Spiritual Meaning of EXODUS 2:5-9
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AC 6728. Verses 5-9. And Pharaoh’s daughter came down to wash at the river; and her girls were going at the side of the river; and she saw the ark in the midst of the sedge, and sent her handmaid, and took it. And she opened it and saw him, the child; and behold the boy wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews‘ children. And his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call thee a woman a nurse from the Hebrew women, that she may suckle the child for thee? And Pharaoh‘s daughter said to her, Go. And the girl went, and called the mother of the child. And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Take this child to thee, and suckle him for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child and suckled him. "And Pharaoh‘s daughter came down," signifies the religiosity there; "to wash at the river," signifies worship from falsity; "and her girls were going at the side of the river," signifies the ministries of that religiosity that was from falsity; "and she saw the ark in the midst of the sedge," signifies a perception of truth that it was of low value among false memory-knowledge; "and she sent her handmaid," signifies service; "and took it," signifies curiosity; "and she opened it, and saw him, the child," signifies investigation of its quality, and a perception that it was truth from the Divine; "and behold the boy wept," signifies sadness; "and she had compassion on him," signifies admonition from the Divine; "and she said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children," signifies that it was of the church itself; "and his sister said to Pharaoh‘s daughter," signifies the truth of the church near the religiosity there; "Shall I go and call thee a woman a nurse from the Hebrew women?" signifies perception that good was to be insinuated therein by the church itself; "and Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go," signifies consent from the religiosity there; "and the girl went and called the mother of the child," signifies the truth of good of the church, that it adjoined the things of the church; "and Pharaoh‘s daughter said to her," signifies consent from the religiosity there; "take this child to thee," signifies that it should adjoin it to itself; "and suckle him for me," signifies that it should insinuate into it good suited to the religiosity; "and I will give thee thy wages," signifies recompense; "and the woman took the child, and suckled him," signifies that good was insinuated into it by the church.

AC 6729. And Pharaoh’s daughter came down. That this signifies the religiosity there, is evident from the signification of "daughter," as being the affection of truth and good, and hence the church (n. 2362, 3963); and in the opposite sense the affection of falsity and evil, and hence the religiosity that is from these (n. 3024); here a religiosity from false memory-knowledges, because it was the daughter of Pharaoh, for by Pharaoh is here represented false memory-knowledge (n. 6651, 6679, 6683, 6692). That by "daughters" in the Word are signified churches, can be seen from the numerous passages in which the church is called the "daughter of Zion," and the "daughter of Jerusalem;" and that by "daughters" are also signified the false religiosities of many nations, is plain also from the passages in which these are called "daughters;" as the "daughter of Tyre" (Ps. 45:12); the "daughter of Edom" (Lam. 4:22); the "daughter of the Chaldeans" and "of Babylon" (Isa. 47:1, 5; Jer. 50:41, 42; 51:33; Zech. 2:7; Ps. 137:8); the "daughter of the Philistines" (Ezek. 16:27, 57); the "daughter of Tarshish" (Isa. 23:10); the "daughter of Egypt," in Jeremiah:--

the "daughter of Egypt" denotes the affection of reasoning about the truths of faith, whether a thing be so, from memory-knowledges, when what is negative reigns; thus it denotes the religiosity which thence arises, which is of such nature that nothing but falsity is believed.

AC 6730. To wash at the river. That this signifies worship from falsity, is evident from the signification of "washing," as being purification from filth spiritually understood (n. 3147), hence it denotes worship, because worship is for the sake of purification; and from the signification of "river," in this case the river of Egypt, as being falsity (n. 6693).

AC 6731. And her girls were going at the side of the river. That this signifies the ministries of that religiosity that was from falsity, is evident from the signification of "girls," as being ministries, for when the "daughter of Pharaoh" signifies a religiosity, her "girls" signify its ministries; and from the signification of the "river," as being falsity (n. 6730). Thus the ministries of a religiosity from falsity are signified by "the girls going at the side of the river."

AC 6732. And she saw the ark in the midst of the sedge. That this signifies a perception of truth that it was of low value among false memory-knowledge, is evident from the signification of "seeing," as being a perception (n. 2150, 3764, 4567, 4723, 5400); from the signification of an "ark of rush," as being what is of low value but nevertheless derived from truth (n. 6723), thus truth which is of low value; and from the signification of "sedge," as being false memory-knowledge (n. 6726); thus "in the midst of the sedge" denotes among such memory-knowledge. How the case herein is has been unfolded above.

AC 6733. And she sent her handmaid. That this signifies service is evident without explication.

AC 6734. And took it. That this signifies curiosity, is evident from the signification of "taking it," namely, the ark, when it was perceived that there was some truth that was of low value among the memory-knowledge (n. 6732), as being curiosity, namely, to know the quality of that truth.

AC 6735. And she opened it, and saw him, the child. That this signifies investigation of its quality, and a perception that it was truth from the Divine, is evident from the signification of "to open," as being to investigate of what quality it was, for he who opens in order to see what and of what quality a thing is, investigates; and from the signification of "seeing" as being perception (n. 6732); and from the representation of Moses, who is here "the child," as being the law Divine or truth Divine, thus truth from the Divine.

AC 6736. And behold the boy wept. That this signifies sadness, is evident without explication.

AC 6737. And she had compassion on him. That this signifies admonition from the Divine, is evident from the signification of "having compassion," as being an influx of charity from the Lord; for when anyone from charity sees another in misery (as here Pharaoh‘s daughter saw the child in the ark of rush and weeping), compassion arises; and as this is from the Lord, it is an admonition. Moreover when they who are in perception feel compassion, they know that they are admonished by the Lord to give aid.

AC 6738. And she said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children. That this signifies that it was of the church itself, is evident from the signification of "the Hebrews," as being the things of the church (n. 6675, 6684); thus the "children of the Hebrews" denote those who are of the church itself. That the "Hebrews" signify the things of the church, is because when the Ancient Church ceased, the Hebrew Church, which was the second Ancient Church, began. This church retained many of the representatives and significatives of the Ancient Church, and also acknowledged Jehovah; hence it is that by the "Hebrews" is signified the church. Concerning the Hebrew Church, (n. 1238, 1241, 1343, 4516, 4517, 4874, 5136).

AC 6739. And his sister said to Pharaoh‘s daughter. That this signifies the truth of the church near the religiosity there, is evident from the signification of "sister," as being the truth of the church (n. 6727); and from the signification of "Pharaoh’s daughter," as being the religiosity there (n. 6729). Near is signified by her being at hand when Pharaoh‘s daughter opened the ark.

AC 6740. Shall I go and call thee a woman a nurse from the Hebrew women? That this signifies perception that there was to be insinuated therein good from the church itself, is evident from the signification of "a woman, a nurse," as being the insinuation of good (n. 4563), for by the milk which the nurse gently introduces is signified the good of truth, or what is the same, the celestial spiritual (n. 2184); and from the signification of "the Hebrew women," as being the things of the church (n. 6675, 6684). Its being a perception that good thence derived was to be insinuated, is signified by her saying, "Shall I go and call?" because in the internal sense the truth of good which has perception is meant; but in the sense of the letter is meant a girl who had no perception. That a "nurse" denotes the insinuation of good, is plain also in Isaiah:

"kings shall be thy nursing fathers" denotes the insinuation of truth, which is of intelligence; "queens, nursing mothers," denotes the insinuation of good, which is of wisdom.

"sons who come from far" denote truths with the Gentiles, which being far off from the truth of the church, are said to "come from far;" "daughters that are carried by nurses at the side" denote the goods which are continually being insinuated; for "daughters" are goods, and "nurses" they who insinuate.

AC 6741. And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. That this signifies consent from that religiosity, is evident from the representation of Pharaoh‘s daughter, as being a religiosity (n. 6729); that consent is meant is plain without explication.

AC 6742. And the girl went, and called the mother of the child. That this signifies the truth of good of the church, that it adjoined the things of the church, is evident from the signification of "girl," as being the truth of good of the church; from the signification of "calling," as being to adjoin, for the girl called in order to adjoin; and from the signification of "mother," as being the church (n. 289, 2691, 2717, 5581); thus also the things of the church. Mention is made in the Word of a "virgin," and also of a "girl," but the latter in the original rarely by the name used here. A "virgin" signifies the good of the celestial church, but a "girl," the truth of good, which is of the spiritual church; as in David:--

The words in these verses are all said of the truths of good, which are of the spiritual church. The term "God" is used where truth is treated of, (n. 2769, 2807, 2822, 4402); also "king" denotes truth, (n. 1672, 2015, 2069, 3009, 4575, 4581, 4966, 5044, 5068, 6148); "singers" are predicated of the truths which are of the spiritual church, (n. 418-420); and "they who play on timbrels," of spiritual good, (n. 4138). Hence it can be known that "girls" denote the truths of good, which are of the spiritual church.

AC 6743. And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her. That this signifies consent from the religiosity there, is evident; for she gave the child to the mother to suckle him. Consent from that religiosity is here signified, as above (n. 6741), where like words occur.

AC 6744. Take this child to thee. That this signifies that it should adjoin it to itself, is evident from the signification of "taking to," as being to adjoin; from the signification of "mother," who is here meant by "to thee," as being the church (n. 6742); and from the representation of Moses, who is here the "child," as being the law Divine in its origin; in the supreme sense in the Lord, when He made His Human to be the law Divine; and in the relative sense in the man who is being regenerated, when he is being initiated into truth Divine (n. 6716).

AC 6745. And suckle him for me. That this signifies that it should insinuate into it good suited to the religiosity, is evident from the signification of "suckling," as being to insinuate good and from the representation of Pharaoh‘s daughter, as being a religiosity (n. 6729); and as she said, "Suckle him for me," it signifies that it should insinuate good suited to the religiosity.

[2] That "to suckle" denotes to insinuate good is plain from the signification of a "nurse," or of one that gives suck, as being the insinuation of good (n. 6740); and also from the passages there quoted from the Word, and likewise from the following:--

a prophetic utterance of Moses about Zebulun and Issachar; "to call the peoples into the mountain, there to sacrifice sacrifices of righteousness" signifies worship from love; "to suck the affluence of the sea" signifies that they will then learn true memory-knowledge in abundance, or that it will be insinuated.

[3] "To suck," in this passage, is the same expression as "to suckle," as also in the following passages:

speaking of "Zion and Jerusalem," which denote the celestial church, "Zion" its internal, and "Jerusalem" its external; "to suck the milk of nations" denotes the insinuation of celestial good; "to suck the breasts of kings" denotes the insinuation of celestial truth. Everyone can see that in these words there lies hid a sense which does not appear in the letter, and that what lies hid in that sense is holy, because the Word is Divine; otherwise what could it mean to suck the milk of the nations, and to suck the breasts of kings? The sense which lies hid and which is holy, is not at all manifest unless it is known what is signified by "sucking," what by "milk," by "nations," by "breast," and by "kings." "Milk" denotes the spiritual of the celestial, or the truth of good, (n. 2184); also "nations" denote goods in worship, (n. 1259, 1260, 1416, 1849, 6005); "breasts" denote the affections of good and truth, (n. 6432); "kings" denote truths, (n. 1672, 2015, 2069, 3009, 4575, 4581, 4966, 5044, 5068, 6148); and "to suck" denotes the insinuation of good.

[4] From all this it can now be known what is the meaning of the above words when applied to the celestial church, which is "Zion and Jerusalem." When "Zion and Jerusalem" are mentioned together, the celestial church is signified by them, by "Zion" its internal, and by "Jerusalem" its external, as before said; but when "Jerusalem" is mentioned without "Zion," then for the most part the spiritual church is signified.

[5] In the same:--

here also "to suck" denotes the insinuation of good.

[6] In Jeremiah:--

"the daughter of my people" denotes the spiritual church, here this church vastated; that she is said not to suckle her young, when yet the whales suckle theirs, denotes that there is then no insinuation of truth; that "the tongue of the sucking child hath cleaved to the roof of his mouth with thirst" denotes such a lack of truth that all innocence perishes. The "sucking child" denotes innocence, and "thirst" the lack of truth.

AC 6746. And I will give thee thy wages. That this signifies recompense, is evident without explication.

AC 6747. And the woman took the child, and suckled him. That this signifies that good was insinuated into it by the church, is evident from the signification of "woman," as being the church (n. 252, 253); and from the signification of "to suckle," as being the insinuation of good, (n. 6745). It is the second state which is here described; the first state was a state of immission among evils and falsities (n. 6724), and this second one is a state of insinuation of the good of the church.

Author:  E. Swedenborg (1688-1772).

Design:  I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002.

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