3302. And they called his name Esau. That this signifies its quality, namely, the quality of the natural as to good, is evident from the signification of “calling a name,” or of “calling by name,” as being to know what the thing is, thus its quality (see n. 144, 145, 440, 768, 1754, 1896, 2009, 2724, 3237); and from the fact that all names whatever in the Word in the internal sense denote actual things (n. 1224, 1888); and such is the case with the name Esau. That “Esau” signifies the Lord’s Divine natural as to Divine good when first conceived, is evident from what has been already said, and from what follows concerning Esau, as also from other parts of the Word; but as Esau and Edom have nearly the same signification, with the difference that “Edom” is the Divine natural as to good to which are adjoined the doctrinal things of truth, therefore at verse 30, where Esau is called “Edom,” of the Lord’s Divine mercy this will be confirmed by passages from the Word.
Heaven and Hell #16
16. I have several times talked with angels about this matter. They declared their surprise that men of the Church do not know that loving the Lord and the neighbour is loving good and truth and doing this as a result of willing them, when yet they might know that one shows his love by willing and doing whatever the other wills, and that in this way he is loved in return and is conjoined with the one he loves, not by loving him without doing his will, which in itself is not loving. They also said that men should know that the good going forth from the Lord is a likeness of Himself because He is in it, and that those who make good and truth the principles of their life by intention and action become likenesses of Him and are conjoined to Him. Indeed, to will is to love doing. Besides, the Lord teaches in the Word that this is so, saying,
He that hath My commandments and doeth them, he it is that loveth Me... and I will love him. . . and will make My abode with him. John 14:21, 23.
And again,
If ye do My commandments, ye shall abide in My love. John 15:10, 12.
