2943. 'To all entering into the gate of his city, saying' means matters of doctrine through which one comes to faith. This is clear from the meaning of 'a gate' as a place of entry and so as that which, in the same way as a door, leads in, dealt with in 2145, 2152, 2356, 2385, and from the meaning of 'a city' as truth, which constitutes faith, dealt with in 402, 2268, 2449, 2451, 2712. In the Ancient Church a city was not like the city of later or of modern times. That is to say, a city did not consist of a collection or gathering together of individuals but of separate families living side by side. A family descended from the same forefather constituted a city. The city of Nahor, for example, to which Abraham's servant went to betroth Rebekah to Isaac, Genesis 24:10, consisted of the family of Nahor which was there. And Shalem, the city of Shechem, to which Jacob came after his departure from Paddan Aram, Genesis 33:18 and the whole of Chapter 34, consisted of the family of Hamor and Shechem which was there. And the same was so with all other cities in those times.

[2] And as it had come down to them from the most ancient people that nations and families represented heavenly communities, and so the things of love and charity, 685, 1159, therefore when a city is mentioned instead of a family, and a people instead of a nation, truth that constitutes faith is meant. It is also why in the genuine sense the city of God and the holy city mean faith in the Lord. And as 'a city' meant faith, 'the gate of the city' means matters of doctrine through which one comes to faith. The same was also meant in the Jewish representative Church by the judges and elders sitting in the gate of the city and giving judgement there, as is evident from historical sections of the Word, and also in Zechariah,

These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth, everyone to his companion; judge in your gates the truth and the judgement of peace. Zechariah 8:16.

And in Amos,

Hate evil, and love good, and establish judgement in the gate. Amos 5:15.

'A gate' also means the place of entry into the rational mind, and the rational mind is compared to a city, see 2851.

8267. 'And song is Jah' means that the source of the whole of faith and of the glory resulting from it is Divine Truth which originates in Him. This is clear from the meaning of 'song', in reference to Jehovah, as an ascription of glory to the Lord, dealt with above in 8261. But when used in reference to man, as it is here, it means glory existing as a result of faith, and so faith from which glory results; for the whole of the glory which man has exists as a result of faith in the Lord, since faith which really is faith has its origin in the Lord, so that the Lord is within faith and consequently glory itself is also present. A further reason why man's glory is a result of faith is that Divine Truth, the source and conveyor of faith, appears before angels' eyes as light, and also as the brightness and radiance of light. This radiance, along with the magnificent scenes in heaven that are products of the light, is called the glory, which is accordingly nothing other than Divine Truth, and so nothing other than faith. This then explains why 'song', in reference to man, means glory resulting from faith.

[2] 'Jah' means Divine Truth that emanates from the Lord's Divine Human. This is because Jah is derived from Jehovah, and the name Jah is used because it does not mean Being (Esse) but the Coming-into-Being arising from Being (Existere ex Esse); for Divine Truth is the Coming-into-Being (Existere), whereas Divine Good is Being (Esse), see 6880. This also is why the expression 'song is Jah' is used, for 'song' means faith that is a product of Divine Truth. 'Jah' again means Divine Truth in David,

Sing to God, praise His name; extol Him who rides on the clouds by His name Jah, and exult before Him. Psalms 68:4.

Praising and extolling God 'by His name Jah' is doing so through Divine Truth. Again in the same author,

In distress I called on Jah; Jah answered me in a broad place. Jehovah helped me. My strength and song is lain. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of Jah. I will enter through the gates of righteousness, and confess Jah. Psalms 118:5, 13-14, 17, 19.

Here 'Jah' is the Lord in respect of Divine Truth. Jah has the same meaning in the exclamation Hallelujah, at Psalms 105:45; 106:1, 48; 111:1; 112:1; 113:1, 9; 115:17-18; 116:19.