For something to “fail” in the Bible shows, according to Swedenborg, a state in which we do not have enough desire to be good or enough understanding of what is true to attain a higher spiritual state – and possibly not enough to overcome false thoughts and the desire for evil at all. In essence, it is a state of being spiritually “stuck,” unable to move forward and with the possibility of sliding backward. “Abate” is similar but in a somewhat opposite sense, usually referring to the lessening of evil and falsity at the end of a state of temptation.
Passages from Swedenborg
Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 857
857. That ‘the waters were going down and abating’ means that falsities started to be dispersed is clear from the actual words themselves and from what has been stated just above, at verse 3, where it is said that ‘the waters receded, going back and forth’, whereas in this verse it is said that ‘the waters were going down and abating’. The latter as well as the former means fluctuations between truth and falsity, though the present statement means that those fluctuations were becoming less pronounced.
Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 5969
5969. ‘And his heart failed, for he did not believe them’ means a lack of natural life and consequent lack of understanding. This is clear from the meaning of ‘his heart failed’ as a lack of life, and because these words have reference to ‘Jacob’, who represents natural good, 5965, it is a lack of natural life; and from the meaning of ‘not believing’ as a lack of understanding.
Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 6122
6122. ‘If the silver is lacking’ means if truth could no longer be seen by them. This is clear from the meaning of ‘the silver lacking’ as a lack of truth, thus that truth is no longer to be seen, dealt with above in 6116, 6119. Truth is said not to be seen because in a state of desolation truth seems to have fled. But it is in fact present, for all truth and good that the Lord ever grants man, spirit, or angel remains. None is ever taken away from them, but in a state of desolation they become so obscured by the person’s selfhood that they cannot be seen. Once a state of light returns however, they are made present and to be seen. This shows what is meant by truth’s inability to be seen.
Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 8395
The lack of bread and flesh, which the children of Israel grumbled about, means a lack of good. Comfort after temptation is meant and described by the manna they received, and by the selav, the manna being spiritual good. The Lord constantly conferred this good on them, and without any care and aid on their part, which is meant by their receiving the manna every day and by the breeding of worms in it if they gathered too much.