Spiritual Meaning of Sit

Spiritual Meaning of

Sit

Sitting signifies remaining in a state; for movements from place to place signify changes of state of the interiors, as can be seen from what has been already shown (AC 2837, 3356, 3387, 4321, 4882, 5605, 7381). Consequently sitting signifies a permanent abiding in the state of the interiors. Because sitting has such a signification, therefore to sit was one of the rituals received among the sons of Israel when they represented a permanent state of the interiors; as in the book of Judges:--

The sons of Israel came unto Bethel, and wept, and sat there before Jehovah, and fasted that day until the evening (Judges 20:26).

The people came to Bethel, and sat there till even before God, and lifted up their voice, and wept with a great weeping (Judges 21:2).

Here by sitting is signified permanence in a state of grief.

[3] From this it can be seen why sitting is spoken of, and what it infolds in the following passages:--

Jehovah, Thou hast known my downsitting and mine uprising; Thou hast understood my thought afar off (Ps. 139:2).

Thou shalt not go into the house of feasting to sit with them (Jer. 16:8).

Then he shall stand and shall feed in the strength of Jehovah his God; and they shall sit (Micah 5:4).

Come down, and sit on the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the earth. Sit thou in silence, and enter Into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans; she saith in her heart, I shall not sit a widow (Isa. 47:1, 5, 8).

In like manner in other passages: as sitting in darkness (Isa. 42:7); sitting in the assembly, and sitting alone (Jer. 15:17); sitting on the right hand and on the left (Matt. 20:21), denoting to remain in a state of power over others; and sitting on the right hand of the power of God (Matt. 26:63, 64; Mark 14:62; 16:19), speaking of the Lord, and denoting that the Divine omnipotence shall endure forever.

from AC 9422

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Author: E. Swedenborg (1688-1772).

Design: I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002.