764. 'Because she says in her heart, I sit a queen and am not a widow, and shall not see mourning' signifies that they have these things because, as a result of the elation of heart over dominion, and the exultation of mind (animus) over riches, they are in a trust and confidence that they are going to have the dominion perpetually, and protect their own selves, and that they can never be deprived of these things. 'To say in her heart' signifies to be in [a state of] trust as a result of the elation of heart over dominion, also to be in confidence as a result of the exultation of mind (animus) over riches. 'I sit a queen' signifies that they are going to have dominion, perpetually here, because 'I shall not see mourning' follows. 'I am not a widow' signifies that they are going to protect their own selves; by 'a widow' is signified one who is without protection because without a man. It is said 'a queen' and 'a widow' and not 'a king' and a man because Babylon as a Church is understood. 'And I shall not see mourning' signifies that they cannot ever be deprived of those two things. That in consequence they have mourning after death may be seen just above (n. 763). [2] Things almost similar are said of Babel in Isaiah:-
Thou shalt not add [that] they call thee a mistress of kingdoms; thou hast said in thy heart, I shall be mistress for ever, saying in thy heart, I and none such as I besides, I shall not sit a widow, nor shall I know bereavement. But these two things shall come unto thee in one day, bereavement and widowhood. They shall come upon thee for the multitude of thy sorceries and for the great abundance of thine enchantments. Thou hast trusted in wickedness; thou hast said, There is no one seeing me. Thy wisdom has led thee astray, when thou bait said in thy heart, I and none such as I besides; therefore devastation shall come upon thee suddenly Isa. xlvii 5, 8-11.
By 'a widow' in the Word is understood one who is without protection, for in the spiritual sense by 'a widow' is signified one who is in good and not in truth, for by 'a man' is signified truth and by his 'wife' good. Consequently by 'a widow' is signified good without truth, and good without truth is without protection, for truth protects good. This is signified by 'a widow' where mentioned in the Word, as Isa. ix 14, 15, 17 [H.B. 13, 14, 16]; x 1, 2; Jer. xxii 3; xlix 10, 11; Lam. v 2, 3; Ezek. xxii 6, 7; Mal. iii 5; Ps. lxviii 5 [H.B. 6]; cxlvi 7-9; Exod. xxii 21-24 [H.B. 20-23]; Deut. x 18; xxvii 19; Matt. xxiii 14; Luke iv 24 [-26]; xx 47.