Spiritual Meaning of Sore, Pustules

Spiritual Meaning of

Sore, Pustules

The signification of a sore, is the filthy things that come from evils; and the signification of pustules, is the blasphemies which are thence derived. The sores in a man's body correspond to the filthy things that come from evils, and pustules correspond to blasphemies; and they would also be upon every evil man, if so long as he is in the world he were not in a state capable of receiving the good and truth of faith. It is for the sake of this state that the Lord prevents such things from bursting forth from evils.

[2] That sores signify filthy things together with blasphemies, is plain also in these passages:

The first angel poured out his vial upon the earth, and it became an evil and noisome sore upon the men who had the mark of the beast; the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the throne of the beast, and they blasphemed the God of heaven, by reason of their pains, and by reason of their sores (Rev. 16:2, 10, 11).

Jehovah shall smite thee with the sore of Egypt, and with the hemorrhoids, and with the scab, and with the itch, so that thou canst not be healed; whereby thou wilt become mad from the look of thine eyes wherewith thou wilt look. Jehovah shall smite thee with an evil sore upon the knees and upon the thighs, whereof thou canst not be healed. Jehovah shall lead thee away, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which thou hast not known (Deut. 28:27, 34-36);

the sore of Egypt denotes filthy things together with blasphemies; and because blasphemies also are signified, it is said thou wilt become mad from the look of thine eyes, for he who blasphemes God is insane.

[3] The kinds of sores are hemorrhoids, scab, and the itch, which signify so many kinds of falsities from evils; and nearly the same is signified by the sores upon the knees and thighs; and because they signify falsities, it immediately follows that the king which they shall set over them should be led away; for by king is signified truth, and in the opposite sense falsity (AC 1672, 2015, 2069, 3009, 4581, 4966, 5044, 6148). The sores of leprosy, as the swelling, the abscess, the pimple, the burning, the scurf, the scall, which are mentioned in Lev. 13 also denote such things; for leprosy, in the spiritual sense, denotes the profanation of truth (AC 6963).

[4] That wounds also signify such things, is evident from these passages:--

From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wound, and bruise, and recent blow; they have not been squeezed out, nor bound lip, nor softened with oil (Isa. 1:6).

Mine iniquities are gone over my head, my wounds have stunk and have been corrupt because of my foolishness (Ps. 38:4, 5).

from AC 7524

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Author: E. Swedenborg (1688-1772).

Design: I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002.