WH13.圣言的字义是照着世界上的表象来表达的（589，926，1832，1874，2242，2520，2533，2719-2720节），它适合心思单纯之人的理解力（2533，9049，9063，9086节）。圣言在字义上是属世的（8783节），因为属世之物是属灵和属天事物终止于其中的最终事物，属灵和属天事物立在属世之物上面，如同房屋立在地基上；此外，没有一个外在形式，圣言的内义将如同一座没有地基的房屋（9360，9430，9433，9824，10044，10436节）。圣言因具有这种性质，故是一个属灵意义和一个属天意义的容器（9407节）；由于这就是圣言的性质，所以字义里面有一种神性的圣洁，这种圣洁一直延伸到每一个细节，直至一点一画（639，680，1869-1870，9198，10321，10637节）。尽管在以色列人面前制定的律法已经被废除，但由于其中的内义，它们仍是神圣的圣言（9211，9259，9349节）。为以色列或犹太教会，就是一个代表性教会所制定的这些律法、典章和律例，有一些在外在和内在两方面的意义上仍是有效的；其中有一些要完全照其外在意义来遵守；有一些如果人们愿意，也是有用的；有一些则完全废除了（9349节）。甚至就那些已经被废除的事物而言，由于隐藏在它们内义里面的天上事物，圣言仍是神性（10637节）。
如果不同时照着内义，或也可说，照着来自圣言的真正教义理解圣言，圣言在字义上是何性质（10402节）。大量异端邪说是从没有内义，也就是没有取自圣言的纯正教义的字义中喷涌而来的（10400节）。那些处于没有内在的外在之人无法忍受圣言的内在事物（10694节）。这些人是犹太人，他们今天还是这样（301-303，3479，4429，4433，4680，4844，4847，10396，10401，10407，10694，10705，10707节）。
13. The literal meaning or outer form of the Word. The literal meaning of the Word is in keeping with the outward appearance of things in this world (589, 926, 1832, 1874, 2242, 2520, 2533, 2719), and is suited to the comprehension of ordinary people (2533, 9049, 9063, 9086). In its literal meaning, the Word is earthly: 8783. This is because the earthly level is the outermost level to which spiritual and heavenly realities descend and on which they rest, the way a house rests on its foundation; otherwise, the inner meaning without the outer would be like a house without a foundation: 9360, 9430, 9433, 9824, 10044, 10436. Because this is the nature of the Word, it is a vessel that contains spiritual and heavenly meanings (9407); and because this is its nature, there is something holy and divine in absolutely every bit of its literal meaning, right down to the smallest letter (639, 680, 1869, 1870, 9198, 10321, 10637). Even though some laws given for the children of Israel have been annulled, they are still the holy Word because of the inner meaning they contain: 9211, 9259, 9349. Of the laws, judgments, and statutes established for the Israelite or Jewish church (which was a symbolic church), there are some that are still valid in both senses, inner and outer; there are some that are still absolutely mandatory in their literal sense; there are some that can be helpful at our own discretion; and there are some that have been completely annulled: 9349 (which gives details). The Word is divine even in respect the laws that have been annulled, because there are truths of heaven that lie hidden within their inner meaning: 10637.
What the Word is like in its literal meaning if it is not understood in its inner meaning as well, or what amounts to the same thing, understood according to a true body of teaching drawn from the Word: 10402. A vast number of heresies come into existence from reading the literal meaning without the inner meaning or without a genuine body of teaching drawn from the Word: 10400. People whose interest lies solely in the outer level of the Word apart from what lies within cannot bear the deeper messages of the Word: 10694. That is what the Jews were like, and they still are today: 1301, 302, 303, 3479, 4429, 4433, 4680, 4844, 4847, 10396, 10401, 10407, 10694, 10701, 10707.
Footnotes:
1. On problematic material in Swedenborg’s works, including his attitude toward Jews, see the discussion in the translator’s preface, pages 19–21. [Editors]
13. The literal or external sense of the Word
The literal sense of the Word accords with appearances in the world: 589, 926, 1832, 1874, 2242, 2520, 2533, 2719-2720, and is suited to the comprehension of the pure in heart: 2533, 9049, 9063, 9086. The Word in its literal sense is natural, see 8783, because what is natural is the final thing upon which spiritual and celestial things come to rest, and upon which they stand like a house on its foundation; furthermore, an internal sense without an external form would be like a house without a foundation: 9360, 9430, 9433, 9824, 10044, 10436. The Word, because that is its nature, is the container of a spiritual sense and a celestial sense: 9407. And because that is its nature, there is a divine holiness in the literal sense extending to every single detail, right down to the last jot: 639, 680, 1869-1870, 9198, 10321, 10637. Although the laws laid down before the children of Israel have now been totally abrogated they are still the holy Word because of the internal sense in them: 9211, 9259, 9349. The laws, judgements, and statutes laid down for the Israelite or Jewish Church, which was a representative church, are in some cases still valid in both senses, the external and the internal; some of them should be wholly observed according to their external sense; some may be of use if people wish; and some have been totally abrogated; about all these: 9349. The Word is divine even as regards those of the above which have been abrogated, because of the heavenly elements which are concealed in their internal sense: 10637.
What the nature of the Word is in its literal sense if it is not understood at the same time in its internal sense; or, expressed otherwise, according to the true doctrine from the Word: 10402. From the literal sense without the internal sense, or without genuine doctrine from the Word, a vast number of heresies comes gushing out: 10400. Those who live in external elements without internal elements cannot uphold the inner parts of the Word: 10694. Such were the Jews, and such are they today: 301-303, 3479, 4429, 4433, 4680, 4844, 4847, 10396, 10401, 10407, 10694, 10705, 10707.
13. THE SENSE OF THE LETTER OR THE EXTERNAL SENSE OF THE WORD.
The sense of the letter of the Word is expressed according to appearances in the world, (589, 926, 1832, 1874, 2242, 2520, 2533, 2719), [1408, 1410]. And it is adapted to the comprehension of the simple-minded, (2533, 9048, 9063, 9086). In the sense of the letter the Word is natural, (8783), because what is natural is the ultimate in which spiritual and celestial things terminate, and upon which they stand like a house upon its foundation. Moreover, without an external, the internal sense of the Word would be like a house without a foundation, (9360, 9430, 9433, 9824, 10044, 10436). Being of such a character the Word is the containant of a spiritual and a celestial sense, (9407), and because it is such there is a Divine holiness in the sense of the letter as to each and all things therein, even to every single jot, (639, 680, 1869, 1870, 9198, 10321, 10637). Although abrogated, the laws laid down for the Israelites are still the Holy Word on account of the internal sense within them, (9211, 9259, 9349). Among the laws, judgments and statutes laid down for the Israelitish or Jewish Church, which was a representative Church, there are some still binding both in the external and internal sense; there are some which ought to be wholly observed in their external sense; some, which may be of use, if people wish to observe them, and some which are entirely abrogated, (9349). The Word is Divine, even as to those things which are abrogated, on account of the heavenly things which lie concealed within their internal sense, (10637).
What the quality of the Word is in the sense of the letter, if it is not understood at the same time as to the internal sense, or, what is the same thing, according to true doctrine from the Word, (10402). Without the internal sense, that is, without genuine doctrine from the Word, an immense profusion of heresies springs up from the sense of the letter, (10400). Those who are in externals without internals cannot endure the interior things of the Word, (10694). Such were the Jews and such also are they today, (301, 302, 303, 3479, 4429, 4433, 4680, 4844, 4847, 10396, 10401, 10407, 10694, 10701, 10707).
13. Of the sense of the letter, or the eternal sense of the Word. The sense of the letter of the Word is according to appearances in the world (584, 926, 1719, 1720, 1832, 1874, 2242 , 2520, 2533). And adapted to the conceptions of the simple (2533, 9049, 9063, 9086). The Word, in the sense of the letter, is natural (8783). Because what is natural is the ultimate, wherein spiritual and celestial things find their limits, and upon which they rest like a house upon its foundation; and that otherwise the internal sense of the Word, without the external, would be like a house without a foundation (9360, 9430, 9433, 9824, 10044, 10436). The Word because it is such contains both a spiritual and celestial sense (9407). And of consequence, that it is holy and Divine in the sense of the letter as to all and every part thereof, even to every iota (639, 680, 1319, 1870, 9198, 10321, 10637). The laws enacted for the sons of Israel, although abrogated, are yet the holy Word, on account of the internal sense in them (9210, 9259, 9349). Among the laws, judgments, and statutes, ordained in the Israelitish or Jewish Church, which was a representative church, there are some which are still in force both in their external and internal sense; which ought strictly to be observed in their external sense; some which may be of use, if one is so disposed; and some which are altogether abrogated (9349). The Word is Divine even in those statutes which are abrogated, on account of the heavenly things which lie concealed in their internal sense (10637).
What the quality of the Word is in the sense of the letter, if not understood at the same time as to the internal sense, or, what is the same thing, according to true doctrine from the Word (10402). An immense number of heresies spring up from the sense of the letter of the Word without the internal sense, or without genuine doctrine drawn from the Word (10401). They who are in externals without internals, cannot bear the interior things of the Word (10694). The Jews were of this description and they are such also at the present day (301-303, 3479, 4429, 4433, 4680, 4844, 4847, 10396, 10401, 10407, 10695, 10701, 10707).
13. De Sensu literae seu externo Verbi. Quod Sensus literae Verbi sit secundum apparentias in mundo, 584, 926, 1719, 1720, 1832, 1874, 2242, 2520, 2533. Et ad captum simplicium, 2533, 9049, 9063, 9086. Quod Verbum in sensu literae sit naturale, 8783. Ex causa, quia Naturale est ultimum, in quod desinunt spiritualia et caelestia, et super quo, sicut domus super suo fundamento, subsistunt, et quod alioquin Sensus internus absque externo foret sicut domus absque fundamento, 9360, 9430, 9824, 9433, 10044, 10436. Quod Verbum, quia tale, sit continens sensus spiritualis et caelestis, 9407. Et quia tale, quod sit sanctum Divinum in sensu literae quoad omnia et singula ibi, usque ad unamquamque jotham, 639, 680, 1319, 1870, 9198, 10321, 10637. Quod Leges pro Filiis Israelis latae, tametsi abrogatae, usque sanctum Verbum sint, ob sensum internum in illis, 9210, 9259, 9349. Quod Leges, Judicia, et Statuta pro Ecclesia Israelitica seu Judaica quae fuit Ecclesia repraesentativa, sint quae adhuc in utroque sensu, externo et interno valent, sint quae secundum Sensum externum omnino custodienda sunt, sint quae possunt esse usui si libet, et sint quae prorsus abrogata, de quibus, 9349. Quod Verbum divinum sit etiam quoad illa quae abrogata sunt, propter caelestia quae in sensu interno eorum latent, 10637.
Quale Verbum est in sensu literae, si non intelligitur simul quoad Sensum internum, seu quod idem, secundum veram doctrinam e Verbo, 10402. Quod ex Sensu literae absque Sensu interno, seu absque genuina Doctrina ex Verbo, haereses immenso numero scaturiant, 10401. Quod illi, qui in Externis absque Internis sunt, non sustineant interiora Verbi, 10694. Quod Judaei tales fuerint, et quoque hodie sint, 301, 302, 303, 3479, 4429, 4433, 4680, 4844, 4847, 10396, 10401, 10407, 10695, 10701, 10707.