{"id":11865,"date":"2016-05-04T21:55:19","date_gmt":"2016-05-05T01:55:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordstudy.newchurch.org\/?page_id=11865"},"modified":"2016-05-04T21:55:19","modified_gmt":"2016-05-05T01:55:19","slug":"reach-stretch-out","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/societies.newchurch.org\/wordstudy\/bible-keywords\/reach-stretch-out\/","title":{"rendered":"Reach, Stretch Out"},"content":{"rendered":"

Swedenborg<\/a> says the hand in the Bible<\/a> represents power \u2013 which is easy to understand \u2013 so to reach out or stretch out the hand means to exercise power, to put it to work. This is an image that\u2019s used a great deal in the stories of Moses, who repeated stretched out his hand (or his rod, which represents a more external<\/a> kind of power) to bring plagues on Egypt and perform other miracles.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is a correspondence that makes sense, since we reach out constantly to use our hands to do our work. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Passages from Swedenborg<\/strong><\/p>\n

Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 7385<\/b><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. ‘And Aaron\u00a0stretched\u00a0out\u00a0his hand over the waters of Egypt’ means the effect of the power of inward truth directed through outward truth against falsities. This is clear from the representation of ‘Aaron’ as teachings presenting what is true and good, thus outward truth, dealt with in 6998, 7009, 7089; from the meaning of ‘hand’ as power, dealt with in 878, 4931-4937, at this point the power of inward truth directed through outward truth, as above in 7382; and from the meaning of ‘the waters of Egypt’ as falsities, dealt with in 6693, 7307, the effect being meant by the fact that he did\u00a0stretch\u00a0out\u00a0his hand and the frogs rose up. From all this it is evident that ‘Aaronstretched\u00a0out\u00a0his hand over the waters of Egypt’ means the effect of the power of inward truth directed through outward truth against falsities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 7417<\/b><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. ‘Stretch\u00a0out\u00a0your rod’ means commanding him to demonstrate the Divine power. This is clear from the meaning of ‘stretching\u00a0out’ as exercising and demonstrating, as previously; and from the meaning of ‘the rod’ as power, dealt with in 4017, 4015, 4876, 4936, 6947, 7011, 7026. This power was Divine, because Aaron had no power at all; still less did the rod contain any. Rather Aaron and his rod were the instruments by means of which power was exercised. It was exercised by means of a rod because, within the Church, what the Divine commanded to be done was accomplished through representatives. (This was before the Lord’s Coming.) So it was that the\u00a0stretching\u00a0out\u00a0of hand and rod accomplished what was commanded, for arm and hand correspond to power, and so too consequently does a rod.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 7568<\/b><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. ‘Stretch\u00a0out\u00a0your hand towards heaven’ means attention drawn to heaven, which would then come nearer. This is clear from the meaning of ‘stretching\u00a0out\u00a0the hand’ as drawing attention to something, for an outstretched hand is used to draw attention to something and point it\u00a0out; and from the meaning of ‘heaven’ as the angelic heaven. And since, when a person’s attention is drawn to heaven and it is pointed\u00a0out\u00a0to him, he also turns his gaze and thought in that direction, its coming nearer is also meant; for in the spiritual world things are brought nearer by focusing thought on them.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

         <\/p>\n

        Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 7673<\/b><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. ‘Stretch\u00a0out\u00a0your hand’ means an exercising of power. This is clear from the meaning of ‘stretching\u00a0out’ as that which is connected with the exercising of control, dealt with below; and from the meaning of ‘hand’ as power, dealt with in 878, 3387, 4931-4937, 5327, 5328, 5544, 6292, 6947, 7011, 7188, 7189, 7518. The reason why ‘stretching\u00a0out\u00a0the hand’ means the exercising of power is that there is power in the hand or arm when it is\u00a0stretched\u00a0out. When therefore Jehovah is said to\u00a0stretch\u00a0out\u00a0His hand or arm, boundless or infinite power in action is meant. This explains why Jehovah told Moses on so many occasions, when miracles were to be performed, to\u00a0stretch\u00a0out\u00a0his hand or his rod; for example,<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>Stretch\u00a0out\u00a0your hand over the waters of Egypt, and they will be blood. Exod. 7:19.<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>Stretch\u00a0out\u00a0your hand over the rivers, and cause frogs to rise up. Exod. 8:1, 2.*<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0Stretch\u00a0out\u00a0your rod and strike the dust of the land, and it will then be lice. Exod. 8:11, 12.**<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0Stretch\u00a0out\u00a0your hand towards heaven, and there will be hail. Exod. 9:22, 23.<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0Such words would never have been used but for the meaning of ‘stretching\u00a0out\u00a0the hand’ in the highest sense as Jehovah’s almighty power.<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>[2] The same thing is meant by Joshua’s being told to\u00a0stretchout\u00a0his javelin, described in his book as follows,<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0Jehovah said to Joshua,\u00a0Stretch\u00a0out\u00a0the javelin that is in your hand towards Ai. When therefore Joshua\u00a0stretched\u00a0outthe javelin that was in his hand towards Ai, the ambush rose up quickly\u00a0out\u00a0of their place and ran, as soon as he\u00a0stretchedout\u00a0his hand, and came to the city and took it. Joshua did not withdraw his hand which he had\u00a0stretched\u00a0out\u00a0together with the javelin until all the inhabitants of Ai had been utterly destroyed. Josh. 8:18, 19, 26.<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0Being representative of God’s almighty power, this too, like all other representative actions when they were commanded in those times, had force.<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>[3] There are a number of other places in which almighty power is described when it says that Jehovah ‘stretches\u00a0outHis hand’, or else His ‘outstretched hand’ or His ‘outstretched arm’ is spoken of. It is described by Jehovah\u00a0stretching\u00a0outHis hand in Isaiah,<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0The anger [of Jehovah] has been roused against His people, and He has\u00a0stretched\u00a0out\u00a0His hand over them and struck them, and the mountains were shaken. Isa. 5:25.<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0In Ezekiel,<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0I will\u00a0stretch\u00a0out\u00a0My hand against him and destroy him. Ezek. 14:9, 13.<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0In the same prophet,<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0I will\u00a0stretch\u00a0out\u00a0My hand against you, and give you as plunder to the nations. Ezek. 25:7.<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0I will\u00a0stretch\u00a0out\u00a0My hand over Edom, and cut off from it man and beast. I will\u00a0stretch\u00a0out\u00a0My hand over the philistines, and cut off . . . Ezek. 15:17, 16.<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0Other places like these are Ezek. 35:3; Isa. 31:3; Zeph. 1:4; 2:13. The use of ‘outstretched hand’ to describe almighty power occurs in Isaiah,<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0Jehovah’s outstretched hand is over all the nations; who will turn it back? Isa. 14:26, 27.<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0In Jeremiah,<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0I will fight with you with an outstretched hand and a strong arm, and in anger and in fury. Jer. 21:5.<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0In Isaiah,<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0Still His hand is outstretched. Isa. 9:11, 17; 10:4.<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0The use of ‘outstretched arm’ occurs in Jeremiah,<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0I have made the earth, man, and beast by My great strength and by My outstretched arm. Jer. 27:5.<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0In the same prophet,<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0You have made heaven and earth by Your great power and Your outstretched arm; there is no matter*** that is too impossible for You. Jer. 32:17.<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0Here it is self-evident that ‘outstretched arm’ means almighty power. The same applies to many other places in which the expression ‘by a strong hand and an outstretched arm’ is used, such as Deut. 4:34; 5:15; 7:19; 9:29; 11:2; 26:8; 1 Kings 8:42; 2 Kings 17:36; Jer. 32:21; Ezek. 10:33, 34.<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>[4] There are places too in which Jehovah is said to ‘stretchout\u00a0the heavens’, and in these places also ‘stretching\u00a0out’ means almighty power; that is to say, He expands the limits of heaven and fills those who are there with life and wisdom, as in Isaiah,<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0Jehovah is He who\u00a0stretches\u00a0out\u00a0the heavens like a thin veil, and spreads them\u00a0out\u00a0like a tent to dwell in. Isa. 40:22.<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0In the same prophet,<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0Jehovah is He who\u00a0stretches\u00a0out\u00a0the heavens, spreads\u00a0outthe earth, gives breath**** to His people upon it, and spirit to those who walk on it. Isa. 42:5.<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0In Jeremiah,<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0. . . He who makes the earth by His power, prepares the world by His wisdom, and\u00a0stretches\u00a0out\u00a0the heavens by His intelligence. Jer. 51:15.<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0In Zechariah,<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0Jehovah is He who\u00a0stretches\u00a0out\u00a0the heavens, and founds the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him. Zech. 12:1.<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0There are still more places besides these, such as Isa. 44:24; 45:12; Ps. 104:2.<\/span>
          \n<\/span>
          \n<\/span>\u00a0From all this one may now see why Moses was commanded to\u00a0stretch\u00a0out\u00a0his hand and rod, that miracles were performed when he did so, and that ‘stretching\u00a0out\u00a0the hand’ for that reason means the exercising of power, and in the highest sense almighty power.<\/span>
          \n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 8305<\/b><\/p>\n

            \n
          1. ‘You\u00a0stretched\u00a0out\u00a0Your right hand’ means that the exercising of power over all things became apparent from this. This is clear from the meaning of ‘stretching\u00a0out’ as that which is connected with the exercising of power, and – when said of Jehovah – as that which is connected with almighty power, dealt with in 7673; and from the meaning of ‘right hand’ as Divine power, dealt with above in 8281. The fact that it became apparent from this is meant, that is to say, the exercising of power over all things became so, is clear from the words immediately following – ‘the earth swallowed them’ – which mean that as a result simply of the Lord’s presence damnation or hell befell them.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

             <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            Swedenborg says the hand in the Bible represents power \u2013 which is easy to understand \u2013 so to reach out or stretch out the hand means to exercise power, to put it to work. This is an image that\u2019s used a great deal in the stories of Moses, who repeated stretched out his hand (or […]<\/p>\n

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