10562. And Thou hast said, I know thee by name. That this signifies his quality, is evident from the signification of “knowing,” when said of Jehovah, as being to know and foresee from eternity (see n. 5309); and from the signification of “name.” as being the quality of a state, thing, or man (n. 144, 145, 1754, 1896, 2009, 2724, 3004-3011, 3421, 6674, 6887, 8274, 8882, 9310). The quality of Moses is involved in the things which follow. From this it is evident that by, “I know thee by name,” when said by Jehovah, is signified to know and foresee from eternity what is his quality.

1754. Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. That these signify the things appertaining to them, is evident from what is said above in this chapter (at verse 13) concerning the same, namely, that by their names are signified the goods and truths from which the combat was waged, and not so much the angels themselves, for the angels are meant by “the lads,” and “the men,” as has been said. For the angels never have any name given them, but are distinguished in respect to their quality by goods and truths; and on this account nothing else is signified in the Word by a name but the essence and its quality (as before shown, n. 144, 145, 340). This may be seen also in Isaiah, where the Lord is spoken of:

His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, God, Hero, Father of eternity, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6),

where by the “name” is meant of what quality He is, that is, that He is Wonderful, Counselor, God, a Hero, Father of eternity, Prince of Peace.

[2] In Jeremiah, where also the Lord is spoken of:

This is His name whereby they shall call Him, Jehovah our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:5-6)

where it is plainly evident that the name is “Righteousness.” So too in Moses, where likewise the Lord is spoken of:

He will not bear your transgression, for My name is in the midst of Him (Exodus 23:21),

where also the “name” denotes the essence, as being Divine. So also in many other passages of the Word, where it is said that “they called on the name of Jehovah;” that “they should not take the name of Jehovah in vain;” and in the Lord’s Prayer, “Hallowed be Thy name.” The case is similar with the names of angels; and is so here with the names of Eshcol, Aner, and Mamre, who represent angels, in that these names signify the things appertaining to the angels.