Spiritual Meaning of

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The signification of the work of the embroiderer, or of embroidery, is memory-knowledge. In many passages in the Word mention is made of what is embroidered, and of embroidery, and everywhere is thereby signified memory-knowledge. This originates in the representatives in the other life, where embroidered garments of various kinds appear, by which are signified memory-truths.

[2] Such truths differ from intellectual truths as external things differ from internal, or as in man the natural differs from the spiritual; for memory-knowledges serve the understanding as objects from which it may hatch out truths. For the understanding is the organ of sight of the internal man, and memory-knowledges are the objects of the same in the external or natural man. These latter are signified by the work of the embroiderer, but the former by the work of the thinker, for thinking belongs to the understanding, and embroidering denotes the work of one who knows and executes from the understanding. It is for this reason that those things in the Habitation which signified internal things were from the work of the thinker, as for instance the curtains themselves therein (verse 1), and the veil between the holy and the holy of holies (verse 31); but those which signified what is external were from the work of the embroiderer, as for instance the covering for the door of the Tent, and for the gate of the court (Exod. 38:18), and also the belt (Exod. 39:29); for the belt denotes the external thing which conjoins all the internal things. The court denotes the ultimate of heaven, and the door of the Tent denotes where there is an exit from the middle heaven into the ultimate one.

[3] That embroidery and what is embroidered denote the memory-knowledge that belongs to the external or natural man, is evident from the following passages in the Word. In Ezekiel:--

treating of Tyre, by which are signified those who are in the knowledges of truth and of good, and in the abstract sense these knowledges themselves (AC 1201). By fine linen in embroidery is signified memory-truth, for fine linen denotes truth from a celestial origin (AC 5319, 9469), and embroidery denotes memory-knowledge; and therefore it is said to come from Egypt, because by Egypt is signified memory-knowledge (AC 1164, 1186, 1462, 2588, 4749, 4964, 4966, 5700, 5702, 6004, 6015, 6125, 6651, 6679, 6683, 6692, 6750, 7779, 9391); and also to come from Syria and Sheba, because by Syria is signified the knowledges of truth and of good (AC 1232, 1234, 3051, 3249, 3664, 3680, 4112), and in like manner by Sheba (AC 1171, 3240). The knowledges of truth and of good are the memory-knowledges of the church. Everyone who possesses the capacity of thinking intellectually, and of taking things into consideration, can see that in the above passage is not meant embroidery, nor fine linen, nor blue, nor crimson; but that by these things are signified such as are worthy of the Word, thus spiritual things that belong to heaven and the church.

[4] In the same:--

speaking here also of Tyre; the princes of the sea denote primary memory-knowledges, which are called dogmas. That princes denote primary things, (AC 1482, 2089, 5044); and the seamemory-knowledge in general, (AC 28, 2850); mantles denote external truths; embroideries denote memory-truths, which are also external. That garments denote truths, (AC 2576, 4545, 4763, 5248, 5319, 5954, 6914, 6917, 6918, 9093, 9158, 9212, 9216).

[5] In the same:--

speaking of Jerusalem, by which is signified the church; garments of broidered work denote memory-truths; covering images with which whoredom was committed, denotes to confirm falsities, for committing whoredom denotes to pervert truths by applying them to falsities or evils. Who does not see that by fine linen, silk, and broidered work, are not here meant fine linen, silk, and embroidered work? for the subject treated of is Jerusalem. But what is meant the Christian world does not inquire, because it places the celestial and spiritual things of the Word in its literal sense, and calls its interior ones mystical things that it does not care for.

[6] In the same:--

speaking of the house of Israel, by which is signified the spiritual church, which is called an eagle from perception (AC 3901, 8764); its having embroidery denotes that it has memory-knowledge. In David:--

where the King's daughter denotes the affection of truth, broidered work denotes the memory-knowledge of truth. In the book of Judges:--

the song of Deborah and Barak, where broidered work denotes the memory-knowledge which is of the natural man.

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