Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 3912

Previous Number Next Number Next Translation See Latin 

3912. Verses 3-5 And she said, Behold, my maidservant Bilhah; go [in] to her, and let her bear [a child] upon my knees, and I too shall be built up from her. And she gave him Bilhah her servant-girl as his wife, and Jacob went [in] to her. And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son.

'She said, Behold, my maidservant Bilhah' means the affirming means, which has its place between natural truth and interior truth. 'Go [in] to her' means that with this means there exists the ability to effect a joining together. 'And let her bear [a child] upon my knees' means acknowledgement by the affection for interior truth, in which affection the joining together begins. 'And I too shall be built up from her' means that in this way it has life. 'And she gave him Bilhah her servant-girl as his wife' means that a link with the affirmative means was established. 'And Jacob went [in] to her' means a joining to it. 'And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son' means reception and acknowledgement.


This page is part of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church