'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.

(References: Arcana Coelestia 1927)

192. If therefore thou shalt not be wakeful, signifies if thou dost not acquire spiritual life. This is evident from the signification of "be wakeful," as being to acquire for oneself spiritual life (of which see above, n. 187.