1215. 'According to their families, according to their tongues, in their lands, in their nations' means according to the particular and the general character of each one, as was explained at verse 5 above where the same words occur, though in a different order. That verse, in dealing with the sons of Japheth, says that 'from them the islands of the nations in their lands were spread abroad, everyone according to his tongue, according to their families, as to their nations', which meant forms of external worship that have internal worship within them. In that place therefore things connected with doctrine take precedence, whereas here it is those connected with habits and customs or with life.

In Deuteronomy 33:2, this means that the Lord made even the Natural in Himself Divine in order that this also might be a source of light, that is, of intelligence and wisdom. (Arcana Coelestia 4240)