Spiritual Meaning of EXODUS 1:15-21
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AC 6672. Verses 15-21. And the king of Egypt said to the midwives of the Hebrew women, of whom the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah; and he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; If it be a son, then ye shall kill him; and if it be a daughter, then she shall live. And the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt spake to them, and they kept the boys alive. And the king of Egypt called the midwives, and said to them, Wherefore do ye this word, and keep the boys alive? And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Became the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are living, and they have brought forth before the midwife comes unto them. And God did well to the midwives; and the people was multiplied and became very numerous. And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that He made them houses. "And the king of Egypt said to the midwives of the Hebrew women," signifies influx from the separated memory-knowledges into the natural, where the true memory-knowledges of the church are; "of whom the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah," signifies the quality and state of the natural where memory-knowledges are; "and he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools," signifies a discernment of the truth and good flowing in from the internal into memory-knowledges; "if it be a son, then ye shall kill him," signifies if it is truth, that they should destroy it in any way they could; "and if it be a daughter, then she shall live," signifies that they should not do so if it is good; "and the midwives feared God," signifies that true memory-knowledges were guarded because by the Divine; "and did not as the king of Egypt spake to them," signifies that it was not done as they who were in falsities intended; "and they kept the boys alive," signifies that truths being of good were preserved; "and the king of Egypt called the midwives," signifies that they who were in falsities conspired against those who were in true memory-knowledges in the natural; "and said unto them, Wherefore do ye this word, and keep the boys alive?" signifies anger because truths were not destroyed; "and the midwives said unto Pharaoh," signifies a discernment of these true memory-knowledges in the natural; "Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women," signifies that the memory-knowledges of the church are not like the memory-knowledges opposed to them; "for they are living," signifies that spiritual life is in them; "and they have brought forth before the midwife comes unto them," signifies that the natural has no knowledge before they have life; "and God did well to the midwives," signifies that the natural was blessed by the Divine; "and the people was multiplied and became very numerous," signifies that truths therein were brought forth continually, and so increased; "and it came to pass, because the midwives feared God," signifies because true memory-knowledges were guarded by the Divine; "that He made them houses," signifies that they were disposed into the heavenly form.

AC 6673. And the king of Egypt said to the midwives of the Hebrew women. That this signifies influx from the separated memory-knowledges into the natural where the true memory-knowledges of the church are, is evident from the signification of "saying," as being influx (n. 5743, 6291); from the signification of the "king of Egypt," as being separated memory-knowledges which are opposed to the truths of the church (n. 6651); from the signification of "midwives," as being the natural (n. 4588, 4921); and from the signification of the "Hebrews," as being the things of the church (n. 5136, 5236); thus also true memory-knowledges which are of the church. That midwives" denote the natural, is because the natural receives that which flows in from the internal, and thus as it were acts as a midwife.

AC 6674. Of whom the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah. That this signifies the quality and state of the natural where memory-knowledges are, is evident from the signification of "name," as being quality (n. 144, 145, 1896, 2009), and also state (n. 1946, 2643, 3422, 4298); for all names in the Word signify things, and comprise in sum total all things that belong to the subject that is being treated of, thus its quality and state; here therefore the names "Shiphrah and Puah" signify the quality and state of the natural where true memory-knowledges are, because this is the subject treated of, as is plain from what precedes (n. 6673).

[2] He who does not know that a name denotes the quality and state of the subject being treated of, can believe that where a name is mentioned, the name merely is meant; thus when the Lord speaks of His "name," that it is merely the name, when yet it is the quality of the worship, that is, everything of faith and charity by which He is to be worshiped, as in these passages:--

here the "name" is not meant, but worship from faith and charity.

here also by "name" is meant faith and charity, whereby the Lord is worshiped.

where the sense is the same.

[3] Again:--

Here it is not meant that they should ask the Father in the Lord‘s name, but that they should ask the Lord Himself; for there is no way open to the Divine Good which is the "Father" (n. 3704), except through the Lord’s Divine Human, as is also known in the churches; and therefore to ask the Lord Himself is to ask according to the truths of faith, and whatever is asked in accordance with these truths is granted, as the Lord Himself says in the previous passage from John:--

This can be seen further from the fact that the Lord is the "name" of Jehovah, of which thus in Moses:--

[4] In John:--

From these passages it is plain that the Lord as to the Divine Human is the "name" of Jehovah, or His whole quality; hence all Divine worship is from the Divine Human, and it is this which is to be worshiped; for thus is worshiped the Divine Itself, to which no thought reaches in any other way, and if no thought, no conjunction.

[5] That the "name" of the Lord is everything of faith and love by which the Lord is to be worshiped, is still more plain from the following passages:--

"names written in heaven" are not names, but the quality of their faith and charity.

[6] So it is with "names written in the book of life," in the following passages:--

[7] In Moses:--

Also in (Isa. 18:7; Jer. 7:12; Isa. 26:8, 13; 41:25; 43:7; 49:1; 50:10; 52:5; 62:2; Jer. 23:27; 26:16; Ezek. 20:14, 44; 36:21-23; Micah 5:4; Mal. 1:11; Deut. 10:8; Rev. 2:17; 3:12; 13:8; 14:11; 15:2; 17:8; 19:12, 13, 16; 22:3, 4).

[8] That the "name of Jehovah" denotes everything by which He is worshiped, thus in the supreme sense everything that proceeds from the Lord, is evident from the benediction:--

From all this it is now clear what is meant by this commandment of the Decalogue:--

also by Hallowed be Thy name, in the Lord‘s prayer (Matt. 6:9).

AC 6675. And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools. That this signifies a discernment of the truth and good flowing in from the internal into the memory-knowledges of the church, is evident from the signification of "doing the office of a midwife," as being reception of the good and truth flowing in from the internal into the natural, for the natural is a "midwife" in so far as it receives the influx (n. 4588, 6673); from the signification of "the Hebrew women," as being things of the church (n. 5136, 5236); from the signification of "seeing," as being to discern (n. 2150, 3764, 4567, 4723, 5400); and from the signification of "stools," as being those things in the natural which receive the goods and truths flowing in from the internal, thus true memory-knowledges, for these receive. Hence it is evident that by "When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women and see them upon the stools," is signified a discernment of the truth and good flowing in from the internal into the memory-knowledges of the church which are in the natural.

AC 6676. If it be a son, then ye shall kill him. That this signifies, if it is truth, that they should destroy it in any way they could, is evident from the signification of "son," as being truth (n. 489, 491, 533, 1147, 2623, 3373); and from the signification of "killing," as being to destroy, for it is said of truth. But they were to destroy "in any way they could," for the evil are not able to destroy truths with the good.

AC 6677. And if it be a daughter, then she shall live. That this signifies that they should not do so if it is good, is evident from the signification of "daughter," as being good (n. 489-491, 2362); and from the signification of "living," as being not to be destroyed. The reason why the king of Egypt said that a son should be slain, but not a daughter, is plain from the internal sense, which is that they would attempt to destroy truth, but not good; for when the infernals infest, they are allowed to attack truths, but not goods. The reason is that truths are what can be assaulted, but not goods, these being protected by the Lord; and when the infernals attempt to attack goods, they are cast down deep into hell, for they cannot withstand the presence of good, because in all good the Lord is present. Hence it is that the angels, being in good, have such power over infernal spirits that one angel can master thousands of them. Be it known that there is life in good, for good is of love, and love is the life of man. If evil, which is of the love of self and of the world, and which appears good to those who are in these loves, assaults the good which is of heavenly love, the life of the one fights against the life of the other; and as the life from the good of heavenly love is from the Divine, therefore if the life from the love of self and of the world comes into collision with the former life, it begins to be extinguished, for it is suffocated. Thus they are tortured like those who are in the death agony, and therefore they cast themselves headlong into hell, where they again recover their life (n. 3938, 4225, 4226, 5057, 5058). This also is the reason why good cannot be assaulted by evil genii and spirits; and thus that they dare not destroy good. It is otherwise with truth, which has not life in itself; but from good, that is, through good from the Lord.

AC 6678. And the midwives feared God. That this signifies that true memory-knowledges were guarded because by the Divine, is evident from the signification of "fearing God," as being to guard what the Divine has commanded (for they who fear God guard or keep the commandments, but as all holy fear, and hence obedience and the guarding of the commandments, are from the Divine, and not at all from man, therefore by "they feared God" is signified that they were guarded by the Divine); and from the signification of midwives," as being the natural where true memory-knowledges are (n. 4588, 6673, 6675).

AC 6679. And did not as the king of Egypt spake to them. That this signifies that it was not done as those who were in falsities intended, is evident from the signification of "they did not do as he spake," as being that it was not done as they intended, namely, that those who were in falsities were not able to destroy the truths which are signified by "sons," but that they intended to destroy them in every way they could (n. 6676); and from the signification of "the king of Egypt," as being separated memory-knowledge which is opposed to the truth of the church (n. 6651), thus falsity, for this memory-knowledge is falsity.

AC 6680. And they kept the boys alive. That this signifies that truths, being of good, were preserved, is evident from the signification of "keeping alive," as being to preserve; and from the signification of "sons," here called "boys," as being truths (n. 6676). Sons are here called "boys" because by "boys" is signified the good of innocence (n. 430, 2782, 5236); and therefore "boys" here denote truths which are of good.

AC 6681. And the king of Egypt called the midwives. That this signifies that they who were in falsities conspired against those who were in true memory-knowledges in the natural, is evident from the signification of "calling," as here being to conspire, for the reason of the call was to destroy truths, but the plot was made futile because the truths were guarded by the Divine, which is signified by the "midwives fearing God" (n. 6678), (moreover the evil in the other life, who infest the good, really conspire together, as I have been given to know from experience); from the signification of "the king of Egypt," as being those who are in falsities (n. 6679); and from the signification of "midwives," as being the natural wherein are true memory-knowledges (n. 4588, 6673, 6675, 6678). Hence it is evident that by "the king of Egypt called the midwives" is signified that they who were in falsities conspired against those who were in true memory-knowledges in the natural.

AC 6682. And said unto them, Wherefore do ye this word, and keep the boys alive? That this signifies anger because truths were not destroyed, is evident from the signification of "Wherefore do ye this word?" as being words of chiding, thus of anger; from the signification of "keeping alive," as being not to destroy (n. 6677, 6680); and from the signification of "boys," as being truths which are of good (n. 6680).

AC 6683. And the midwives said unto Pharaoh. That this signifies a discernment of these true memory-knowledges in the natural, is evident from the signification of saying," in the historic parts of the Word, as being a noticing or perception, of which often above; from the signification of "midwives," as being true memory-knowledges in the natural (n. 6681); and from the representation of Pharaoh, as being false memory-knowledges in general (n. 6679, 6681).

AC 6684. Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women. That this signifies that the memory-knowledges of the church are not like the memory-knowledges opposed to them, is evident from the signification of "the Hebrew women," as being things of the church (n. 5136, 5236, 6673, 6675); and from the signification of "the Egyptian women," as being such things as are opposed to the things of the church, which are memory-knowledges, as is plain from what goes before; also from the signification of "Egypt," as being memory-knowledges (n. 6638), here memory-knowledges opposed to the true memory-knowledges of the church. "Women" denote things of the church, (n. 252, 253).

AC 6685. For they are living. That this signifies that spiritual life is in them, is evident from the signification of "living," as being spiritual life (n. 5890), here spiritual life in the things of the church, which are signified by "Hebrew women." What spiritual life is, has been repeatedly told above, but because few at this day know what the spiritual is, it may here be briefly explained further. The spiritual in its first origin is the Divine truth proceeding from the Lord’s Divine Human; which truth has in it Divine good, because the Divine truth comes forth from the Lord‘s Divine Human, which is Divine good. The Divine truth, in which is Divine good, is the spiritual itself in its origin, and is the life itself which fills heaven, nay, which fills the universe; and where there is a subject, there it flows in. But in its subjects it is varied according to their form. In the subjects which agree with good, it presents spiritual life; but in the subjects which disagree with good, it presents life opposed to spiritual life, which in the Word is called "death." From this it is now plain what spiritual life is, namely, that it is to be in truths from good, which proceed from the Lord.

AC 6686. And they have brought forth before the midwife comes unto them. That this signifies that the natural has no knowledge before they have life, that is, the true memory-knowledges which are of the church, is evident from the signification of "midwife," as being the natural in which are the true memory-knowledges of the church (n. 6681); and from the signification of "bringing forth," as being what is of faith and charity (n. 3860, 3868, 3905, 3915); thus what is of spiritual life. That the natural has no knowledge, is signified by "before the midwife comes unto them." In regard to the natural having no knowledge before the true memory-knowledges have life, the case is this. The true memory-knowledges in the natural have all their life from the good which flows in through the internal; when good flows in, the natural knows nothing of it, because the natural is relatively in obscurity. That it is in obscurity is because it is in the light of the world, and hence at the same time in worldly things, into which there comes obscure perception when the light of heaven flows in; and also because in the natural there are general things which are not capable of perceiving singulars, for the more general anything is, the less it perceives singulars, and hence the less it perceives the happenings that come forth in itself; and moreover in the natural there are not goods and truths themselves, but their representatives. Hence then it is that the natural does not know when true memory-knowledges have life, consequently when or how regeneration goes on, according to the Lord’s words in John:--

By "the natural" is meant the external man, which is also called "the natural man."

AC 6687. And God did well to the midwives. That this signifies that the natural was blessed by the Divine, is evident from the signification of "doing well," when said of God, as being to bless; and from the signification of "midwives," as being the natural where true memory-knowledges are (n. 4588, 6673, 6675, 6678).

AC 6688. And the people was multiplied, and became very numerous. That this signifies that truths were brought forth therein continually, and thus increased, is evident from what was said above (n. 6648), where are like words. "People" is predicated of truths, (n. 1259, 1260, 3295, 3581).

AC 6689. And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God. That this signifies because true memory-knowledges were guarded by the Divine, is evident from what was said above (n. 6678), where like words occur.

AC 6690. That He made them houses. That this signifies that they, namely, the true memory-knowledges in the natural, were disposed into the heavenly form, is evident from the signification of "house," as being the natural mind (n. 4973, 5023), thus the things of this mind, which here, because midwives are spoken of, are true memory-knowledges in the natural (n. 6687); therefore "to make houses for them" denotes to dispose them into order, and they are disposed into order when they are disposed into the heavenly form. That such is the signification of "making them houses" cannot easily be known, unless it is known how the case is with the true memory-knowledges of the natural mind; wherefore this shall be briefly told. The memory-knowledges in the natural have been disposed into continuous series; one series coheres with another, and in this way they all cohere together according to various affinities and propinquities; and are circumstanced not unlike families and their generations, for one is born from another, and so they become productive. Hence the things of the mind, which are goods and truths, were by the ancients called "houses," the good reigning therein being named "father," and the truth joined to this good, "mother," and the derivations "sons," "daughters," "sons-in-law," "daughters-in-law,"‘ and so forth. But the disposition of true memory-knowledges in the natural varies with every man; for the ruling love induces a form on them, this love being in the midst, and setting in order everything around it. Those things which most agree with it, it sets next to itself, and everything else in order in accordance with their agreement. From this the memory-knowledges have their form. If heavenly love rules, then all things are disposed there by the Lord into the heavenly form, which form is like that of heaven, thus is the form of the good of love itself. Into this form truths are disposed, which, when so disposed, make one with good; and then when the one is called forth by the Lord, the other is called forth; that is to say, when the things of faith are called forth, so are those of charity, and the converse. Such is the disposition that is signified by "God made houses for the midwives."

Author:  E. Swedenborg (1688-1772).

Design:  I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002.

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