2836. 'Abraham called the name of that place' means the nature of their state, that is to say, the state of those who are spiritual, which was brought about by the Lord's Divine Human. This is clear from the meaning of 'calling the name' as knowing the nature of a person or thing, dealt with in 144, 145, 1754, 1896, 2009; from the meaning of 'place' as state, dealt with in 1273-1277, 1376-1381, 2625; and from the representation of 'Abraham' as the Lord as to the Divine Human, dealt with in 2833. From this it is evident that 'Abraham called the name of that place' means the nature of the state of those who are spiritual which was brought about by the Lord's Divine Human. It has been shown already that spiritual people are saved through the Lord's Coming into the world, in 2661, 2716, and that they receive enlightenment from His Divine Human, in 2716. Now in the present verse there follows the teaching that provision was made for those people to be saved in whom faith flowing from charity, that is, in whom charity, is present. This is the state meant by the words of this verse.

145. In the Word too 'name' means the essential nature of a real thing, and 'seeing and calling by name' knowing characters, as in Isaiah,

I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoarded riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, Jehovah, the one calling you by name, the God of Israel. For the sake of My servant Jacob, and of Israel My chosen, and I have called you by name, I have surnamed you, but you do not know Me. Isaiah 45:3-4.

Here 'calling by name' and 'surnaming' mean knowing his character beforehand. In the same prophet,

You will be called by a new name which the mouth of Jehovah will declare. Isaiah 62:2.

This stands for his becoming a different person, as is clear from what precedes and what follows these words. In the same prophet,

O Israel, fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name, you are Mine. Isaiah 43:1.

This stands for knowing character. Again in the same prophet,

Lift up your eyes on high and see; who created these? He who brings out their host by number; He will call them all by name. Isaiah 40:26.

This stands for His knowing them all. In Revelation,

You have a few names in Sardis, who have not soiled their garments. He who conquers will be clad in white garments and I will not blot his name out of the book of life; and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. Revelation 3:4-5.

Elsewhere in the same book,

Whose names have not been written in the book of life of the Lamb. Revelation 13:8.

In these places 'names' is in no way used to mean names but people's characters. Nor in heaven do they know anyone's name, only his character.