6422. And hate him, the archers. That this signifies with all hostility, is evident from the signification of "hatred," as being all hostility, for he who holds anyone in hatred persecutes him with all hostility so far as he is able; and from the signification of "archers," as here being they who are opposed to the men of the spiritual church; for a "shooter with a bow," or "archer," denotes the spiritual man, because a "bow" signifies the doctrinal things of the spiritual church (see n. 2686, 2709). Hence in the opposite sense a "shooter with a bow," or "archer," denotes one who as an enemy fights with the spiritual man. (That a "shooter with a bow," or "archer," denotes the spiritual man, may be seen above, n. 2686, 2709.) Hence it is plain that by the "archers hating him" is signified that they who are in falsities persecute the man of the spiritual church with all hostility.
