211.这就是为何在圣言中，“三”的属灵之义表完整和完美，也表综合在一起的整体。数字三的这层含义解释了为何在圣言中，每当提及这类事物时，经上就用三这个数字。例如以下经文：以赛亚被吩咐露身赤脚行走三年（以赛亚书20:3）。耶和华三次呼唤撒母耳，撒母耳三次跑向以利，第三次以利才明白过来（撒母耳记上3:1－8）。约拿单让大卫藏在田野三天，后来约拿单向磐石旁边射了三箭，于是大卫在约拿单面前拜了三拜（撒母耳记上20:5；12－42）。以利亚三次伏在寡妇的儿子身上（列王纪上17:21）。以利亚在燔祭上倒了三次水（列王纪上18:34）。耶稣说，天国好像面酵，有妇人拿来，藏在三斗面里，直到全团都发起来（马太福音13:33）。耶稣告诉彼得，他会三次不认祂（马太福音26:34）。耶稣三次对彼得说，你爱我吗？（约翰福音21:15－17）。约拿在大鱼腹中三天三夜（约拿书1:17）。耶稣说，祂能拆毁神的殿，三日内又建造起来（马太福音26:61）。耶稣在客西马尼祷告了三次（马太福音26:39－44）。耶稣在第三天复活（马太福音28:1）。此外还有许多其它地方提到“三”这个数字；凡提及三的地方，所论述的都是结束和完满的作为，因为这就是这个数字的含义。
211. 正因如此, "三"在聖言中的屬靈含義為"完全與圓滿", 也表示"同時包含各方面"。因為數字三有這些喻義, 因此聖言中需要表示這層意思時, 它就發揮此用。例如, 以賽亞赤身裸腳三年(以賽亞書20:3)。耶和華呼喚撒母耳三次, 撒母耳三次跑向以利, 以利第三次才明白過來(撒母耳記上3:1-8)。約拿單告訴大衛, 讓大衛藏在田野三天。約拿單三次射箭到石頭旁邊。後來大衛在約拿單面前拜三次(撒母耳記上20:5; 12-42)。以利亞俯在寡婦之子身上三次(列王記上17:21)。以利亞讓人澆水在祭物上三次(列王記上18:34)。耶穌說, 天國就像婦人將面酵藏在三鬥面中, 直到全團發酵(馬太福音13:33)。耶穌說彼得會三次不認祂(馬太福音26:34)。耶穌三次問彼得:"你愛我嗎？"(約翰福音21:15-17)。約拿在魚腹裡三天三夜(約拿書1:17)。耶穌說, 他們摧毀的聖殿, 祂三天能重新建立(馬太福音26:61)。耶穌在客西馬尼園三次禱告(馬太福音26:39-44)。耶穌在第三天復活(馬太福音28:1)。還有其它許多地方提到"三"這個數字, 每一處都是描述某個完成的或圓滿的工作, 因為這個數字的意義在此。
211. As a result of this, three in the Word has the spiritual meaning "being complete and perfect" and also "containing all aspects at once. " Since the number three has these meanings, it comes into play in the Word whenever these qualities need to be designated. For example, Isaiah went around naked and barefoot for three years (Isaiah 20:3). Jehovah called Samuel three times, and three times Samuel ran to Eli. The third time, Eli understood (1 Samuel 3:1-8). Jonathan told David to hide himself in the field for three days. Jonathan shot three arrows to the side of a stone. Then David bowed down three times before Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:5, 12-42). Elijah stretched out on the widows son three times (1 Kings 17:21). Elijah ordered people to pour water over the sacrifice three times (1 Kings 18:34). Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of meal until the whole amount was leavened (Matthew 13:33). Jesus said to Peter that Peter would deny him three times (Matthew 26:34). Jesus said to Peter three times, "Do you love me?" (John 21:15-17). Jonah was in the belly of the sea monster for three days and three nights (Jonah 1:17). Jesus said that he would demolish the temple, and rebuild it in three days (Matthew 26:61). In Gethsemane Jesus prayed three times (Matthew 26:39-44). Jesus rose on the third day (Matthew 28:1). There are many other passages as well where threes are mentioned. They are mentioned when the topic is a work that is finished and completed, since such is the meaning of that number.
211. That is why three in the Word means in the spiritual sense complete and perfect, as well as the whole taken together. This meaning of the number three explains why it is used so many times in the Word, whenever anything of this sort is mentioned; for instance, in the following passages. Isaiah was told to go naked and barefoot for three years (Isaiah 20:3). Jehovah called Samuel three times, and Samuel three times ran to Eli, and the third time Eli understood (1 Samuel 3:1-8). Jonathan told David to hide in the country for three days; Jonathan later shot three arrows beside the stone, and David then bowed down three times before Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:5, 12-42). Elijah measured his length three times upon the widow's son (1 Kings 17:21). Elijah ordered them to pour water on the burnt-offering three times (1 Kings 18:34). Jesus said that the kingdom of the heavens is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until the whole should be leavened (Matthew 13:33). Jesus said to Peter that he would deny Him three times (Matthew 26:34). Jesus said three times to Peter, Do you love me? (John 21:15-17). Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights (Jonah 1:17). Jesus said that they would destroy the Temple and He would rebuild it in three days ([John 2:19]; Matthew 26:61). In Gethsemane Jesus prayed three times (Matthew 26:39-44). Jesus rose again on the third day (Matthew 28:1). There are many other passages where the number three is mentioned, in each case where a finished and perfect work is described, because this is the meaning of that number.
211. This is why the number three in the Word means in the spiritual sense what is complete and perfect, also the whole together; and this being the signification of that number, it is used in the Word whenever any such thing is designated as in the following instances:
That Isaiah went naked and barefoot three years (Isaiah 20:3).
That Jehovah called Samuel three times, and Samuel three times ran to Eli, and the third time Eli understood (1 Samuel 3:1-8).
That Jonathan told David to hide himself in the field three days, and Jonathan afterwards shot three arrows on the side of the stone, and thereupon David bowed himself three times before Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:5, 12-42).
That Elijah stretched himself upon the widow's son three times (1 Kings 17:21).
That Elijah commanded them to pour water upon the burnt offering three times (1 Kings 18:34).
That Jesus said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened (Matthew 13:33).
That Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times (Matthew 26:34).
That three times Jesus said to Peter, Lovest thou Me? (John 21:15-17).
That Jonah was in the whale's belly three days and three nights (Jonah 1:17).
That Jesus said that He would destroy the temple and would rebuild it in three days (John 2:19; Matthew 26:61).
That Jesus prayed in Gethsemane three times (Matthew 26:39-44). That Jesus rose on the third day (Matthew 28:1)
besides many other passages where the number three is mentioned; and it is mentioned where a finished and perfect work is treated of, because this is what that number signifies.
211. For this reason, by three in the Word, in its spiritual sense, is understood what is complete and perfect, and thus all inclusive; and because this is the signification of that number, it is used in the Word when such a meaning is intended, as in the following passages.
Isaiah "walked naked and barefoot three years" Isaiah 20:3.
Jehovah called Samuel three times, and Samuel ran three times to Eli, and Eli understood the third time. 1 Samuel 3:1-8.
Jonathan told David to hide himself in the field three days. Jonathan then shot three arrows at the side of the stone, and finally David bowed himself three times before Jonathan. 1 Samuel 20:12-42.
Elijah stretched himself three times on the widow's son. 1 Kings 17:21.
Elijah commanded to pour water on the burnt offering three times. 1 Kings 18:34.
Jesus said "The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened" Matthew 13:33.
Jesus said to Peter that he would deny Him thrice. Matthew 26:34.
Jesus said three times to Peter, "Lovest thou Me?" John 21:15-17.
Jonah was in the whale's belly three days and three nights, Jonah 1:17.
Jesus said that He would destroy the Temple, and that He Himself would rebuild it in three days. 1 Matthew 26:61.
Jesus prayed three times in Gethsemane. Matthew 26:39-44.
Jesus rose again on the third day. Matthew 28:1.
There are many other passages where the number three is mentioned; and it is used where a work finished and perfect is treated of because this is the meaning of that number.
Footnotes:
1. Quod Jesus dixerit, quod Templum dissolveret, et Ipse illud per Tres Dies reaedificaret. Matthew 26:31 (A.V. 61). Note that in this reference this is the testimony of the false witnesses.
211. Ex eo est, quod per TRIA in Verbo in Sensu spirituali intelligatur completum et perfectum, tum omne simul; et quia haec per illum Numerum significantur, ideo toties in Verbo adhibetur, quoties tale designatur; ut in his, Quod Esajas iret Nudus et discalceatus TRES ANNOS, Esaias 20:3. Quod Jehovah TER vocaverit Samuelem, et quod Samuel TER cucurrerit ad Eli, et quod Eli TERTIA VICE intellexerit, 1 Samuelis 3:1-8. Quod Jonathan diceret ad Davidem, quod occultaret se in agro TRIBUS DIEBUS; quod Jonathan postea ad latus lapidis jacularetur TRES SAGITTAS; et quod deinde David se incurvaret TRIBUS VICIBUS, coram Jonathane, 1 Samuelis 20:5, 12-42. Quod Elias se mensus sit super filium Viduae TRIBUS VICIBUS, 1 Regnum 17:21. Quod Elias jusserit ut funderent aquam super Holocaustum TRIBUS VICIBUS, 1 Regnum 18:34. Quod Jesus dixerit, quod Regnum Coelorum sit simile fermento, quod accipiens mulier abscondidit in TRIBUS SATIS, donec fermentaretur totum, Matthaeus 13:33. Quod Jesus dixerit ad Petrum, quod TER abnegaturus sit Ipsum, Matthaeus 26:34. Quod Jesus TER dixerit Petro, amasne Me, Johannes 21:15-16. Quod Jonas fuerit in ventre Ceti TRIBUS DIEBUS ET TRIBUS NOCTIBUS, Jonas 2:1. 1 Quod Jesus dixerit, quod Templum dissolveret, et Ipse illud per TRES DIES reaedificaret, Matthaeus 26:61. 2 Quod Jesus in Gethsemane TRIBUS VICIBUS oraverit, Matthaeus 26:39-44. Quod Jesus TERTIO DIE resurrexerit, 3 Matthaeus 28:1: praeter multis aliis in locis, ubi Tria nominantur; et nominantur, ubi agitur de Opere finito et perfecto, quia hoc per illum Numerum significatur.
Footnotes:
1. Sic Schmidt et Biblia Hebraica et De Doctrina de Scriptura Sacra 29, sed 1:17 apud Biblia Anglica. Prima editio: 2:2.