10644. And ye shall cut down their groves. That this signifies that their teachings must be utterly rejected, is evident from the signification of “groves,” as being the doctrinal things of the church, here of the religious persuasion among idolaters, which are the teachings of falsity from evil. That “groves” signify teachings is because “trees” signify the perceptions and knowledges of good and truth; perceptions, with those who are in the Lord’s celestial kingdom; and knowledges with those who are in His spiritual kingdom; and each species of tree signifies a species of perception and knowledge. From this it is that “paradises” and “gardens” signify heavenly intelligence and wisdom; and “forests,” the memory-knowledge of the natural man. From all this it can be seen whence it is that “groves” signify doctrine, and whence it is that the ancients held holy worship in groves. For the church among the ancients was representative, all the external things of which represented internal things such as are in heaven, concerning the Lord, concerning love and faith in Him, and concerning such things as are of love and faith. This signification of “groves,” and of “forests,” “gardens,” and “paradises,” and likewise of “trees” according to their species, originates in the representatives in the other life; for such things appear there in accordance with the intelligence and wisdom of the angels, the appearances there being from a celestial and spiritual origin. That “groves” signify doctrine, and that the ancients held holy worship in groves (see n. 2722, 4552): That “paradises” signify heavenly intelligence and wisdom (n. 3220, 4528, 4529); and “gardens” in like manner (n. 100, 108, 1588, 2722): That “forests” signify the memory-knowledge which is of the natural man (n. 9011): That “trees” signify perceptions and knowledges of good and truth (n. 103, 2163, 2682, 2972, 7692, 8326): That the Ancient Church held worship in groves, and in gardens under trees, according to the significations of these (n. 2722, 4552).

2972. And every tree that was in the field. That this signifies interior knowledges of the church, is evident from the signification of a “tree,” as being perceptions when the celestial church is treated of (see n. 103, 2163), but knowledges when the spiritual church is treated of (see n. 2722); here interior knowledges, because it is said “every tree that was in the field,” and there then follows “that was in all the border thereof round about,” by which is signified exterior knowledges; also from the signification of “field,” as being the church (of which above). Mention is made of the tree that was in the field and in the borders thereof round about, on account of that internal sense; otherwise it would not be worthy of mention in a Word that is Divine.