4821. And she conceived, and bare a son. That this signifies that the falsity of the church was thence derived, is evident from the signification of “conceiving and bearing,” as being to acknowledge in faith and act (n. 3905, 3915, 3919); and from the signification of a “son,” as being the truth of the church, but in the opposite sense falsity (n. 489, 491, 533, 1147, 2623, 3373, 4257). Hence by her “conceiving and bearing a son” is here signified that the church with the tribe of Judah acknowledges falsity in faith and act. That by this son is signified the falsity of the church, is because he was the firstborn, and in the ancient churches by the firstborn was signified the truth of faith (n. 352, 3325), and in the opposite sense falsity-as was also signified by the firstborn of men and of beasts in Egypt (n. 3325). That not truth but falsity is signified, is plain from what shortly follows; for it is said, “Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the eyes of Jehovah; and Jehovah caused him to die” (verse 7). The name of his son Er also involves this quality, as likewise the name of the second son Onan involves his quality, namely, what is wrong or evil.