2981. 'Which is Hebron' means that this was a new Church. This is clear from the meaning of 'Hebron' as the spiritual Church, dealt with above in this chapter, in 2909. There the expression 'Kiriath Arba, which is Hebron' occurs, for the reason that 'Kiriath Arba' means the Church as regards truth and 'Hebron' the Church as regards good. But here the name Kiriath Arba is not used any more, only Hebron, because the subject is a regenerate person, who does not act any longer from truth but from good, as stated above in 2979.

The word "stranger" is used many times in the Bible, and it is sometimes paired with the word "sojourner". They are different concepts in the Hebrew, and some translations make the mistake of using them interchangeably. 'A sojourner', like 'a stranger', indicates a newcomer and inhabitant from another land; but 'a sojourner' refers to people who were taught and accepted the Church's truths, whereas those who were not taught them because they were unwilling to accept them are called 'strangers'. (Arcana Coelestia 8002)

In Ezekiel 28:7, 'strangers' signify falsities which destroy truths, and 'the terrible of the nations' signifies evils which destroy good.