths falsified and profaned.
That a head symbolizes wisdom and intelligence is apparent from the following passages:
I will give you wise and intelligent men..., and I will make them your heads. (Deuteronomy 1:13)
...Jehovah... has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets; and He has covered your heads, namely, the seers. (Isaiah 29:10)
In Daniel 2:32 the head of Nebuchadnezzar's image of fine gold symbolizes the wisdom of the first age, which existed in people of the Most Ancient Church.
That in an opposite sense a head symbolizes irrationality and foolishness is apparent in the book of Psalms:
God will smite the head of His enemies, the hairy crown of the one who walks in his guilty ways. (Psalms 68:21)
In Genesis 3:15 the head of the serpent that would be trampled has the same symbolism, and so does "striking the head over much land" in Psalms 110:6-7; Lamentations 2:10; 2 Samuel 13:19).
Moreover, seven heads later in the book of Revelation, namely, in Revelation 13:1, 3; 17:3, 7, 9, also symbolize irrationality owing to a falsification and profanation of truths.
Footnotes:
1. The word translated as "jewels" here means diadems or crowns in the original Greek and Latin, but the writer's definition of the term elsewhere make plain that he regularly and consistently interpreted it to mean jewels or gems.
538. 'Having seven heads' signifies insanity resulting from the truths of the Word falsified and profaned. By 'head' is signified wisdom and intelligence, and in the opposite sense insanity. Here, however, by 'seven heads,' because they were the dragon's, is properly signified insanity resulting from the truths of the Word falsified and profaned; for 'seven are predicated of things holy and in the opposite sense of things profane (10, 737). 1It therefore follows on, that upon his heads were seen 'seven diadems,' and by 'diadems' are signified the truths of the Word there falsified and profaned. That by 'head' is signified wisdom and intelligence is plain from these passages:
I will give you wise and intelligent men and place them as your heads. Deuteronomy 1:13.
Jehovah has closed your eyes, the prophets, and your heads, the seers has he covered. Isaiah 29:10.
By 'the head of Nebuchadnezzar's image of pure gold' (Daniel 2:32) nothing else is signified but the wisdom of the First Age, which existed with the men of the Most Ancient Church. By 'head' in the opposite sense insanity and folly is signified, in David:
God shall break the head of the enemy, the hairy scalp of those that go about in their guilt. Psalms 68:21; [H.B. 22].
Nor is anything else signified by 'the head of the serpent' which should be trodden upon (Genesis 3:15), and by 'smiting the head over much land' (Psalms 110:6-7). Also by 'putting dust upon the head,' and by 'inducing baldness' and 'putting the hand upon the head' when they were ashamed or grieved at having acted insanely or against wisdom (Isaiah 7:20; 15:2; Ezekiel 7:18; 27:30; Jeremiah 2:37; 14:3-4; Lamentations 2:10; 2 Samuel 13:19). Moreover insanity resulting from the truths of the Word falsified and profaned is signified also in the following passages in the, Apocalypse 13:1, 3; 22:3, 7, 9.
Footnotes:
1. The Original Edition has 173, probably a misprint for 10, 737.
538. Having seven heads, signifies insanity from the truths of the Word falsified and profaned. By "the head" is signified wisdom and intelligence, and, in the opposite sense, insanity; but by "seven heads" here, because they were the dragon's, is properly signified insanity from the truths of the Word falsified and profaned; for "seven" is predicated of things holy, and, in the opposite sense, of things profane, (10); therefore it follows that on his heads were seen "seven diadems," and by "diadems" are signified the truths of the Word, here falsified and profaned. That by "the head" is signified wisdom and intelligence, is plain from these passages:
I will give you men wise, and intelligent, and make them your heads, (Deuteronomy 1:13).
Jehovah hath closed your eyes, the prophets, and your heads, the seers, hath he covered, (Isaiah 29:10).
By the head of Nebuchadnezzar's image of pure gold, (Daniel 2:32),
nothing else is signified but the wisdom of the first age, which was with the men of the Most Ancient Church. By "the head" in the opposite sense is signified insanity and folly; in David:
God shall wound the head of the enemies, the hairy crown of him who goeth on in his guilt, (Psalms 68:21).
Nor is anything else signified by "the head of the serpent," which was to be trodden down, (Genesis 3:15); and by "smiting the head over many countries" (Psalms 110:6-7); also by "putting dust on the head;" and by "inducing baldness," and by "putting the hand on the head," when they were ashamed, or grieved at having acted insanely against wisdom, (Isaiah 7:20; 15:2; Ezekiel 7:18; 27:30; Jeremiah 2:37; 14:3-4; Lamentations 2:10; 2 Samuel 13:19). But by "seven heads" is also signified insanity from truths falsified and profaned in what follows in Revelation 13:1, 3; 17:3, 7, 9.
538. "Habens capita septem," significat insaniam ex veris Verbi falsificatis et prophanatis. - Per "caput" significatur sapientia et intelligentia, et in opposito sensu insania; at per "capita septem" hic, quia erant Draconis, proprie significatur insania ex falsificatis et prophanatis veris Verbi; "septem" enim praedicant urbe sanctis, et in opposito sensu de prophanis (10); 1quare sequitur, quod super capitibus ejus visa sint "diademata" septem, et per "diademata" significantur vera Verbi, ibi falsificata et prophanata. Quod per "caput" significetur sapientia et intelligentia, patet ex his:
"Dabo vobis viros sapientes et intelligentes, et ponam illos in Capita vestra," (Deuteronomius 1:13); "Jehovah occlusit oculos vestros, prophetas; et Capita vestra, videntes, obtexit," (Esaias 29:10). 2
Per Caput statuae Nebuchadnezaris ex puro auro, (Daniel 2:32),
non aliud quam sapientia primi saeculi, quae fuit apud homines Antiquissimae Ecclesiae, significatur. Per "caput" in opposito sensu significatur insania et stultitia, apud Davidem:
"Deus contundet Caput hostium, verticem capilli ambulantis in reatibus suis," (Psalm 68:22 (B.A. 21));
nec aliud significatur Per "Caput serpentis" quod proculcaretur, (Genesis 3:15); Et per "percutere Caput super terram multam," (Psalm 110:6-7);
Tum per "mittere pulverem super Caput;" perque "Calvitiem inducere," ac per "ponere manum super caput," cum pudefacti sunt aut doluerunt, quod insane seu contra sapientiam egerint, (Esaias 7:20; 15:2; Ezechiel 7:18; 27:30; Jeremias 2:37; 14:3-4; Threni 2:10; 2 Samuelis 13:19).
Per "septem" autem "capita" significatur insania ex veris falsificatis et prophanatis etiam in sequentibus in Apocalypsis 13:1, 3; 17:3, 7, 9.
Footnotes:
1. 10 pro "173"
2. 10 pro "19"