5480. And wept. That this signifies mercy, is evident from the signification of "weeping," when predicated of the Lord, who is here represented by Joseph, as being to be merciful. That weeping is expressive of grief and love, is well known, and consequently it is expressive of mercy or pity, for mercy is love grieving. The Divine love is therefore called mercy, because the human race is of itself in hell; and when man perceives this in himself, he implores mercy. As weeping is also mercy in the internal sense, therefore in the Word "weeping" is sometimes predicated of Jehovah or the Lord, as in Isaiah:
I will weep with weeping for Jazer, the vine of Sibmah; I will water thee with My tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh (Isa. 16:9); and in Jeremiah:
I know the indignation of Moab, saith Jehovah, that it is not right. Therefore will I howl over Moab, and I will cry out for all Moab; above the weeping of Jazer will I weep for thee, O vine of Sibmah (Jer. 48:30-32);
"Moab" denotes those who are in natural good and suffer themselves to be led astray, and when led astray adulterate goods (see n. 2468); "to howl," "cry out," and "weep over," it denotes pitying and grieving. Likewise in Luke:
When Jesus drew nigh He beheld the city, and wept over it (Luke 19:41);
Jerusalem, over which Jesus wept, or which He pitied and over which He grieved, was not only the city Jerusalem, but also the church, the last day of which; when there would no longer be any charity nor consequently any faith, is meant in the internal sense; and hence from pity and grief He wept. (That "Jerusalem" is the church may be seen above, n. 2117, 3654.)
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