1849. That 'the nation also which they are going to serve' means the evil who oppress is clear from the meaning of 'nation' and of 'serving'. In the genuine sense 'a nation' means goods, or what amounts to the same, those who are good, for when goods are thus spoken of abstractedly they still have reference to the subject, which is a man, spirit, or angel. In the contrary sense however 'nation' means evils, or what amounts to the same, those who are evil, dealt with in 1159, 1258-1260. 'Serving' however, or slavery, means oppression, as in the previous verse.

6005. 'For I will make you into a great nation' means that truths will be made into good. This is clear from the representation of Jacob, about whom these words were spoken, as natural truth, dealt with above in 6001; and from the meaning of 'a nation as good, dealt with in 1259, 1260, 1416, 1849 In the Word nations and peoples are referred to frequently but in every place with this difference, that forms of good or of evil are meant by 'nations' and truths or falsities by 'peoples'.