436. [verse 9] 'And they had breastplates as iron breastplates' signifies the arguments derived from fallacies, by means of which they fight and have strength, which appeared to them so strong that they could not be disproved. By 'breastplates' are signified defences because they defend the breast, here the defences of untruths, which are produced by means of the arguments derived from fallacies by which a false principle is defended; for out of a false principle only untruths can flow forth. If truths are advanced, they are regarded only from the outside or superficially, thus also sensually, and in this manner they are falsified and become fallacies with them. 'Breastplates' signify such things because the 'wars' in the Word signify spiritual wars, and consequently the arms of a war signify the various things relating to that war as in Jeremiah:-
Harness the horses, and mount, O horsemen, and stand forth in helmets, polish the lances, put on the cuirass Jer. xlvi 4.
In Isaiah:-
He put on justice as a cuirass, and a helmet of safety upon his head Isa. lix 17.
In David:-
Under His wings shalt thou trust, His truth (veritas) shall be a shield and buckler Ps. xci 4;
besides elsewhere, as Ezek. xxiii 24; xxxviii 4; xxxix 9; Nahum ii 3 [H.B. 4]; Ps. v 12 [H.B. 13]; Ps. xxxv 2, 3. 'That the breastplates were as iron' signifies that the arguments appeared to them so strong that they could not be disproved, for 'iron' by virtue of its hardness signifies what is strong.
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