3266. 'These are the names of the sons of Ishmael' means the essential characteristics of those people's forms of doctrine, that is to say, of those who are spiritual. This is clear from the meaning of 'name' as the essential nature, dealt with in 144, 145, 1754, 1896, 2009, 2724, 3006, from the meaning of 'sons' as truths, and also matters of doctrine, dealt with in 489, 491, 533, 1147, 2623, and from the representation of 'Ishmael' as those who are spiritual, dealt with above in 3263.

1146. That 'Shem, Ham, and Japheth' have the same meaning here as previously - 'Shem' true internal worship, 'Ham' corrupted internal worship, 'Japheth' external worship corresponding to internal - is clear from what has been stated about them already. There it has been shown not only that Shem, Ham, and Japheth mean those types of worship, but also what is meant by true internal worship, which is Shem; also what is meant by corrupted internal worship, which is Ham; as well as what is meant by external worship corresponding to internal, which is Japheth. Consequently there is no need to pause any longer over these meanings.