Heaven and Hell - Swedenborg Foundation

HEAVEN AND HELL 77
97. For the same reason these same members, organs, and
viscera have a like significance in the Word; for everything
there has a meaning in accordance with correspondence. Thus
the “head” signifies intelligence and wisdom; the “breast”
charity; the “loins” marriage love; the “arms and hands” power
of truth; the “feet” what is natural; the “eyes” understanding;
the “nostrils” perception; the “ears” obedience, the “kidneys”
the scrutiny of truth, and so on. 74
So, too, in the common
speech of man it is said of one who is intelligent and wise that
he has a good head; of one who is charitable that he is a bosom
friend; of one who has clear perception that he is keen scented;
of one who is intelligent that he is sharp sighted; of one who is
powerful that he is long handed; of one who exercises his will
from love that it is done from the heart. These and many other
expressions in the speech of men are from correspondence, for
they are from the spiritual world, although man is ignorant of
it.
98. That there is such a correspondence of all things of
heaven with all things of man has been made clear to me by
much experience, by so much that I am as convinced of it as of
any evident fact that admits of no doubt. But it is not necessary
to describe all this experience here; nor would it be permissible
on account of its abundance. It may be seen set forth in Arcana
Coelestia, where correspondences, representations, the influx of
74. In the Word the “breast” signifies charity (n. 3934, 10081, 10087).
The “loins” and organs of generation signify marriage love (n. 3021, 4280,
4462, 5050–5052). The “arms” and “hands” signify the power of truth (n.
878, 3091, 4931–4937, 6947, 7205, 10019).
The “feet” signify the natural (n. 2162, 3147, 3761, 3986, 4280,
4938–4952). The “eye” signifies understanding (n. 2701, 4403–4421,
4523–4534, 6923, 9051, 10569). The “nostrils” signify perception (n. 3577,
4624, 4625, 4748, 5621, 8286, 10054, 10292). The “ears” signify obedience
(n. 2542, 3869, 4523, 4653, 5017, 7216, 8361, 8990, 9311, 9397, 10061).
The “kidneys” signify the scrutiny and correction of truth (n.
5380–5386, 10032).