1536. Described here is the state of the external Man as it existed in childhood when it was first endowed with facts and cognitions - how it moved on from these more and more towards conjunction with the Internal, verses 1-4.

Zoar, a city mentioned in Genesis 13:10, signifies the affection of goodness. Zoar was located not far from Sodom; Lot fled there after he was rescued by the angels during the burning of Sodom (see Genesis 19:20, 22, 23, 30).

In Genesis 19:22, Zoar again signifies a small affection for good. Zoar, in the original tongue, means little or small. People in a "Zoar" state are in the affection of truth, but have only a little truth, because they have only a little good. Zoar is also mentioned Genesis 14:2, 8, Deuteronomy 34:3, Isaiah 15:5; and Jeremiah 48:34, but in those places its signification takes an opposite sense, i.e. it is still an affection, but in these contexts, it symbolizes the affection of evil.

(Odkazy: Arcana Coelestia 1589, 2429, 2442, Genesis 8:10)