6796. 'For he said, I am a stranger in a foreign land' means that he received instruction in truths in a Church that was not his own. This is clear from the meaning of 'being a stranger' as one who receives instruction in things which are those of the Church; and from the meaning of 'land' as the Church, dealt with in 662, 1067, 1262, 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118 (end), 2928, 3355, 4447, 4535, 5577, so that 'a foreign land' is a Church that is not one's own.

1262. From this it now becomes clear that 'the earth' here also means the Church; for when the earth is mentioned, one's only perception is of the nation or people there, and when a nation or people is envisaged one's only perception is of their character. Consequently 'the earth' means nothing other than the Church, as shown already in 662, 1066.