2019. And thy seed after thee. That this signifies conjunction with those who have faith in Him, is evident from the signification of “seed,” as being faith (treated of, n. 1025, 1447, 1610); and also from the signification of “after thee,” as being to follow. To “walk after” someone is an expression that is often made use of in the Word (as in Jeremiah 7:6 8:2 Ezekiel 20:16; also Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23, 14:27). In this passage therefore “thy seed after thee,” signifies those who are in faith and follow Him; in the internal sense, who are born of Him.

1447. And said, To thy seed will I give this land. That this signifies that celestial things should be given to those who should have faith in Him, is evident from the signification of “seed,” and from the signification of “land.” That “seed” signifies faith in the Lord, was shown above n. 255, 256); and that “land” signifies celestial things, was also shown above, at verse 1 of this chapter (and also n. 620, 636, 662, 1066). In the sense of the letter, by “the seed of Abram” is meant his posterity from Jacob, and by “land” is meant the land of Canaan itself, which would be given them for a possession, so that they might represent the celestial and spiritual things of the Lord’s kingdom and church, and that the Representative Church might be instituted among them, and because the Lord was to be born there; but in the internal sense nothing else is signified by “seed” than faith in the Lord, and by “land” nothing else than celestial things, and in the present passage that celestial things should be given those who should have faith in Him. What is meant by having faith in the Lord has already been shown repeatedly.