83. * to tell any difference in me from my old self, or from another person. Even if I was in the midst of company, I have sometimes spoken with spirits, and with those who were around me, who perhaps were able to get something out of it. But I do not know whether they have noticed anything, for at these times the inner senses are sometimes withdrawn from the outer ones - yet not so much that anyone could draw conclusions. They could only have been able to tell that I was lost in thought. The speaking itself is heard by no one but myself and by those present in the heavens who are permitted by God the Messiah to hear. But sometimes it is as clear and distinct as the voice issuing from the lips of a person on earth (although not as highly pitched and rough-sounding), so that the spirits themselves, etc., were sometimes afraid they might be heard by those who were present in the world. [Speak, Speech] [See also WE 3348, concluding the explanation of these verses.] [See WE 3388, explaining Exod. 4:11-12.] 3389. From hearing and sight is born all human understanding, so we take the will itself here in place of hearing, and understanding in place of sight. So in the innermost meaning, these verses concern will and understanding in the human mind. From will, by means of the organs, proceed all actions, consequently also the act of speaking. In these actions, as in the will, understanding is present.* This is expressed here by the words, "Who has given a mouth to the human being, Who has made the dumb, or the deaf one?" - thus coupling speaking with hearing. Understanding is expressed by the words, "Who has made the seeing, or the blind one?" - by which is meant that no life belongs to the human being, but that Jehovah God Alone lives, for which reason it is also added, "Have not I, Jehovah?" that is, He Who Is, as said in verse 14, Chapter 3. * In the original, this paragraph is emphasized by the symbol "NB." written three times in the margin.