715. 'And men blasphemed God for the plague of hail, because the plague thereof was exceedingly great' signifies that because they have confirmed such untruths with themselves, they have denied truths to such an extent that they cannot acknowledge them on account of the resistances originating from their interior untruths and evils. By 'to blaspheme God' is signified to deny and not acknowledge the Lord to be the Only God of heaven and earth (n. 571, 582, 697), and in like manner the truth of the Word. 'Because the plague thereof was exceedingly great' signifies on account of the dreadful and horrible untruths resulting from the confirmed dogma concerning justification by faith alone (n. 714 [b]). The reason why on account of these they are unable to acknowledge [the Lord], is because the confirmation of what is untrue is the denial of what is true. It appears as if it were understood that the plague of hail was so great that by reason of the torment or pain of its impact they blasphemed God. This, however, is not understood, but that they were unable to acknowledge truths on account of untruths; in like manner as before in this chapter where it is said that 'they blasphemed the Name of God' for the heat (verse 9); and that 'they blasphemed the God of heaven' for the annoyances and the sores (verse 11), which verses may be seen expounded (n. 692 and 697).