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.

In Genesis 21:14, 36; 28:10, Beersheba signifies divine doctrine. (Arcana Coelestia 3690)

In Genesis 26:23, it signifies the doctrine of faith which, from the very literal sense of the Word, is divine. (Arcana Coelestia 3436)

In Genesis 21:33, 'He planted a grove in Beersheba' means doctrine with the cognitions composing it and the nature of it. 'And he called on the name of [Jehovah,] the God of Eternity' means worship from it. (Arcana Coelestia 2723)

(Odkazy: Arcana Coelestia 2722, Genesis 21:31, Genesis 31)