671. Clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded about the breasts with golden girdles, signifies this from the pure and genuine truths and goods of the Word. By "linen clean and bright" is signified truth pure and genuine, as will be seen presently. By "the golden girdle about the breast" is signified the proceeding and at the same time conjoining Divine, which is the Divine good, as above (n. 46). By "being clothed and girded" is signified to appear and be presented in them; for garments signify truths clothing good (n. 166); and zones or girdles signify containing truths and goods in their order and connection (n. 46). From these things it is evident, that by "angels clothed in linen, clean and bright, and having their breasts girded about with golden girdles," are signified truths and goods pure and genuine, which because they are from no other source than the Word, signify the truths and goods of the Word.
[2] That "linen" signifies Divine truth, may appear from the following passages, as that:
Aaron had breeches of linen, when he entered into the tent, and drew near to the altar (Exod. 28:42-43).
When Aaron entered into the holy-place, he put on the linen coat of holiness, breeches of linen were upon his flesh; with a linen belt he girdled himself, and put upon himself the linen miter; these were the garments of holiness, and he put on the same garments, when he made atonement for the people (Lev. 16:4, 32).
In like manner that:
The priests, the Levites, when they entered at the gates of the inner court, put on linen garments, linen miters upon their head, and linen beeches upon their loins (Ezek. 44:17-18).
The priests wore linen ephods (1 Sam. 2:18).
Samuel, when he ministered while a boy before Jehovah, was clothed with a linen ephod (1 Sam. 2:18).
David, when the ark was transferred into his city, was girded with a linen ephod (2 Sam. 6:14).
From these things it may be evident why:
The Lord, when He washed the disciples' feet, girded Himself with a linen cloth, and wiped their feet with the linen cloth (John 13:4-5).
That angels appeared clothed with linen (Dan. 10:5; Ezek. 9:2-4, 11; 10:2-7).
Also the angels seen in the Lord's sepulcher appeared clothed with bright and shining white (Matt. 28:3).
The angel that measured the new temple had a linen line in his hand (Ezek. 40:3).
Jeremiah, that he might represent the state of the church as to truth:
Was commanded to buy a linen girdle, and hide it in a hole of a rock by the Euphrates, and afterwards found it spoiled (Jer. 13:1-7).
It is also said in Isaiah:
A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench, He shall bring forth judgment unto truth (Isa. 42:3).
By linen in these places nothing else is meant than truth.