383. Verse 17. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, signifies that the Lord alone will teach them. By "the Lamb in the midst of the throne," is signified the Lord as to His Divine Human in the inmost, and thus in all things of heaven; "in the midst" is in the inmost, and thus in all things (n. 44); "the throne" is heaven (n. 14); and "the Lamb" is the Lord as to His Divine Human (n. 269, 291); and He who is in the inmost, and thus in all things of heaven, alone feeds, that is, teaches all. If it be asked, how He alone can feed all, be it known that it is because He is God, and because in the whole heaven He is as the soul in its body, for heaven is from Him as one man. "To feed" is to teach, because the church, in the Word, is called "a flock" and the men of the church are called "sheep" and "lambs," hence "to feed" signifies to teach, and "the shepherd" one that teaches; and this in many places, as:
In that day they shall feed the flocks in a wide meadow (Isa. 30:23).
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd (Isa. 40:11).
They shall feed in the ways* and their pastures shall be in all hillsides (Isa. 49:9).
Israel shall feed in Carmel and Bashan (Jer. 50:19).
I will seek my flock, I will feed them in a good pasture, and in a fat pasture upon the mountains of Israel (Ezek. 34:12-14).
Feed thy people, let them feed in Bashan and Gilead (Micah. 7:14).
The remnant of Israel shall feed, and they shall rest (Zeph. 3:13).
Jehovah is my Shepherd, I shall not want, He maketh me to lie down in the pastures of herb (Ps. 23:1-2).
The Lord hath chosen David to feed Jacob and Israel, and he fed them (Ps. 78:70-72).
Jesus said to Peter, Feed My lambs, the second and third time He said, Feed My sheep (John 21:15-17).
* The original Latin has "clivis" for "viis;" the Hebrew is "ways" ("viis").