674. That the “fowl” signifies things intellectual or rational has been shown before n. 40), and that the “beast” signifies things of the will, or affections n. 45, 46, 143, 144, 246). That the “creeping thing of the ground” signifies both, but what is lowest of them, may be plain to anyone from the fact that creeping on the ground is what is lowest. That “pairs of all shall enter unto thee, to keep them alive” signifies their regeneration, has been shown in the preceding verse.

246. That the “beast and the wild animal of the field” signify affections, is evident from what was previously said concerning them n. 45, 46), to which it is permitted to add the following passage from David:

Thou, O God, dost send the rain of Thy kindnesses; Thou confirmest Thy laboring inheritance; Thy wild animal shall dwell therein (Psalms 68:9-10),

where also “wild animal” denotes the affection of good, because it is said that it shall “dwell in the inheritance of God.” The reason why here, and also in chapter 2, the “beast and the wild animal of the field” are mentioned, while in chapter 1, the “beast and the wild animal of the earth” are named, is that the present passage treats of the church or regenerated man, whereas the first chapter related to what was as yet not a church, or to man about to become regenerate; for the word “field” is applied to the church, or to the regenerate.