Spiritual Meaning of Cities

Spiritual Meaning of

Cities

In the universal sense "cities" signify the doctrinal things of the church (AC 402, 2268, 2449, 2451, 2712, 2943, 3216, 4492, 4493); but in an individual sense they signify the interiors of man where doctrinal things are, or rather where are truths conjoined with good. That the truths and goods in man form as it were a city, may be seen above (AC 3584); and hence that man himself in whom is the church is called the "city of God." The signification of a "city" is circumstanced as is that of a "house." In the universal sense a "house" signifies good, but in the individual sense it signifies a man (AC 3128), and specifically his mind as to the good and truth conjoined in it (AC 3538, 4973, 5023); and a house with its apartments, out-buildings, and courts, is a city in the least form.

[2] The interiors of the natural mind are signified by "cities" in Isaiah:--

In that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak with the lips of Canaan, and that swear to Jehovah Zebaoth (Isa. 19:18);

and the goods and truths in the interiors are signified by the "cities" in the Lord's parable in Luke:--

He said to him that by the pound had made ten pounds, Well done thou good servant; because thou hast been faithful in a very little, be thou over ten cities. And he said to the second, who had made five pounds, Be thou also over five cities (Luke 19:12).

Here therefore by "heaping up food in the cities and guarding it," is signified that truths conjoined with good were to be stored up in the interiors of the natural mind; and when these truths and goods have been stored up there, they are called "remains," in which the veriest spiritual life of man consists, and from which he is spiritually nourished in every case of need and want, that is, in every spiritual famine.

from AC 5297

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Author: E. Swedenborg (1688-1772).

Design: I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002.