Spiritual Meaning of

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 Wind of Jehovah

That the wind of the nostrils of Jehovah, or of the Lord, denotes heaven, is because by it is meant the breath of life, thus the Divine life, and as this makes the life of heaven, by the wind of the nostrils of Jehovah is signified heaven; hence also it is that the same word in the original tongue means both wind and spirit.

[2] That by the wind of Jehovah, or His breath, is signified the life that belongs to heaven, and that belongs to the man who is in heaven, that is, to one who is regenerate, is evident in these passages:--

By the Word of Jehovah were the heavens made, and all the army of them by the breath (wind) of His mouth (Ps. 33:6).

Thou gatherest their breath, they expire, and return to their dust Thou sendest forth Thy spirit (wind), they are created (Ps. 104:29, 30).

Jehovah said unto me, Will these bones live? Then said He, Prophesy upon the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus said the Lord Jehovih, Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live; and the breath came into them, and they revived (Ezek. 37:3, 9, 10).

I saw four angels standing upon the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow upon the earth, nor upon the sea, nor upon any tree (Rev. 7:1);

the wind here denotes the life of heaven, that is, Divine life, as also in Job:--

The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of Shaddai hath vivified me (Job 33:4).

[3] As wind signifies life, therefore, when the Lord teaches; about the regeneration of man, He also says:--

The spirit (or wind) bloweth where it willeth, and thou hearest the voice thereof, yet knowest not whence it cometh, or whither it goeth; so is everyone that is begotten of the spirit (John 3:8).

And because by the wind of Jehovah, or His breath, was signified life from the Divine, therefore where the new life of Adam is treated of, it is said:--

Jehovah breathed into his nostrils the breath of lives, and man became a living soul (Gen. 2:7);

it is said through the nostrils, because through them respiration is effected, and through respiration, life, as in these passages:--

Cease ye from man, in whose nose is breath (Isa. 2:22).

The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of Jehovah, was taken in their pits; of whom we had said, In his shadow we shall live among the nations (Lam. 4:20);

the anointed of Jehovah denotes the Lord; the breath of our nostrils, life from Him. In Job:--

As long as my breath (anima) is in me, and the wind of God is in my nose (Job 27:3).

[4] As, then, by the wind of the nostrils of Jehovah is signified the life which is from the Lord, and thus in the universal sense, heaven; and as by the presence of the Lord, or by the presence of heaven where the Lord is, evils and falsities are cast into hell (AC 8265) therefore also this effect is signified by the wind of the nostrils of Jehovah in these passages:--

The channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were revealed, at the rebuke of Jehovah, at the blast of the breath of His nose (Ps. 18:8, 15; 2 Sam. 22:16).

The blast of Jehovah, like a stream of sulphur, doth kindle it (Isa. 30:33).

Nay, they are not planted; nay, they are not sown; nay, their trunk is not rooted in the earth; and He even bloweth on them, and they wither, that the whirlwind may take them away like stubble (Isa. 40:24).

He sendeth His word, and melteth them; He causeth His wind to blow, the waters flow (Ps. 147:18).

Hence also it is, that by the nose, when predicated of Jehovah or the Lord, is also signified wrath, thus the punishment, vastation, and damnation of those who are in evils and falsities (Num. 25:4; Deut. 7:4; Judges 2:14; Isa. 9:21; Jer. 4:8; Hosea 14:4; Ps. 6:1; 86:15; 103:8; 145:8); and also by blowing with the nostrils, or breathing, is signified to be angry (Deut. 4:21; Isa. 12:1; Ps. 2:12; 6:1; 60:3; 79:5; 85:5).

from AC 8286

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Author:  E. Swedenborg (1688-1772). Design:  I.J. Thompson, Feb 2002. www.BibleMeanings.info