3861. And called his name Reuben symbolizes its nature, which is then delineated. This is established by the symbolism of a name and calling a name as the quality (discussed in §§144, 145, 1754, 1896, 2009, 2724, 3006, 3421). The specific nature is delineated in the words that Jehovah has seen my affliction, and now my husband will love me, which is what Reuben means.

It has been shown frequently that scriptural names always have symbolic meaning (see §§1224, 1264, 1876, 1888) and that the names given by the ancients symbolized states (§§340, 1946, 2643, 3422). It will be seen that the names of all Jacob’s sons symbolize universal qualities in the church. The quality itself was also incorporated into the name of each son, but no one can know just what quality it is without also knowing what the words used for naming each son enfold in an inner sense. For instance, one needs to know the inner meaning of seeing, the word used in Reuben’s name; that of hearing, the word used in Simeon’s; that of clinging to, used in Levi’s; and that of acclaiming, used in Judah’s. And so on with the words used in the rest of the names.