3581. Peoples shall serve thee. That this signifies the truths of the church, and that “peoples shall bow down themselves to thee” signifies the truths of good, is evident from the mention of serving,” as being concerning truths (n. 2567, 3409); and from the signification of “peoples,” as being truths (n. 1259, 1260, 2928, 3295). By the “peoples” first mentioned are signified the truths of the church, which are called spiritual truths; and by the “peoples” mentioned the second time are signified the truths of good, which are spiritual goods, and are called truths relatively, the goods of charity being such truths. Because there is this distinction, the “peoples” mentioned in the first place and in the second are not expressed in the Hebrew tongue by the same word, but yet by a word somewhat akin.

1068. And Noah began to be a man of the ground. That this signifies in general man instructed from the doctrinal things of faith, is evident from the signification of “ground” (concerning which above, n. 268, 566), namely, the man of the church, or what is the same, the church; for that there may be a church, the man must be a church. The church is called “ground” because it receives the seeds of faith, or the truths and goods of faith. “Ground” is distinguished from “earth”—which, as shown, also signifies the church—as faith is distinguished from charity. Just as charity is the containant of faith, so is “earth” the containant of “ground.” When therefore the church is treated of in general, it is called “earth;” and when specifically, it is called “ground” as in this verse; for the general is the complex of the things derived from it. The doctrinals possessed by the man of the Ancient Church were, as before said, from the revelations and perceptions of the Most Ancient Church, which had been preserved; and in these they had faith as at this day we have in the Word. These doctrinal things were their Word. Noah’s beginning to be “a man of the ground” signifies therefore man instructed in the doctrinals of faith.