'Spreading themselves on the earth,' as in Genesis 8:17, signifies the internal self operating on the external.

(Notae: Arcana Coelestia 913)

4432. 'The prince of the land' means which was first and foremost among the Churches. This is clear from the meaning of 'the prince' as that which is first and foremost, dealt with in 1482, 2089, and from the meaning of 'the land' as the Church, dealt with in 662, 1066, 1067, 1262, 1733, 1850, 2117, 2138, 2928, 3355, 3686, 3705.