4817. 'And his name was Hirah' means the nature of that falsity. This is clear from the meaning of 'name' and 'calling the name' as the essential nature, dealt with in 144, 145, 1754, 1896, 2009, 2724, 3006, 3421. The nature of the falsity referred to immediately above is what is meant, for names used in the Word, both of places and of persons, mean states and spiritual entities, see 1224, 1264, 1876, 1888, 1946, 2643, 3422, 4298, 4442.

1946. 'And you will call his name Ishmael' means its state of life. In ancient times sons and daughters used to be given names which meant the state that their parents were passing through, especially that of their mothers at the time of conception, or while they were with child, or when they gave birth, or after their infants had been born. Names accordingly carried a meaning. The origin of Ishmael's name is explained here, namely 'because Jehovah has hearkened to your affliction', which was his mother's state. What Ishmael represents however is described in the next verse.