620. Verse 4. These are they who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins, signifies that they had not adulterated the truths of the church, and defiled them with the falsities of faith, but that they had loved truths because they are truths. That "a woman" signifies the church from the affection of truth, and thence, in the opposite sense, the church from the affection of falsity, may be seen above (n. 434, 533), here the church from the affection of truth, because it is said "not defiled with women"; by "to be defiled with women," the same is signified as by to commit adultery and whoredom. That "to commit adultery and whoredom" signifies to adulterate and falsify the Word, may also be seen above (n. 134). "For they are virgins," signifies because they have loved truths because they are truths, thus from spiritual affection; the reason why these are meant by "virgins," is because "a virgin" signifies the church as a bride, who desires to be conjoined with the Lord, and to become a wife; and the church which desires to be conjoined with the Lord, loves truths because they are truths, for by truths, when one lives according to them, conjunction is effected. Hence it is that Israel, Zion, and Jerusalem, in the Word, are called "virgins" and "daughters"; for by "Israel," "Zion," and "Jerusalem," is signified the church.
[2] That all they who are such in the Lord's church, whether they be virgins or young men, wives or husbands, boys or old men, girls or old women, are meant by "virgins," may appear from the Word, where virgins are mentioned, as "the virgin Israel" (Jer. 18:13; 31:4, 21; Amos 5:2; Joel 1:8). "The virgin daughter of Judah" (Lam. 1:15). "The virgin daughter of Zion" (2 Kings 19:21; Isa. 37:22; Lam. 1:4; 2:13). "The virgins of Jerusalem" (Lam. 2:10). "The virgin of My people" (Jer. 14:17). Therefore the Lord likened the church to "ten virgins" (Matt. 25:1, and following verses). And it is said in Jeremiah:
I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin Israel, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that play (Jer. 31:4, 13).
And in David:
They have seen Thy goings, O God, even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary; among them were the virgins playing with timbrels (Ps. 68:24-25).
Kings' daughters were among Thy precious ones, at Thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir; hear, O daughter, and see; so shall the King greatly desire thy beauty; and the daughter of Tyre shall bring a gift, the rich among the people shall entreat thy favor; the king's daughter is all precious within; her clothing is of woven gold, she shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework; the virgins her companions that follow her shall enter into the king's palace (Ps. 45:9-15).
By "the king" in this passage is meant the Lord, by "the queen," the church as a wife, by "daughters" and "virgins," the affections of good and truth.
[3] Similar affections are signified by "virgins" in other parts of the Word, where mention is made at the same time of "young men," because "young men" signify truths, and "virgins" the affections thereof; as in the following passages:
Behold, the days come, in which I will send a famine in the land, not a famine for bread, nor a thirst for water, but for hearing the words of Jehovah; in that day shall the beautiful virgins and the young men faint for thirst (Amos 8:11, 13).
Be thou ashamed, O Zidon; for the sea hath said, I travail not, nor bring forth, neither do I nourish young men, nor bring up virgins (Isa. 23:4).
The Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as a wine-press; behold my sorrow, the virgins and the young men have gone into captivity (Lam. 1:4, 15, 18).
How great is His goodness and how great is His beauty; corn shall make the young men grow up, and new wine, the virgins (Zech. 9:17).
And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof (Zech. 8:5).
The virgins of Jerusalem sit on the earth; to what shall I liken thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? My virgins and young men lie in the streets (Lam. 2:10, 13, 21; besides other passages, as Jer. 51:20-23; Lam. 5:10-12; Ezek. 9:4, 6; Ps. 78:62-64; Deut. 32:25).