9553.“花”表关于真理的记忆知识。这从“花”的含义清楚可知，“花”是指关于真理的记忆知识。“花”之所以具有这种含义，是因为花是先长出来的，并以自己的方式产生果实和种子；因为树和植物结果之前先开花，这是众所周知的。存在于一个人里面的聪明和智慧也是这种情形。关于真理的记忆知识首先到来，以自己的方式产生与人同在的智慧事物；因为这些知识为他的理性心智提升了思想的对象，从而提供了获得智慧的手段。正因如此，关于真理的记忆知识就像花；而生活的良善，也就是智慧的良善，就像果。由于在灵界，一切事物都类似于诸如存在于人里面的那类事物，因为天堂类似一个完整的人，并与人的每一个方面都具有一种对应关系，故自然界中的一切事物，照着它们与诸如存在于人里面的那类事物的相似性或一致性而具有一种对应关系，一个代表和一个灵义（参看9496节）。由此可见为何“花”表示关于真理的记忆知识，以及总体上的真理；又为何“果实”，以及“种子”表示良善。
“花”表示关于真理的记忆知识，以及总体上的真理，这一点从下列经文明显看出来：
他们的根必像朽物，他们的花必像灰尘飞腾；因为他们厌弃万军之耶和华的律法，藐视以色列圣者的言语。（以赛亚书5:24）
以赛亚书：
雅各必使将要到来的人扎根。以色列要发芽开花，地面必充满果实。（以赛亚书27:6）
同一先知书：
祸哉！以法莲的酒徒，他那荣光美丽、行将凋残之花。（以赛亚书28:1）
“酒徒”表示那些出于虚假进行推理的人（参看1072节）；“以法莲”表示教会的理解力，在此被败坏的理解力（5354，6222，6234，6238，6267节）；“荣光”表示神的真理（4809，5922，8267，8427，9429节）；由此明显可知“花”表示记忆知识，真理通过它们产生。又：
草必枯干，花必凋残；百姓诚然是草。惟有我们神的话必永远立定！（以赛亚书40:7，8）
那鸿书：
黎巴嫩的花也衰残了。（那鸿书1:4）
此处“花”也表示作为获得智慧的一种手段的记忆知识。
但以理书：
尼布甲尼撒在梦中观看，见地中间有一棵树，极其高大。叶子华美，花朵甚多。田野的走兽卧在那树的荫下，天空的飞鸟宿在枝上；凡有血气的都从这树得食。圣者从天上大声呼喊说，伐倒这树！砍下枝子，摇掉叶子，抛散花朵。使田野的走兽逃离树下，飞鸟躲开树枝。（但以理书4:10，12-14）
“树”和它的“高大”表示“巴比伦”所表示的宗教表象，就是一种外在神圣、内在亵渎的宗教信仰的增长（1182，1283，1295，1304-1308，1321，1322，1326节）；“叶子”表示总体上的记忆真理（885节）；“花朵”是指当用来通向智慧，在此用来导致疯狂时的真理的记忆知识，因为经上说要“抛散花朵”；“田野的走兽”表示那些处于对良善的情感之人；在反面意义上表示那些处于对邪恶的情感之人（45，46，142，143，246，714，715，719，776，1823，2179，2180，3218，3519，5198，7523，9090，9280节）；而“天空的飞鸟”是指那些处于对真理的情感之人，在反面意义上是指那些处于对虚假的情感之人（3219，5149，7441节）。这就为何经上说“田野的走兽卧在那树的荫下”、“天空的飞鸟宿在枝上”、“凡有血气的都得食”；后来“田野的走兽逃离树下，飞鸟躲开树枝”。
Potts(1905-1910) 9553
9553. And its flowers. That this signifies the memory- knowledges of truth, is evident from the signification of "flowers," as being the memory-knowledges of truth. "Flowers" have this signification, because flowers are growths which precede, and in their manner produce, the fruits and seeds; for, as is known, trees and plants blossom before they bear fruit. The case is the same with man in respect to intelligence and wisdom. The memory-knowledges of truth precede, and in their manner produce with man, the things of wisdom; for they serve as objects to his rational, and thus as means for growing wise. It is for this reason that the memory-knowledges of truth are as flowers; and the good of life, which is the good of wisdom, is as fruit. As all things in the spiritual world bear relation to such things as are in man, for the reason that heaven bears relation to a man, and corresponds to each and all things with man, therefore also all things in the natural world have a correspondence, a representation, and a signification in accordance with their agreement with such things as are in man (see n. 9496). From this it can now be seen why "flowers" signify the memory-knowledges of truth, and in general truths; and why "fruits," and likewise "seeds," signify goods. [2] That "flowers" denote the memory-knowledges of truth, and in general truths, is evident from the following passages:
Their root shall be as rottenness, and their flower as dust; because they have rejected the law of Jehovah Zebaoth, and despised the discourse of the Holy One of Israel (Isa. 5:24). Jacob shall cause those to come to take root; Israel shall blossom and flower; so that the faces of the world shall be filled with produce (Isa. 27:6). Woe to the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of his glory and comeliness (Isa. 28:1). "Drunkards" denote those who reason from falsities (see n. 1072); "Ephraim" denotes the intellectual of the church, here perverted (n. 5354, 6222, 6234, 6238, 6267); "glory," truth Divine (n. 4809, 5922, 8267, 8427, 9429); from which it is plain that a "flower" denotes the memory-knowledge through which is truth. Again:
The grass is withered, the flower faded, the people is grass; but the word of our God abideth forever (Isa. 40:7, 8). The flower of Lebanon languisheth (Nah. 1:4);
where also "the flower" denotes memory-knowledges as means for growing wise. [3] In Daniel:
Nebuchadnezzar saw in a dream, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, the height thereof great, the leaf thereof beautiful, and the flower thereof much; the beast of the field had shade under it, and the birds of heaven dwelt in the branches thereof, and all flesh was fed. But the Holy One from heaven, crying aloud, said, Hew down the tree, cut off his branches, shake off his leaf, scatter his flower; let the beast of the field flee from under it, and the birds from its branches (Dan. 4:10, 12-14). By "the tree" and "the height thereof" is signified the increase of the religiosity signified by "Babel," which is holy in externals, but profane in internals (n. 1182, 1283, 1295, 1304-1308, 1321, 1322, 1326); "the leaf" denotes memory-truth in general (n. 885); "the flower," the memory-knowledge of truth insofar as it serves as a means for growing wise, but here insofar as it serves as a means for growing insane, because it is said that "the flower shall be scattered;" "the beast of the field" denotes those who are in affections of good; and in the opposite sense, those who are in affections of evil (n. 45, 46, 142, 143, 246, 714, 715, 719, 776, 1823, 2179, 2180, 3218, 3519, 5198, 7523, 9090, 9280); but "the birds of heaven" denotes those who are in affections of truth, and in the opposite sense those who are in affections of falsity (n. 3219, 5149, 7441); therefore it is said that "under the shade of that tree dwelt the beast of the field," and that "in its branches dwelt the birds of heaven," and that "all flesh was fed;" and afterward that "the beast of the field should flee from under it, and the birds from its branches."
Elliott(1983-1999) 9553
9553. 'And its flowers' means factual knowledge of truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'flowers' as factual knowledge of truth. Such knowledge is meant by 'flowers' because flowers are stages of growth which come before and in their own way lead on to fruit and seeds; for trees and young plants come into flower before they bear fruit, as is well known. The situation is similar with the intelligence and wisdom present in a person. Factual knowledge of truth comes first and in its own way leads on to the insights that constitute wisdom with the person; for that knowledge provides his rational mind with objects of thought and so the means to attain wisdom. This is why factual knowledge of truth is like the flowers, and goodness of life, which is the good of wisdom, is like the fruit. Since all realities in the spiritual world bear resemblance to such things as exist with a human being, for the reason that heaven resembles one complete human being and has a correspondence with every single aspect of the human being, therefore also all things in the natural world, according to their similarity to such things as exist with a human being, have a correspondence, a representation, and carry a spiritual meaning, 9496. From all this it now becomes clear why it is that factual knowledge of truth, and truths in general, are meant by 'flowers', and forms of good by 'the fruit' and also 'seeds'.
[2] The fact that factual knowledge of truth, and truths in general, are meant by 'flowers' is clear from the following places: In Isaiah,
Their root will be like rottenness, and their flower [will rise] like dust, because they have rejected the law of Jehovah Zebaoth, and spurned the word of the Holy One of Israel. Isa 5:24.
In the same prophet,
Those who are to come Jacob will cause to take root. Israel will blossom and flower, so that the face of the earth (orbis) may be filled with produce. Isa 27:6.
In the same prophet,
Woe to the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the falling flower of glorya and of his beauty! Isa 28:1.
'The drunkards' stands for those whose reasoning is based on falsities, 1072; 'Ephraim' stands for the Church's understanding, in this instance when it has been perverted, 5354, 6222, 6234, 6238, 6267; and 'glory' stands for God's truth, 4809, 5922, 8267, 8427, 9429, from which it is evident that 'the flower' means factual knowledge through which truth comes forth. In the same prophet,
The grass withers, the flower falls; the people are grass. But the Word of our God remains forever. Isa 40:6-8.
In Nahum,
The flower of Lebanon languishes. Nahum 1:4.
Here also 'the flower' stands for factual knowledge serving as a means to the attainment of wisdom.
[3] In Daniel,
Nebuchadnezzar saw in a dream. Behold, a tree in the midst of the earth; its height was great, its leaf beautiful, and its flower much. Under it the beast of the field had shade, and in its branches dwelt the birds of the air; and all flesh was fed [from it]. But the Holy One from heaven crying out said, Hew down the tree, cut off its branches, get rid of its leaves, scatter its blossom. Let the beast of the field flee [from] under it, and the birds from its branches. Dan 4:10-14.
'The tree' and 'its height' means the increase in the semblance of religion which is meant by 'Babel', a kind of religion that is holy outwardly but unholy inwardly, 1182, 1283, 1295, 1304, 1306-1308, 1321, 1322, 1326. 'Leaf' stands for factual knowledge of truth in general, 885, 'blossom' for factual knowledge of truth when it serves to lead to wisdom, but at this point when it serves to lead to stupidity since it says that they were to be scattered. 'The beast of the field' means those with affections for good, and in the contrary sense those with affections for evil, 45, 46, 142, 143, 246, 714, 715, 719, 776, 1823, 2179, 2180, 3218, 3519, 5198, 7523, 9090, 9280; but 'the birds of the air' are those with affections for truth, and in the contrary sense those with affections for falsity, 3219, 5149, 7441. This is why it says that the beast of the field dwelt under the shade of that tree, the birds of the air dwelt in its branches, and all flesh was fed [from it], and then that the beast of the field should flee [from] under it and the birds from its branches.
Latin(1748-1756) 9553
9553. `Et flores ejus': quod significet scientifica veri, constat ex significatione `florum' quod sint scientifica veri; quod `flores' illa significent, est quia flores sunt progerminationes, quae praecedunt et suo modo producunt fructus ac semina; nam quod arbores et plantae efflorescant antequam fructum ferunt, notum est; similiter se habet {1}cum homine quoad intelligentiam et sapientiam {2}; scientifica veri praecedunt, et suo modo producunt illa quae sunt sapientiae apud hominem; inserviunt enim rationali ejus pro objectis et sic pro mediis sapiendi; inde est quod scientifica veri sint sicut flores, et bonum vitae, quod est bonum sapientiae, sicut fructus; quoniam omnia quae in spirituali mundo sunt se referunt ad talia quae apud hominem, ex causa quia caelum refert unum hominem, et correspondet omnibus et singulis quae apud hominem, ideo quoque omnia quae in naturali mundo sunt, secundum convenientiam cum {3}talibus quae apud hominem, correspondent, repraesentant, et significant, n. 9496; inde nunc constare potest unde est quod flores significent scientifica veri, et in genere vera, ac fructus {4}ut et semina, bona. Quod `flores' sint scientifica veri, et in genere vera, constat a 2 sequentibus his locis: apud Esaiam, Radix eorum sicut tabes erit, et flos eorum sicut pulvis, quia renuerunt legem Jehovae zebaoth; et sermonem Sancti Israelis spreverunt, v 24:apud eundem, Venturos radicabit Jacobus, efflorescet et florebit Israel; ita ut impleantur facies orbis proventu, xxvii 6:
apud eundem, Vae ebriis Ephraimi, et flori decidentis gloriae et decoris ejus xxviii 1;
`ebrii' pro illis qui ratiocinantur ex falsis, n. 1072, `Ephraimus' pro intellectuali Ecclesiae, hic perverso, n. 5354, 6222, 6234, 6238, 6267, `gloria' pro vero {5} Divino, n. 4809, 5922, 8267, 8427, 9429; inde patet {6}quod `flos' sit scientificum per quod verum: apud eundem, Exaruit gramen, decidit flos; gramen est populus; sed Verbum Dei nostri manet in aeternum, xl 6-8:
apud Nahum, Flos Libani, languescit, i 4;
ibi etiam `flos' pro scientificis {7} ut mediis sapiendi: 3 apud Danielem, In somnio vidit Nebuchadnezar, ecce arbor in medio terrae, altitudo ejus magna, folium ejus pulchrum, et flos ejus multus; sub illa umbram habebat bestia agri, et in ramis ejus habitabant aves caeli, et alebatur omnis caro. Sed Sanctus de caelo clamans dixit, Excidite arborem, amputate ramos ejus, discutite folium ejus, dispergite florem ejus; fugiat bestia agri sub ea, et aves e ramis ejus, iv 7-11 [A.V. 10-14];
per `arborem et ejus altitudinem' significatur increscentia religiosi, quod significatur per Babel; {8}religiosum illud est sanctum in externis, {9}at profanum in internis, n. 1182, 1283, {x)1295, (x)1304, 1306-1308, 1321, 1322, 1326, `folium' pro scientifico {10}veri in genere, n. 885, `flos' pro scientifico {11}veri quatenus inservit pro medio sapiendi; ibi {12}autem quatenus inservit pro medio insaniendi, nam dicitur quod dispergerentur; `bestia agri' sunt qui in affectionibus boni, et in opposito sensu qui in affectionibus mali, n. 45, 46, 142, 143, 246, 714, 715, 719, 776, 1823, 2179, 2180, 3218, 3519, 5198, 7523, 9090, 9280, `aves' autem `caeli' sunt qui in affectionibus veri, et in opposito sensu qui in affectionibus falsi, n. 3219, 5149, 7441; ideo dicitur quod sub umbra arboris illius habitaret bestia agri, et in ramis ejus habitarent aves caeli, et aleretur omnis caro, et dein quod fugeret bestia agri sub ea, et aves e ramis ejus. @1 in$ @2 i ejus$ @3 illis$ @4 ac$ @5 i a$ @6 quod flos decidentes gloriae, sit initiamentum veri, ita scientificum$ @7 i veri$ @8 quod est sanctitas$ @9 et$ @10 vero altered to veri A, vero IT$@$ @11 vero altered to veri$ @12 vero$