6543. 'Therefore they called the name of it Abel Mizraim' means the essential nature of the grief. This is clear from the meaning of 'the name' and 'calling the name' as the essential nature, dealt with in 144, 145, 1754, 1896, 2009, 2724, 3006, 3421; and since in ancient times names were conferred which had real things and states as their meaning, the essential nature is accordingly meant, 1946, 3422, 4298. The essential nature of the grief is therefore meant by 'Abel Mizraim', a name which means in the original language The Mourning of the Egyptians.

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.