3379. And I will give unto thy seed all these lands. That this signifies the churches thence derived, is evident from the signification of “seed,” as being truths, thus those who are in truths, who are on this account called the “sons of the kingdom” (n. 3373); and from the signification of “lands,” as being the rational things which when enlightened by the Divine are appearances of truth (n. 3368); thus those who are in rational things that are enlightened by the Divine; or what is the same those who are in heavenly light; and as those only are in such light who are in the Lord’s kingdom in the heavens (that is, in heaven) and who are in His kingdom on earth (that is, in the churches), it is evident that by these “lands” are signified the churches; for churches are not churches because they are so called, and because they profess the Lord’s name; but because they are in the good and truth of faith. The good and truth of faith is that which constitutes the church, yea, which is the church, for in the good and truth of faith is the Lord, and where the Lord is, there is the church.

1849. And also that nation whom they shall serve. That this signifies the evil who oppress, is evident from the signification of a “nation” and of “serving.” In the genuine sense a “nation” signifies goods, or what is the same, good persons; for when goods are spoken of in the abstract, they are in a subject; and this is a man, a spirit, or an angel. But in the opposite sense a “nation” signifies evils, or what is the same, the evil (see n. 1159, 1258-1260). But to “serve,” or “servitude,” signifies oppression, as in the preceding verse.