In Ezekiel:—
I will make with you a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil wild animal to cease out of the land, that they may dwell confidently in the wilderness (xxxiv. 25).
In Isaiah:—
The wild animals of the field shall honor me, because I have given waters in the wilderness (xliii. 20).
In Ezekiel:—
All the fowls of the heavens made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the wild animals of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations (xxxi. 6).
This is said of the Assyrian, by whom is signified the spiritual man, and who is compared to the garden of Eden. In David:—
Glorify ye Him, all His angels, glorify Jehovah from the earth, ye whales, fruit-trees, wild animal, and every beast, creeping thing, and flying fowl (Ps. cxlviii. 2, 7, 9, 10).
Here mention is made of the same things—as "whales," the "fruit-tree," "wild animal," the "beast," "creeping thing," and "fowl," which, unless they had signified living principles in man, could never have been called upon to glorify Jehovah. [3] The Prophets carefully distinguish between "beasts" and "wild animals" "of the earth," and "beasts" and "wild animals" "of the field." Nevertheless goods in man are called "beasts," just as those who are nearest the Lord in heaven are called "animals,"[1] both in Ezekiel and in John:—
All the angels stood round about the throne, and the elders, and the four animals,[1] and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshiped the Lamb (Rev. vii. 11; xix. 4).
Those also who have the gospel preached to them are called "creatures," because they are to be created anew:—
Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark xvi. 15).
47. That these words contain arcana relating to regeneration, is evident also from its being said in the foregoing verse that the earth should bring forth "the living soul, the beast,
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 This word is here correctly translated "animals" and not "beasts," as in the authorized version, for ζῶον in Greek, and animal in Latin and English, precisely correspond to each other, and properly signify "a living creature." Ζῶον is the word used in these passages in the original, and not θὴρ or θηρίον, as would be the case if beast had been intended, [Note to former edition.]
