282. Out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation, signifies that they in the church or in any religion, who are in truths as to doctrine, and in goods as to life, are redeemed by the Lord. By "tribe" is signified the church as to religion; by "tongue" is signified its doctrine, of which we shall speak presently; by "people" are signified they who are in truths of doctrine, and, abstractly, truths of doctrine (n. 483); and by "nation" are signified they who are in the goods of life, and, abstractly, the goods of life (n. 483); from hence it appears that by these words, "Out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation," such things are signified as were said above (see also n. 627). [2] It shall now be proved that "tongue," in the spiritual sense, signifies the doctrine of the church, or of any religion; this is evident from the following passages:
My tongue also shall meditate of Thy justice, all the day Thy praise (Ps. 35:28; 71:24). Then shall the lame leap as a stag, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing, for in the wilderness shall waters break out (Isa. 35:6). The tongue of the stammerers shall be swift to speak (Isa. 32:4). It appears as if in these instances, by "tongue" was meant speech, but in the spiritual sense that which is spoken is meant, which is truth of doctrine, which they will have from the Lord. In like manner:
I have sworn that unto Me every knee shall bow and every tongue shall swear (Isa. 45:23). The time shall come to gather all nations and tongues, that they may come and see My glory (Isa. 66:18). In those days ten men out of all the tongues of the nations, shall take hold of the skirt of a man that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you (Zech. 8:23). This is also concerning the conversion of the Gentiles by the Lord to the truth of doctrine. [3] But by "tongues," in the opposite sense, are signified false doctrines in the following passages:
A man of tongue shall not subsist on the earth (Ps. 140:11). Thou shalt hide them in Thy tabernacle from the strife of tongues (Ps. 31:20). I will bring a nation upon you, whose tongue thou knowest not (Jer. 5:15). To be sent to people of heavy tongue (Ezek. 3:5, 6). To people of barbarous tongue (Isa. 33:19). It is to be known that "tongue," as an organ, signifies doctrine, but, as speech, it also signifies religion. [4] He who knows that "tongue" signifies doctrine, may understand what is meant by the words of the rich man in hell to Abraham:
That he would send Lazarus that he might dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool his tongue, that he should not be tormented in the flame (Luke 16:24). "Water" signifies truth, and "tongue" doctrine; by the falsities of which he was tormented, and not by the flame; for no one in hell is in flames, but flames there are appearances of the love of falsity; and fire is the appearance of the love of evil.
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