4017. In the watering troughs, whither the flocks came to drink. That this signifies the affections of truth, is evident from the signification of “water,” as being knowledges and memory-knowledges, which are the truths of the natural man (see n. 28, 2702, 3058); from the signification of “drinking troughs” or “watering troughs,” which as being containants of water, are in the internal sense the goods of truth, goods being the containants of truth (see n. 3095); and from the signification of “coming to drink,” as being the affection of truth. That “coming to drink” is the affection of truth, is because it involves thirst; for “thirst” in the Word signifies appetite and desire, and thus the affection of knowing and imbibing truth, and this because “water” signifies truth in general; whereas “hunger” signifies appetite, desire, and thus the affection of becoming imbued with good; and this because “bread,” which is used for food in general (n. 2165), signifies good. Thus it is evident that these words signify the affections of truth.

28. Verse 10. And God called the dry [land] earth, and the gathering together of the waters called He seas; and God saw that it was good. It is a very common thing in the Word for “waters” to signify knowledges [cognitiones et scientifica], and consequently for “seas” to signify a collection of knowledges. As in Isaiah:

The earth shall be full of the knowledge [scientia] of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:9).

And in the same Prophet, where a lack of knowledges [cognitionum et scientificorum] is treated of:

The waters shall fail from the sea, and the river shall be dried up and become utterly dry, and the streams shall recede (Isaiah 19:5-6).

In Haggai, speaking of a new church:

I will shake the heavens and the earth, and the sea and the dry [land]; and I will shake all nations; and the desire of all nations shall come; and I will fill this house with glory (Haggai 2:6-7).

And concerning man in the process of regeneration, in Zechariah:

There shall be one day, it is known to Jehovah; not day, nor night; but it shall come to pass that at evening time it shall be light; and it shall be in that day that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem, part of them toward the eastern sea, and part of them toward the hinder sea (Zechariah 14:7-8).David also, describing a vastated man who is to be regenerated and who will worship the Lord:

Jehovah despiseth not His prisoners; let the heavens and the earth praise Him, the seas and everything that creepeth therein (Psalms 69:33-34).

That the “earth” signifies a recipient, appears from Zechariah:

Jehovah stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man in the midst of him (Zechariah 12:1).