The Bible generally uses two different terms for large groups: “people” and “nations.” When it uses “nation,” it is talking about a group with the desire for good as its ultimate underlying motivation; when it uses the term “people” it is talking about a group whose deep motivation is to seek true ideas and concepts. As with all symbolism in the Bible, this can be also used in a negative sense, to describe groups with the lust for evil or those driven by false concepts. It can also be used in the abstract, with “nation” representing desires for good themselves and “people” representing true ideas themselves. In a way, these meanings make sense if we look at the two words themselves. “People” brings to mind a collection of individuals, and that is somewhat how it is with ideas -- you can have many of them that inter-relate, but also stand somewhat on their own, individually. “Nation” is a more unified term, reflecting the way that a desire for good tends to unify other feelings.

1897. Verse 2. And Sarai said to Abram, Behold, now, Jehovah has prevented me from bearing; go in now to my servant-girl; perhaps I shall be built up from her; and Abram hearkened to Sarai's voice.

'Sarai said to Abram' means that it was so perceived by Him. 'Behold, now, Jehovah has prevented me from bearing' means the state prior to the birth of the Interior or Divine Rational Man. 'Go in now to my servant-girl' means a joining to the more exterior man. 'Perhaps I shall be built up from her' means the possibility of the rational being born in that way. 'And Abram hearkened to Sarai's voice' means it could not have been achieved in any other way.