664. Verse 11. And after the three days and a half, signifies when it is finished, thus the end of the old church and the beginning of the New Church. This is evident from the signification of "the three days and a half," as being fullness and completion as to the end of the old church, when there is the beginning of the New Church (See above, n. 658). It is said "after the three days and a half" because in the Word "days" signify states, here the last state of the church; for in the Word all times, as "hours," "days," "weeks," "months," "years," "ages," signify states, as here the last state of the church, when there is no longer any good of love or truth of faith left. Because "days" signify states, and the establishment of the Most Ancient Church is treated of in the first chapter of Genesis, and it becomes established successively from one state to another, it is there said:

That there was evening and there was morning the first day, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, and the sixth days, even to the seventh, when it was finished (Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31; 2:2);

and the "days" there do not mean days, but the successive states of the regeneration of men at that time, and the consequent establishment of the church with them. So also elsewhere in the Word.

3297. Verses 24-26 And her days for bringing forth were completed, and behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out, ruddy all over, like a hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that his brother came out, and his hand was grasping Esau's heel; and he called his name Jacob. And Isaac was a son of sixty years when she bore them.

'Her days for bringing forth were completed' means the first state of the effect. 'And behold, there were twins in her womb' means that the two were conceived simultaneously. 'And the first came out, ruddy all over, like a hairy garment' means good constituting the life of natural truth. 'And they called his name Esau' means its essential nature. 'And after that his brother came out' means truth. 'And his hand was grasping Esau's heel' means the lowest level of natural good, to which [truth] clung with some power. 'And he called his name Jacob' means the doctrine of natural truth. 'And Isaac was a son of sixty years when she bore them' means the state of Rational Truth at that time.