8838. 'And sanctify it' means that they are thereby held back from the Divine. This is clear from the meaning of 'sanctifying' as covering over their interiors in order that externals may appear in holiness, dealt with in 8788, 8806, thus also being held back from the Divine so as not to suffer harm. Unless they were covered over the Divine would penetrate them and destroy them. For the presence of the Divine is like a devouring fire to those who have not been covered. This also explains why angels are covered with a cloud, 6849. From all this one may see what should be understood by being covered over. The reason why this is meant by 'being sanctified' is that those who are covered appear in holiness, for then the Divine can flow in, establishing a state of good and giving it the form of truth, which cannot happen without the covering-over.