476. That 'male and female' means the marriage of faith and love has been stated and shown already. That is to say, 'male' or man (vir) means the understanding and what belongs to the understanding, and so what belongs to faith, while 'female' means the will, or what belongs to the will, and so what belongs to love. This also is why she was called Eve, from a word meaning life, which belongs to love alone. 'Female' therefore also means the Church, as also shown already, and 'male' the man (vir) of the Church. At present the subject is the state of the Church at the time it was spiritual and shortly to become celestial, which is why the word 'male' comes first, as it does also in 1:26-27. Furthermore the expression 'to create' has regard to the spiritual man. As soon however as that marriage has taken place, that is, the Church has become celestial, it is no longer called 'male and female' but 'Man' (Homo) who by virtue of the marriage means both. Consequently 'and He called their name Man', which means the Church, follows next.

4409. Because the sight of the eye corresponds to that of the understanding it also corresponds to truths, for everything seen by the understanding has a connection with what is true. It is also connected with what is good; that is to say, a person should not only be aware of what is good but should also feel an affection for it. Everything seen by one's external sight likewise has a connection with what is true and good, since these have to do with the way objects are shaped and so with their beauty and the delight this gives. Anyone who is clearheaded can see that every single thing in the natural creation has a connection with what is true and good, and from this can recognize that the whole natural creation is a theatre in which the Lord's kingdom is represented.