Spiritual Meaning of

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That the white horse is the understanding of the Word as to its interiors, or what is the same, the internal sense of the Word, is evident from the signification of a horse, as being the intellectual faculty. In the prophetic parts of the Word a horse and a rider are often named; but no one has hitherto known that a horse signifies the faculty of understanding, and a rider one who is intelligent--as in the prophecy of Jacob, then Israel, respecting Dan:--

That a serpent is one who reasons concerning Divine arcana from the senses and from memory-knowledges, may be seen above (AC 195); also that a way and a path" are truth (AC 627, 2333); and that the heel is the lowest of the natural (AC 259); a horse is the understanding of the Word; and a rider he that teaches. Hence it is manifest what these prophetic words signify, namely, that one who reasons concerning the truths of faith from the senses and from memory-knowledges, sticks fast in the lowest things of nature only, and thus believes nothing, which is to fall backward; wherefore it is added, I wait for Thy salvation, O Jehovah.

[2] In Habakkuk:--

where horses denote the Divine truths which are in the Word; chariots, doctrine from them; the sea, knowledges (AC 28, 2120); and because these are of the understanding of the Word from God, it is said, Thou hast made Thy horses to tread in the sea. Horses are here attributed to God, as in the Apocalypse, above; to whom they cannot be attributed unless they signify such things.

[3] In David:--

to ride upon the clouds denotes the understanding of the Word as to its interiors, or in its internal sense. A cloud is the Word in the letter, in which is the internal sense (AC 2135a).

[4] In the same:--

thick darkness here denotes clouds; to ride upon a cherub represents the Lord's providence lest man should of himself enter into the mysteries of faith which are in the Word (AC 308). In Zechariah:--

the bells of the horses denote the understanding of the spiritual things of the Word, which are holy.

[5] In Jeremiah:--

the city Jerusalem denotes the Lord's spiritual kingdom and church; kings, truths (AC 1672, 2015, 2069); princes, the primary precepts of truth (AC 1482, 2089); David, the Lord (AC 1888); the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, those who are in the good of love, of charity, and of faith (AC 2268, 2451, 2712); thus to ride upon a chariot and upon horses means to be instructed in the doctrine of truth from the internal understanding of the Word.

[6] In Isaiah:--

to ride upon the high places of the earth denotes intelligence. In David:--

to ride upon the word of truth manifestly denotes the understanding of truth; and upon the word of the gentleness of righteousness, the wisdom of good.

[7] In Zechariah:--

where also the horse manifestly denotes the understanding, which would be smitten with astonishment and blindness; and the rider him that understands, who would be smitten with madness. In Hosea:--

Asshur denotes reasoning (AC 119, 1186); the horse one's own intelligence. Besides these there are many other passages.

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