61. The Commandments of the Law are called The Ten Words, as may be seen in Exod. xxiv 28; Deut. iv 13; x 4. They are so called because ten signifies all, and words signify truths; for there were more than ten. Because ten signifies all, therefore
There were ten curtains of the tabernacle. Exod. xxvi 1
The Lord said, that a man about to receive a kingdom called ten servants, and gave them ten pounds to trade with. Luke xix 13;
The Lord likened the kingdom of heaven to ten virgins. Matt. xxv 1;
The dragon is described as having ten horns, and upon his horns ten diadems. Rev. xii 3;
and in like manner the beast coming up out of the sea. Rev. xiii 1.
and also another beast. Rev. xvii 3, 7 and likewise the beast in Daniel vii 7, 20, 24.
The like is signified by ten, in Lev. xxvi 26; Zech. viii 23; and elsewhere.
Hence there are tithes, by which is signified something from all.