Arcana Coelestia # 1840
1840. Verse 13. And He said unto Abram, Knowing thou shall know that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them, and they shall afflict them four hundred years. “He said unto Abram,” signifies a perception; “knowing thou shalt know,” signifies that it is certain; “thy seed shall be a stranger,” signifies that charity and faith shall be rare; “in a land that is not theirs,” signifies where there is a church that is as it were not composed of those who are in charity and faith; “and they shall serve them,” signifies oppression; “and they shall afflict them,” signifies their severe temptations; “four hundred years,” signifies the duration and state.
Genesis 15:13
13
He said to Abram, "Know for sure that your seed will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will afflict them four hundred years.