'Wilderness' signifies something with little life in it, as described in the internal sense in Luke 1:80 'Wilderness' signifies somewhere there is no good because there is no truth. 'Wilderness,' as in Jeremiah 23:10, signifies the Word when it is adulterated.

(Notae: Arcana Coelestia 1927)

'Priests' represent the Lord regarding His divine good. When they do not acknowledge the Lord, they do not signify the Lord.

(Notae: Apocalypse Revealed 854; Arcana Coelestia 3670)