Intellectual things – ideas, knowledge, facts, even insight and understanding – are more separate and free-standing than emotional things, and it’s easier to imagine numbering them as individual things. Our loves and affections tend to be more amorphous, harder to define or describe – they can certainly be powerful, but would be harder to measure.
Using words like “much,” “many,” myriad” and “multitude” to describe a collection of things gives the sense that there is an exact number, even if we don’t know what it is and don’t want to bother trying to count. These words, then, are used in the Bible in reference to intellectual things – our thoughts, knowledge and concepts. Words that indicate largeness without the idea of number – “great” is a common one – generally refer to loves, affections and the desire for good.
Here’s one way to think about this: Say you want to take some food to a friend who just had a baby. That’s a desire for good (assuming you’re doing it from genuinely good motives). To actually do it, though, takes dozens of thoughts, ideas, facts and knowledges. What does she like to eat? What do you have to cook? What do you cook well? Can you keep it hot getting to her house? Is it nutritious? Does she have any allergies? So one good desire can bring a multitude of ideas into play.
Passages from Swedenborg
Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 1941
- ‘And it will not be numbered for multitude’ means being multiplied immeasurably. This is clear without explanation. By these words is meant the truth which in this manner will increase immeasurably from good.
Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 3186
- ‘Our sister, may you become thousands of myriads’ means infinite fruitfulness of the affection for truth. This is clear from the meaning of ‘sister’, who is Rebekah, as the affection for truth, dealt with in 3077, 3179, 3182, and from the meaning of ‘may you become thousands of myriads’ as infinite fruitfulness. Here ‘thousands of myriads’ means that which is infinite because the subject is the Lord in whom every single thing is infinite. With man the situation is that goods are not fruitful with him and truths are not multiplied until truth and good have become joined together in his rational, that is, until he has been regenerated. For at that point fruits or offspring from the rightful or heavenly marriage, which is the marriage of good and truth, come into being. Prior to this the goods which he puts into practice, it is true, look like goods, and truths like truths; but these are not genuine, since the soul which is good that has innocence from the Lord within it is not present in them. Thus they do not stir any affection in him nor do they bring him happiness. The affection that accompanies love and charity, together with happiness, is the soul, and that affection is imparted by the Lord to a person when being regenerated.
[2] ‘A thousand’ meaning much, also that which is infinite – see 2575 – ‘a myriad’ means that which is even more, and ‘thousands of myriads’ that which is even more again, as also elsewhere. In Moses,
When the Ark came to rest he said, Return, O Jehovah, to the myriads of the thousands of Israel. Num. 10:36.
Here also ‘the myriads of thousands’ means that which is infinite because it has reference to the Lord, who is Jehovah here. In the same author,
Jehovah dawned from Seir upon them, He shone from Mount Paran, and came out of myriads of holiness. Deut. 33:2.
‘Myriads’ again stands for that which is infinite. In David,
The chariots of God are myriads of thousands of peacemakers. Ps. 68:17.
‘The chariots of God’ stands for things which belong to the Word and to doctrine drawn from it, ‘myriads of thousands’ for infinite things present there. In John,
I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, numbering myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands. Rev. 5:11.
This stands for the fact that they were countless.
Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 6172
- ‘And were fruitful, and multiplied exceedingly’ means resulting forms of the good of charity and resulting truths of faith. This is clear from the meaning of ‘being fruitful’ as bringing forth forms of the good of charity, and from the meaning of ‘multiplying’ as bringing forth truths of faith, dealt with in 43, 55, 913, 983, 2846, 2847. For the expression ‘to be fruitful’ is derived from the word ‘fruits’, by which the works of charity are meant in the internal sense, while the expression ‘to be multiplied’ is derived from the word ‘multitude’, which in the internal sense is used to refer to the truths of faith, since ‘much’ (multum) refers in the Word to truths, but ‘great’ to forms of good.
Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 6285
- ‘And may they increase into a multitude in the midst of the earth’ means an extension from the inmost part. This is clear from the meaning of ‘the midst’ as the inmost part, dealt with in 1940, 2973, 6068, 6084, 6103. Consequently an increase into a multitude means an extension; for truths, meant by ‘a multitude’, extend from the inmost part as the centre to parts round about it. For the further they extend from it, and the more they do so in conformity with heavenly order, the greater is their state of perfection. That state is what is meant by this part of the blessing – ‘that they may increase into a multitude in the midst of the earth’.
Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 6654
- ‘Behold, the people of the children of Israel are many and numerous, more than ourselves’ means that the Church’s truths are prevailing over alienated factual knowledge. This is clear from the representation of ‘the children of Israel’ as the Church’s truths and forms of good, dealt with above in 6647; from the meaning of ‘many and numerous’ as prevailing, for ‘multiplying’, or becoming many, and ‘numerous’ are used in reference to truth, see also above, in 6648; and from the representation of the king of Egypt and his people, whom one should understand here by ‘more than ourselves’, as alienated factual knowledge, as above in 6652. From all this it is evident that ‘Behold, the people of [the children of] Israel are many and numerous, more than ourselves’ means that truths are prevailing over alienated factual knowledge.
Apocalypse Revealed (Coulson) n. 287
- ‘And the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands’ signifies all in truths and in goods. By ‘number’ in the natural sense is understood that which relates to measure or weight, but by ‘number’ in the spiritual sense is understood that which relates to quality; and here their quality is described by [the statement] that there were ‘myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands’, for ‘a myriad’ is predicated of truths, and ‘a thousand’ of goods. ‘Myriad’ is predicated of truths and ‘thousand’ of goods, because a myriad is the greater and a thousand is the lesser, and truths are manifold but goods are simple; also because in the Word where it treats of truths it also treats of goods, on account of the marriage of truth and good in the details of the Word. In the absence of this, ‘myriads of myriads’ only would have been said. Because those two numbers signify such things they are therefore also mentioned elsewhere, as in these places:-
The chariots of God are two myriads, thousands of angels of peace, the Lord in them, Sinai in the sanctuary Ps. lxviii 17 [H.B. 18].
I saw when the Ancient of days did sit, thousands of thousands were
ministering unto Him, and myriads of myriads were standing before Him Dan. vii 9, 10.
Moses [said] of Joseph:-
His horns the horns of a unicorn, with them he shall carry the peoples
together to the borders of the land, and they the myriads of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh Deut. xxxiii 17.
Thou shalt not be afraid for thyself on account of the pestilence that creeps in thick darkness, nor of the death that wastes at midday, a thousand shall fall at thy side, and a myriad at thy right hand Ps. xci 5-7.
Our flocks thousands, myriads in our streets Ps. cxliv 13.
Is Jehovah delighted with thousands of rams, with myriads of rivers of oil? Micah vi 7.
When the ark was resting, Moses said:-
Return, O Jehovah, the myriads of the thousands of Israel Num. x 36.
In all these places the ‘myriads’ are said of truths, and the ‘thousands’ of goods.
Apocalypse Explained (Tansley) n. 336
- And the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands. That this signifies that those are innumerable who are in truths, and innumerable those who are in goods, is clear from the signification of number, as denoting quantity and quality, quantity in the natural sense, and quality in the spiritual sense, the suitable number determining them; but still by all numbers in the Word is signified something of the thing treated of, as by two, three, four, five, seven, ten, and twelve, as has been shown in their proper places. It is the same thing with myriad and thousand, which are here mentioned. The number seven, for example, does not signify seven, but all things, full, and whole (see above, n. 257). But what myriads and thousands signify, shall now be explained. Myriads signify things innumerable; similarly thousands; but myriads are predicated of truths, and thousands of goods; hence it is that by myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, are signified that those are innumerable who are in truths, and innumerable those who are in goods.
[2] Those who are in the lower heavens, concerning whom these things are said, belong, to those who are in the higher heavens, treated of above, like two kingdoms, namely, the spiritual kingdom, and the celestial kingdom; those who belong to the spiritual kingdom are meant by those who are in truths, but those who belong to the celestial kingdom are meant by those who are in goods; the latter being innumerable is signified by thousands of thousands, and the former being innumerable is signified by myriads of myriads; but in the abstract sense, which is the true spiritual sense, innumerable truths and innumerable goods are signified. The reason why myriads and thousands signify things innumerable, is, because ten signifies many, and thence also a hundred, a thousand, and ten thousand; for numbers multiplied by a similar number signify the same as the simple numbers by which they are multiplied (see n. 5291, 5335, 5708, 7973). But when things innumerable, which are infinitely many, are to be expressed, they are called myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands.
[3] Moreover, when two multiplied numbers, the one greater and the other less, which have a like signification, are mentioned together, as when ten and a hundred, or a hundred and a thousand, then the less is predicated of goods, and the greater of truths; the reason is, because every single good consists of several truths, for good is formed from truths, and hence good is produced by truths; it is from this fact that the greater number is predicated of truths, and the less of goods; similarly here myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands. That it is so may be illustrated by the following consideration, that one delight of affection may be presented by several ideas of thought, and expressed by various things in speech; the delight of the affection is what is called good, and the ideas of thought and various things in the speech, which proceed from that delight or good, are what are called truths. The case is similar with one thing of the will in reference to many things of its understanding, and also with one thing of love to many things which express it; this is why much and multitude in the Word are predicated of truths, and great and greatness of good, for what is great contains in itself many things. But these things are said for those who can be instructed by examples, in order that they may know whence it is that thousands equally as myriads signify things innumerable, but still that myriads are predicated of truths, and thousands of goods.
[4] That these numbers signify such things is evident from the following passages.
In Moses:
“In the first-born of his bullock he hath honour, and his horns [are] the horns of unicorns; with them he shall thrust the people together to the ends of the earth; and these are the myriads of Ephraim, and these are the thousands of Manasseh” (Deut. xxxiii. 17).
These things are said concerning Joseph, by whom, in a representative sense, is signified the Lord as to the Divine Spiritual, and as to His spiritual kingdom (see n. 3969, 3971, 4669, 6417). By his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh are signified two parts of that kingdom, namely, intellectual truth and voluntary good; by Ephraim intellectual truth, and by Manasseh voluntary good hence it is that myriads are predicated of Ephraim and thousands of Manasseh. That these are signified by Ephraim and Manasseh may be seen in the Arcana Coelestia, n. 3969, 5351, 5353, 5354, 6222, 6234, 6238, 6267, 6296. What is signified by the first-born of the bullock, and by the horns of the unicorn, may be seen above (n. 316).
[5] In David:
“The chariots of God are two myriads, thousands of angels of peace; the Lord is among them, in the holy place of Sinai” (Ps. lxviii. 17).
By the chariots of God are signified truths of doctrine, and by the angels of peace are signified the goods thereof; therefore myriads are predicated of the former, and thousands of the latter. (That chariots signify truths of doctrine, may be seen, n. 2762, 5321, 8215; and that peace signifies the inmost of good, in the work concerning Heaven and Hell, n. 284-290.) And because the Lord is called Lord from good, and Sinai signifies heaven where and whence the Divine truth is, therefore it is said the Lord is among them, in the holy place of Sinai, the holy place denoting heaven and the church where Divine truth is. (That the Lord is called Lord from Divine good, and God from Divine truth, may be seen, n. 4973, 9167, 9194; and that Sinai signifies heaven where the Lord is, from whom is Divine truth, or from whom is the law, in the strict sense, and in the broad sense, n. 8399, 8753, 8793, 8805, 9420.)
[6] In the same:
“Thou shalt not be afraid of the terror of the night; of the dart that flieth by day, of the pestilence that creepeth in darkness; of death that wasteth at noon-day. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and a myriad at thy right hand” (Ps. xci. 5-7).
These things are said concerning the falsities and evils that are not known to be falsities and evils, and that yet creep into the thought and the will, and destroy men; falsities that are known to be falsities, are meant by the dart that flieth by day, and evils that are known to be evils and yet enter, are meant by the death that wasteth at noon-day; and falsities that are not known to be falsities, are meant by the terror of the night, and evils which are not known to be evils, by the pestilence that creepeth in darkness. The destruction of these evils is signified by a thousand that shall fall at his side; and the destruction of the falsities by the myriad that shall fall at his right hand; by the side also, at which they shall fall, is signified good, and by the right hand the truth of good. The reason why a thousand is predicated of evils, and a myriad of falsities is, because falsities are opposed to truths, and evils opposed to goods; and in the Word opposites are expressed by the same words and the same numbers.
[7] In the same:
“Our garners [shall be] full, yielding from food to food; our flocks shall bring forth thousands, myriads in our streets” (Ps. cxliv. 13).
By garners and by food are signified the goods and truths of the church; for spiritual foods are the knowledges of truth and good, by which there is intelligence. Similar but interior things are signified by flocks; therefore the goods of the church are meant by thousands, and the truths thereof by myriads; and because truths are meant by myriads, therefore it is said, myriads in our streets; for by the streets of a city are signified truths of doctrine. (That food signifies both good and truth, may be seen n. 3114, 4459, 4792, 5147, 5293, 5340, 5342, 5410, 5426, 5576, 5582, 5588, 5655, 5915, 6277, 8418, 8562, 9003; hence also garners, which are the storehouses thereof. That by flocks are signified interior goods and truths, which are called spiritual, n. 1565, 2566, 3767, 3768, 3772, 3783, 3795, 5913, 6044, 6048, 8937, 10,609.)
[8] In Micah:
“Will Jehovah be pleased with thousands of rams, with myriads of rivers of oil?” (vi. 6).
Because by rams are signified spiritual goods, and by rivers of oil are signified the truths proceeding from good, therefore, myriads are predicated of the latter, and thousands of the former. (That by rams are signified spiritual goods, may be seen, n. 2830, 4170.) And because the good of love is signified by oil, therefore by the rivers thereof are signified the things proceeding from it, which are truths.
[9] In Daniel:
“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit. A stream of fire issuing and going forth from before him; a thousand of thousands ministered unto him, and a myriad of myriads stood before him” (vii. 9, 10).
The Lord’s advent is here treated of, and by the thrones that were cast down, are signified the falsities of the church, which were destroyed; by the Ancient of days is meant the Lord from eternity; by a stream of fire issuing and going forth from before Him, are signified the Divine good of love, and the Divine truth thence; by a stream of fire issuing, the Divine good of love; and by the same going forth, the Divine truth proceeding. Because each is signified, therefore it is said, a thousand of thousands ministered unto Him, and a myriad of myriads stood before Him, a thousand being predicated of Divine Good, and a myriad of Divine truth; to minister is also predicated of good (see above, n. 155); and to stand as well as to go forth is predicated of truth.
[10] In Moses:
“When the ark rested, Moses said, Return, O Jehovah, to the myriads of the thousands of Israel” (Num. x. 35, 36).
Because the ark signified the Divine Celestial proceeding from the Lord, from the law or testimony which was in it, and by Israel was signified the church as to the reception of Divine good and Divine truth, therefore it is said, “The myriads of the thousands of Israel,” by whom are signified the truths from good, which are in Israel or in the church. But what a thousand signifies when ten thousand or a myriad are not adjoined to it, will be seen in its proper article in the following pages; similarly what is signified by number.
Apocalypse Explained (Tansley) n. 337
There are two expressions that often occur in the Word, namely great and much, and great is there predicated of good, and much of truths (whence this is, see just above, n. 336); and because what proceeds from good proceeds from the heart, therefore here, by saying with a great voice is signified acknowledgment from the heart; the heart also from correspondence signifies the good of love (see the work concerning Heaven and Hell, n. 95, 447; and above, n. 167).
Apocalypse Explained (Tansley) n. 492
- And there were given unto him many incenses.- That this signifies truths in abundance, is evident from the signification of incenses, as denoting the truths of spiritual good; and from the signification of many, as denoting abundance of truths; for multitude is used in the Word in reference to truths, and magnitude to good.
Apocalypse Explained (Tansley) n. 518
[36] In Isaiah:
“Behold, the Lord will bring up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, the king of Assyria, and all his glory; and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks; and he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow” (viii. 7, [8]).
Assyria, and the king of Assyria, in the Word, signify the Rational, here the Rational perverted. Therefore his river, which was Euphrates, means reasoning, and the waters of the river mean falsities confirmed by reasonings; these therefore are signified by the waters of the river, strong and many, which are called strong from desire, and many from falsity. The abundance of falsities from evil destroying the truths of the good of the church, is signified by the waters of the river coming up over all his channels, and going over all his banks, also, by passing through Judah and overflowing. Judah signifies the church where the Word is.