31
These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their languages, in their lands, after their nations.
31
These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their languages, in their lands, after their nations.
1254. That 'these are the families of the sons of Noah' means the forms of worship of the Ancient Church in particular is clear from the meaning of 'families' and of 'families of sons' as forms of worship, and indeed specific forms of worship. The nations mentioned in previous verses of this chapter have meant nothing other than various forms of worship in the Ancient Church and therefore 'the families' which composed the nations can have no other meaning. In the internal sense no other families than those of spiritual and celestial things can possibly be meant.