9716. 'Five cubits the length and five cubits the breadth' means that which consists equally of good and of truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'five' as an equality, for when two dimensions are the same as each other, as the length and the breadth are here, an equality is meant (the reason why the length and the breadth of the altar were five cubits each was that five is also similar in meaning to ten, a hundred, and a thousand. These numbers mean what is much, all, or complete, and in the highest sense, in which the Lord is the subject, what is infinite. Five too has much the same meaning, since composite numbers are similar in meaning to the simple ones of which they are the products, and simple numbers are accordingly similar to their composites, 5291, 5335, 5708, 7973. For the meaning of ten, a hundred, and a thousand as what is much, all, or complete, see 2636, 3107, 4400, 4638, 8715, and five likewise, 5708, 5956, 9102; and for the meaning of a thousand, used in reference to the Divine, as what is infinite, 2575); from the meaning of 'the length' as good, dealt with in 1613, 9487; and from the meaning of 'the breadth' as truth, dealt with in 1613, 3433, 3434, 4482, 9487. From all this it is evident that 'five cubits the length and five cubits the breadth' means that which consists equally of good and of truth. The expression 'equally of good and of truth' is used when the truth complements the good and the good complements the truth, thus when they act as one and form a marriage, such as the Lord causes them to do in heaven. Human will and understanding may serve to illustrate this. When the understanding acts as one with the will, that is, when the person perceives truth to be the complement of good, and good to be the complement of truth, that which consists equally of good and of truth exists with him. Furthermore the understanding has been dedicated to perceiving the truth that emanates from good, and the will to perceiving the good present within truth.