Air" in the Bible represents thought, but in a very general way – our capacity to perceive ideas and the way we tend to think, rather than our specific ideas about specific things. We see the world around us through the air, and seeing corresponds to understanding. We hear through the air, and hearing corresponds to being taught and obeying. Birds fly in the air, and they represent specific thoughts and ideas. And breathing itself – taking in air and passing oxygen to the blood – represents our understanding of true spiritual ideas.

In Genesis 1:26, when used with fowls or birds of the air refers to the air we breathe, but sky, or heavens where are stars, and together these terms refer to both the spiritual and natural man, and to their food, or goods and truths. (Arcana Coelestia 57, 58)

In Genesis 3:8, the only Old Testament reference to air is in the phrase "cool of the day" (at the time of the evening breeze) which signifies the period when the church still had some spiritual perception. (Arcana Coelestia 221)

In Revelation 9:2; 16:17, air signifies the divine truth, darkened by infernal falsities. (Apocalypse Explained 541, Apocalypse Revealed 423)

In Revelation 16:17, everyone in the spiritual world breathes air according to his faith. (Apocalypse Revealed 708, Apocalypse Explained 1012, Apocalypse Revealed 708)

In Genesis 25:3, this signifies knowledge of celestial things or people who uphold the doctrine of charity. (Arcana Coelestia 3240[3])

In Ezekiel 27:15, this signifies knowledges of lower celestial matters in rituals. (Arcana Coelestia 1172)

In Jeremiah 49:8, this signifies rituals lacking internal worship or adoration of the Lord from the heart. (Arcana Coelestia 1172) Dedan, in Jeremiah 49:8, signifies rituals wherein there is no internal worship. Dedan (Genesis 10) signifies the knowledges of celestial things of an inferior order, such as those in ritual observances.