'Spreading themselves on the earth,' as in Genesis 8:17, signifies the internal self operating on the external.

(Odkazy: Arcana Coelestia 913)

1067. Verse 20 And Noah began to be a man (vir) of the ground, and planted a vineyard.

'Noah began to be a man of the ground' means in general a person who has been instructed from matters of doctrine concerning faith. 'And he planted a vineyard' means the Church resulting from this, 'vineyard' being the spiritual Church.