Spiritual Meaning of Tunic, Colors

Spiritual Meaning of

Tunic, Colors

Tthe signification of a tunic is the truth of the natural, of which hereafter; and the signification of various colors is the appearance of truth by which the spiritual of the natural is known and distinguished, That these are signified by various colors cannot be known by anyone unless be knows that colors appear in the other life equally as in the world- colors which in beauty and variety far surpass those in this world and unless he knows what is the source of these colors. The colors seen in the other life are from the variation of the light there, and are so to speak modifications of intelligence and wisdom; for the light which appears there is from the Divine truth that is from the Lord, or is the Divine spiritual from, Him, or what is the same, is Divine intelligence and wisdom, which appears as light before the eyes of angels and spirits. Hence it is evident what is signified by the colors from that light, namely, qualities of truth, thus its appearances, and that they appear from the affections of good and truth. Concerning the colors in the other life see (AC 1042, 1043, 1053, 1624, 3993, 4530).

[2] That a tunic is the truth of the natural was said above (AC 3301), but as it was not there shown, I may now confirm it here from other passages in the Word. As the kings in the Jewish Church represented the Lord as to the Divine spiritual, or Divine truth (AC 2015, 2069, 3009, 3670), therefore their daughters were clothed in tunics of various colors, for by daughters were signified affections of good and truth, and therefore churches (AC 2362, 3963); of whom we read in the second book of Samuel:--

There was upon Tamar, David's daughter, a tunic of various colors, for with such robes were the king's daughters that were virgins apparelled (2 Samuel 13:18).

[3] And because the high priests represented the Lord as to the Divine celestial or Divine good, Aaron was clothed in garments that represented the Divine truth which is from the Divine good of the Lord; for Divine good is in the Lord, but Divine truth proceeds from Him, and is what was represented by these garments. So also when the Lord was transfigured before Peter, James, and John, the Divine good appeared as the sun, and the Divine truth was presented as raiment which appeared as the light (Matt. 17:2).

[4] The garments in which Aaron and his sons were clothed are thus described in Moses:--

Thou shalt make for Aaron a tunic of fine linen, and a miter of fine linen, and thou shalt make a belt, the work of the embroiderer. And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make tunics, and thou shalt make for them belts, and headtires shalt thou make for them, for glory and for adornment (Exod. 28:39, 40).

Every particular here signified something pertaining to the Divine truth from the Divine good of the Lord, the tunic of fine linen specifically signifying the Divine spiritual. So also in another place:--

Thou shalt take the garments, and put upon Aaron the tunic, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and shalt clothe him with the girdle of the ephod; afterwards thou shall cause his sons to approach, and put tunics upon them (Exod. 29:5, 8; 40:14).

What these particulars signify will of the Lord's Divine mercy be shown when they come to be treated of. Garments in general are truths, (n 297, 1073, 2576, 4545).

[5] The prophets also were clothed in tunics, but in tunics of hair; because by the prophets the Lord was represented as to truths of doctrine, and because these are of the natural or external man, the prophets had tunics of hair, for hair signifies what is natural (AC 3301).

[6] That a tunic signifies Divine truth from the Lord, is still more obvious from those passages in the New Testament in which tunic is mentioned, as in John:--

The soldiers took His garments and made four parts, to every soldier a part, and also the tunic; now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top throughout They said therefore one to another, Let us not divide it, that the Scripture might he fulfilled which saith, They divided my vestments among them, and upon my tunic did they cast a lot (John 20:23, 24);

one who reads these words supposes that they involve no greater mystery than that the vestments were divided among the soldiers, and that a lot was cast upon the tunic, and yet every particular was representative and significative of something Divine, as well that the vestments were divided into four parts, as that the tunic was not divided, but upon it was cast a lot, especially that the tunic was without seam and woven from the top throughout; for by the tunic was signified the Lord's Divine truth, which as being one only and from good, was represented by the tunic being without seam and woven from the top throughout

[7] The like was signified by the tunic of Aaron, which was woven, or the work of the weaver, as is evident from Moses:--

They made the tunics of fine linen, the work of the weaver, for Aaron and for his sons (Exod. 39:27).

There was also represented that the Lord did not suffer Divine truth to be rent into parts, as was done by the Jews with the lower truths of the church.

[8] Because Divine truth which is from Divine good is one only, the twelve disciples when sent to preach the gospel of the kingdom were commanded not to have two tunics; as in Luke:--

Jesus sent the twelve disciples to preach the kingdom of God and He said unto them, Take nothing for the way, neither staves, nor bag, nor bread, nor silver; neither have two tunics apiece (Luke 9:2, 3);

and in Mark:--

He commanded them that they should take nothing for the way save a staff only, no bag, no bread, no brass in their belt; but be clad with shoes; and put not on two tunics (Mark 6:8, 9);

And in Matthew:--

Possess neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your belts, nor bag for the way, nor two tunics, nor shoes, nor staves (Matthew 10:9, 10).

[9] All the particulars herein are representative of the celestial and spiritual things of the Lord's kingdom which the disciples were sent to preach. That they were not to take with them gold, silver, brass, bag, nor bread, was because these things signified goods and truths which are from the Lord alone gold signifying good (AC 113, 1551, 1552); silver, truth therefrom (AC 1551, 2954); brass, natural good (AC 425, 1551); bread, the good of love or celestial good (AC 276, 680, 2165, 2177, 3478, 3735, 4211, 4217). But the tunic and shoe signified the truths with which they were clothed, and the staff the power of truth from good. That a staff is this power see, (AC 4013, 4015); and that a shoe is the lowest natural, (AC 1748), here as to truth. A tunic is interior natural truth, and because these things ought not to be double, but single, it was forbidden to have two staves, two pairs of shoes, or two tunics. These arcana are within this command of the Lord, and cannot possibly be known except from the internal sense.

[10] All and each of the things the Lord said were representative of Divine things, consequently of the celestial and spiritual things of His kingdom, and thus were adapted to the apprehension of men, and at the same time to the understanding of spirits and angels; wherefore those things which the Lord said, filled and continue to fill the whole heaven. From this it is evident of what use and importance it is to know the internal sense of the Word. Moreover without this sense anyone can confirm from the Word whatever dogma he pleases; and because such is the appearance of the Word to those who are in evil, they therefore deride it, and are ready to believe anything rather than that it is Divine.

from AC 4677

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Author: E. Swedenborg (1688-1772).

Design: I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002.