3922. 'And has given me a son' means that this truth was acknowledged. This is clear from the meaning of 'a son' as truth, dealt with in 489, 491, 533, 1147, and from the meaning of 'giving a son' as giving this truth, which is the same as acknowledging it since every truth that is acknowledged is a gift from the Lord. 'Giving a son' also implies the same as 'bearing', and 'bearing' means acknowledging, see 3905, 3915, 3919.

491. The same things are meant by 'sons and daughters' in verses 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 26, 30, of this chapter, but the character of a Church determines that of its 'sons and daughters', or goods and truths. Here they are truths and goods that men perceived most clearly, for they have regard to the Most Ancient Church, the head and forefather of all other Churches that followed after it.