67. White as white wool, as snow. That this signifies as to good and truth therein, is evident from the signification of white wool, as being good in ultimates, concerning which we shall speak presently, and from the signification of snow, as denoting truth in ultimates. Snow denotes truth in ultimates from the water of which it is composed, and from its whiteness and brightness. (That water signifies truth, maybe seen below, n. 71, and that whiteness and brightness signify truth, from the transparency of light, see Arcana Coelestia, n. 3301, 3993, 4007, 5319, 8459.) The reason why white wool signifies good in ultimates, is, that the wool upon lambs and sheep has a signification similar to that of the hair upon man; and lambs and sheep signify good, lambs celestial good (Arcana Coelestia, n. 3519, 3994, 10,132), and sheep spiritual good (n. 4169, 4809). This is why hairs, by which is signified Divine truth in ultimates, are said to be white, as white wool, and as snow; as also concerning the Lord, when He was transfigured:
"His raiment became shining, exceeding shining white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can whiten them" (Mark ix. 3).
And concerning the Ancient of Days, in Daniel:
"I saw until the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of Days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head as white wool" (vii. 9).
Garment also signifies the Divine in ultimates (as may be seen above, n. 64); and the Ancient of Days, the Lord from eternity. [2] Because wool signifies good in ultimates, therefore good is Sometimes described in the Word by wool, and truth by linen and by snow, as in Hosea:
"She said, I will go after my lovers, who give my bread and my waters, my wool and my flax. Therefore I will return and will take my corn in its time, and I will take away my wool and my flax" (ii. 5, 9);
and in Ezekiel:
"Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe yourselves with the wool; ye kill that which is the best, ye feed not the flock" (xxxiv. 3).
In David:
"Jehovah sendeth forth his word upon earth: he giveth snow like wool" (Ps. cxlvii. 15, 16).
And in Isaiah:
"If your sins were as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; if they were red as crimson, they shall be as wool" (i. 18).
The reason why snow is spoken of in reference to sins which were as scarlet, and wool of sins which were red as crimson, is because scarlet signifies truth from good, and, in an opposite sense, falsity from evil (see Arcana Coelestia, n. 4922, 9468) and red and crimson signify good, and, in an opposite sense, evil of every kind (Arcana Coelestia, n. 3330, 9467, 9865).
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