6357. And in their good pleasure they unstrung an ox. That this signifies that from a depraved will they utterly weakened the external good of charity, is evident from the signification of "good pleasure," as being the will, here a depraved will; from the signification of "unstringing," as being to weaken; and from the signification of an "ox," as being the natural or external good of charity (see n. 2180, 2566, 2781). The reason why an "ox" is here spoken of, and just before a "man," is that by a "man" is signified the truth of faith, and by an "ox" the good of charity; and in order that when good is treated of, truth may also be treated of, because of the heavenly marriage in everything of the Word (n. 6343).
