Metaphysical meaning of Ater (mbd)
Ater, a'-ter (Heb.)--bound; shut up; dumb; tongue-tied; impeded; left-handed .
a and b The name of the heads of two Israelitish families who returned from the Babylonian captivity (Ezra 2:16, 42). c A man by this name joined Nehemiah in sealing the covenant (Neh. 10:17).
Meta. A binding, limiting, suppressing thought, or group of thoughts, in individual consciousness (bound, shut up, dumb, tongue-tied, impeded, left-handed). These thought families belong to the religious phase of man's being (they are Israelites), but because of their limiting nature they have entered into Babylon (confusion). They aspire to Truth, however, and are brought back to their own land. These limiting beliefs may begin in our mental realm by seeking to oppress and cast out that which appears to be evil; if binding thoughts are allowed to increase, sooner or later they will react on the spiritual and will bring limitation, confusion, and bondage to our true thoughts also, even though they may be directed against apparent error. Our aim in overcoming must not be to oppress, bind, and silence that which seems to be evil; it must be to give righteous expression to the forces that are back of these apparent evils. That end having been accomplished, the error manifestations will drop away of themselves.
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Preceding Entry: Ataroth-addar
Following Entry: Athach
