Arcana Coelestia # 145
145. In the Word too 'name' means the essential nature of a real thing, and 'seeing and calling by name' knowing characters, as in Isaiah,
I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoarded riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, Jehovah, the one calling you by name, the God of Israel. For the sake of My servant Jacob, and of Israel My chosen, and I have called you by name, I have surnamed you, but you do not know Me. Isaiah 45:3-4.
Here 'calling by name' and 'surnaming' mean knowing his character beforehand. In the same prophet,
You will be called by a new name which the mouth of Jehovah will declare. Isaiah 62:2.
This stands for his becoming a different person, as is clear from what precedes and what follows these words. In the same prophet,
O Israel, fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name, you are Mine. Isaiah 43:1.
This stands for knowing character. Again in the same prophet,
Lift up your eyes on high and see; who created these? He who brings out their host by number; He will call them all by name. Isaiah 40:26.
This stands for His knowing them all. In Revelation,
You have a few names in Sardis, who have not soiled their garments. He who conquers will be clad in white garments and I will not blot his name out of the book of life; and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. Revelation 3:4-5.
Elsewhere in the same book,
Whose names have not been written in the book of life of the Lamb. Revelation 13:8.
In these places 'names' is in no way used to mean names but people's characters. Nor in heaven do they know anyone's name, only his character.
Genesis 16
1
Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.
2
And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.
3
And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.
4
And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
5
And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.
6
But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face.
7
And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
8
And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.
9
And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
10
And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
11
And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
12
And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
13
And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?
14
Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.
15
And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
16
And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.
