4556. And Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan, signifies the natural in its former state, and “this is Bethel” signifies the Divine natural, as is evident from the signification of “Luz” as being the natural in its former state, or that very natural which was human. That this was made Divine is signified by, “this is Bethel.” (That “Bethel” is the Divine natural may be seen above, n. 4089, 4539.) So also in other places in the Word where “Bethel” is named it is likewise said, “Luz, this is Bethel,” and “Bethel, beforetime Luz,” as in Joshua:

The boundary of the lot of the sons of Benjamin between the sons of Judah and the sons of Joseph went forth to Luz, to the side of Luz southward, this is Bethel (Josh. 18:11, 13).

And in the book of Judges:

The house of Joseph went up to Bethel, and spied out Bethel; and the name of the city beforetime was Luz (Judg. 1:22-23).

1260. Because in the Most Ancient and in the Ancient Church, nations signified goods, or good men, therefore in the opposite sense they signify evils, or evil men. In like manner peoples, because they signified truths, in the opposite sense signify falsities. For in a depraved church good is turned into evil, and truth into falsity. Hence comes the signification of “nations” and of “peoples” in this opposite sense in many places in the Word, as in Isaiah 13:4; 14:6; 18:2, 7; 30:28; 34:1-2; Ezekiel 20:32.