10288. He shall be cut off from his peoples. That this signifies separation and spiritual death, is evident from the signification of being “cut off” and of being “slain,” as being to be separated from those who are in good and the truths thence derived, and to perish as to spiritual life (see n. 6767, 8902); and from the signification of “peoples,” as being those of the church who are in the truths and goods of faith (n. 3581, 4619, 6451, 6465, 7207); and thus to be “cut off from the peoples” denotes to be separated from them and perish. In the Word those who are of the church are sometimes called a “people,” sometimes a “nation,” as “the Israelitish people,” and “the Jewish nation.” By a “people” is there signified those who are of the spiritual church, and by a “nation,” those who are of the celestial church. It is from this that “peoples” signify the truths and goods of faith; but “nations,” the goods of love (see at the places cited above).