'Land' in the Word, denotes the church, for the things which signify the church also signify the things relating to the church, for these constitute the church. The reason why 'land' denotes the church in the Word is because the land of Canaan was the land in which the church had been since the most ancient times. Hence, when 'land' is named in the Word, it means the land of Canaan, which then means the church. For when the expression 'the land' appears there, people in the spiritual world do not concern themselves with the idea of a land, only with the idea of the nation inhabiting it. And yet not with an idea of that nation but with an idea of the essential nature of it.

'Land' or 'earth,' as in Genesis 20:15, signifies the doctrine of love and charity.

'Land' signifies the celestial principle of love in Genesis 24:4.

In Genesis 26:12, 'land' signifies rational things.

In Genesis 28:13, this signifies the good of the natural.

The 'land' represents the divine of the rational principle in Genesis 30:25.

(References: Arcana Coelestia 5577)

8254. Worship of the Lord consists primarily in a charitable life, and not in a religious life without it. A religious life without the charitable life is no more than a selfish wish to look after oneself; there is no concern in it for one's neighbour. But the pursuit of a religious life together with that of a charitable life is indeed a wish to look after oneself, yet out of concern for one's neighbour. The pursuit of a religious life alone is motivated by love directed towards self, but the pursuit of both together is motivated by love directed towards the neighbour.