Spiritual Meaning of Cord, Rope

Spiritual Meaning of

Cord, Rope

That cord denotes that which conjoins, is because by means of it conjunction is effected; but here it signifies the method of the conjunction, because it is said that the chains of gold were to be made with cord-work. In the original tongue there is meant a cord made of twisted and entwined work, by which in the internal sense is signified conjunction such as is that of truths in memory-knowledges and among memory-knowledges, thus of those which are in the natural or external memory. The reason why such conjunction is signified, is that the subject here treated of is the conjunction of truths by means of good in the ultimates of the spiritual kingdom; for by the ephod and the breastplate, with which by means of the chains made with a work of cords there was conjunction, is signified the spiritual kingdom in ultimates (AC 9824); that what is entwined denotes memory-knowledge, (AC 2831).

[2] Moreover in the other life there appear cords of various twist and thickness, and by them are represented various methods of conjunction. It is from this that by ropes or cords in the Word also are signified things which conjoin, as in the following passages:--

Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope (Isa. 5:18);

where cords of vanity denote conjunctions of falsities through which there is iniquity or evil of life. Again:--

Look upon Zion, the city of our set feast; thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tent that shall not be scattered; the stakes thereof shall never be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be plucked out. Thy cords have been slackened; they shall not make firm their pole (Isa. 33:20, 23);

here stakes and cords denote the things which conjoin the truths and goods of heaven, for the Habitation and the Tent, of which the cords are here predicated, denote heaven (AC 9457, 9481, 9485, 9615, 9784).

[3] Again:--

Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations; forbid not, make long thy cords and make firm thy stakes (Isa. 54:2).

My tent is laid waste, and all My cords plucked out (Jer. 10:20);

here also cords denote things which conjoin and make firm; tent denotes the church, which is the heaven of the Lord. In Hosea:--

I drew them with cords of a man, with thick cords of love (Hosea 11:4);

where cords manifestly denote the things which conjoin, for love is spiritual conjunction. In Ezekiel:--

Asshur and Chilmad were thy traders in chests of garments tied with cords (Ezek. 27:23, 24);

speaking of Tyre, by which are signified the knowledges of good and truth (AC 1201); the external conjunctions of these are meant by garments tied with cords. Moreover in the Word cords also signify portions of inheritance and of land, for the reason that measurements were made with cords (Deut. 32:9; Amos 7:17; Micah 2:4, 5; Zech. 2:1; Ps. 16:6; 78:55; 105:11; 140:5)

from AC 9854

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Author: E. Swedenborg (1688-1772).

Design: I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002.