Arcana Coelestia (Potts) n. 7205

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7205. And I will redeem you with a stretched out arm. That this signifies leading forth from hell by virtue of Divine power, is evident from the signification of "redeeming," as being to bring forth from hell (that "redemption" is said of bondage, of evil, and of death - that men are released from these - thus that it is said of hell, and that the Lord as to the Divine Human is called the "Redeemer," see n. 6281) and from the signification of a "stretched out arm," as being Divine power. That "arm" denotes power, see n. 478, 4931, 4932, 4934, 4935; but that a "stretched out arm" denotes omnipotence or Divine power, is because when an arm appears stretched out in the heavens, there is represented power from the Divine; and when not stretched out, but bent, there is represented power in a general sense. Hence then it is, that in the Word, Divine power is very often expressed by a "stretched out arm," and by a "strong hand," as in these passages:

I have made the earth, the man, and the beast, that are upon the faces of the earth, by My great power and by My stretched-out arm (Jer. 27:5) Ah, Lord Jehovih! Behold Thou hast made the heaven and the earth by Thy great power, and by Thy stretched-out arm; no word is too wonderful for Thee; and Thou hast led forth Thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt by signs and miracles, and by a strong hand, and by a stretched-out arm (Jer. 32:17, 21). I will lead you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the lands wherein ye are scattered, by a strong hand and by a stretched-out arm (Ezek. 20:34). He led forth Israel from the midst of the Egyptians by a strong hand, and a stretched-out arm (Ps. 136:11, 12; see also Deut. 4:34; 5:15; 7:19; 9:29; 11:2; 26:8; 1 Kings 8:42; 2 Kings 17:36).


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