Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 5972

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5972. 'And the spirit of Jacob their father revived' means newness of life. This is clear from the meaning of 'the spirit revived' as newness of life; and from the representation of 'Jacob' as natural good, dealt with in 5965. Hence 'the spirit of Jacob revived' means newness of life imparted to natural good. Newness of life occurs when what is spiritual flows in from the internal and acts from within on what is in the natural. Natural good is thereby made spiritual, having been linked to spiritual good, which 'Israel' represents. This also explains why Jacob is now called Israel, for the words used are, 'the spirit of Jacob revived, and Israel said'.


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