1179. Wherefore it was said, As Nimrod mighty in hunting before Jehovah. That this signifies that, because so many were persuaded, such a form of speech became proverbial and that it further signifies that such a religion easily captivates the minds of men, may be seen from all that has been said, and from the very sense of the letter. Moreover, as in ancient times they gave names to actual things, they gave this name to this worship, saying that “Nimrod”—that is, this worship—“was mighty in hunting,” that is, was one that captivates the minds of men. It is said “before Jehovah,” because they who were in such worship called faith separated “Jehovah,” or “the man Jehovah,” as is evident from what has been said before n. 340) concerning Cain, by whom in like manner there is signified faith separated from charity. But the difference between “Cain” and “Ham” is that the former was in the celestial church which had perception, and the latter in the spiritual church which had no perception; and therefore the former was more heinous than the latter. In ancient times such were called “mighty,” as in Isaiah:

All the glory of Kedar shall be consumed, and the residue of the number, the bows of the mighty men of the sons of Kedar shall be diminished (Isaiah 21:16-17).

And in Hosea:

Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity, ye have eaten the fruit of a lie, for thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men (Hosea 10:13); and in other places.

They called themselves “men” [viri], and “mighty,” from faith; for there is a term in the original language which expresses the idea of might and at the same time of a man [vir], which term in the Word is predicated of faith, and that in both senses.

340. That the words “I have gotten a man, Jehovah” signify that with such as are called “Cain” faith is recognized and acknowledged as a thing by itself, is evident from what was said at the beginning of this chapter. Previously, they had been as it were ignorant of what faith is, because they had a perception of all the things of faith. But when they began to make a distinct doctrine of faith, they took the things they had a perception of and reduced them into doctrine, calling it “I have gotten a man, Jehovah” as if they had found out something new; and thus what was before inscribed on the heart became a mere matter of knowing. In ancient times they gave every new thing a name, and in this way set forth the things involved in the names. Thus the signification of the name Ishmael is explained by the saying, “Jehovah hath heard her affliction” (Genesis 16:11); that of Reuben, by the expression, “Jehovah hath looked upon my affliction” (Genesis 29:32); the name Simeon, by the saying, “Jehovah hath heard that I was less dear” (Genesis 29:33); and that of Judah by, “This time will I praise Jehovah” (Genesis 29:35); and an altar built by Moses was called, “Jehovah my banner” (Exodus 17:15). In like manner the doctrine of faith is here denominated “I have gotten a man, Jehovah” or “Cain.”