Spiritual Meaning of
Spiritual Meaning of |
|
Back to Words index | Back to Activity words index |
The signification of dance, is predicated of the affection of spiritual truth, and signifies its pleasantness or gladness. In ancient times gladness of heart was attested not only by musical instruments and songs, but also by dances. For joys of the heart, or interior joys, burst forth in the body into various acts, as into songs, and also into dances. And as in ancient times the gladnesses which excelled all others were spiritual gladnesses, that is, were from the affections of spiritual loves, which were those of good and truth, therefore also it was then allowed to add dances to the songs and musical harmonies, and in these ways also to testify joy. It is from this that dances are mentioned in the Word, and by them are signified gladnesses of the affections of truth or of faith, from good or charity, as in these passages:--
Anew thou shalt adorn thy timbrels, and shalt go forth into the dance of the players. Their soul shall become as a watered garden, and they shall not grieve any more at all; then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old together (Jer. 31:4, 12, 13).
The joy of our heart shall cease, our dance is turned into mourning (Lam. 5:15).
Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing (Ps. 30:11).
Let them praise His name in the dance, let them sing psalms to Him with timbrel and harp (Ps. 149:3; 150:4).
That the Gentiles also in their divine worship played and danced, is evident in (Exod. 32:6, 19).
[2] Both joy and gladness are mentioned, because in the Word joy is predicated of good, and gladness of truth, consequently it is very often said in the Word joy and gladness, both together, as in these passages:--
Behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen (Isa. 22:13).
They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sadness and sighing shall flee away (Isa. 35:10).
Joy and gladness shall be found in Zion, confession and the voice of singing (Isa. 51:3, 11).
The voice of joy and the voice of gladness, and the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride (Jer. 33:11).
The fast of the tenth month shall be to the house of Judah for joy and gladness (Zech. 8:19).
Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness (Ps. 51:8).
As in these passages joy is predicated of good, and gladness of truth, both are mentioned, otherwise one word would have sufficed. Such is the holy way of speaking that is in the Word, to the end that in every detail there may be the heavenly marriage, that is, the marriage of good and truth (AC 683, 793, 801, 2173, 2516, 2712, 4138, 5138, 5502, 7945).
from AC 8339
Back to Words index, Back to Activity words index
| Author: E. Swedenborg (1688-1772). | Design: I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002. | www.BibleMeanings.info |