3856. And He opened her womb. That this signifies that therefrom came the doctrines of churches, is evident from the signification of “opening the womb,” or of conceiving and bringing forth, as being to become a church; and because this is effected by means of doctrinal things, therefore by “opening the womb” are signified the doctrines of churches. (That by “conceptions” and “births” in the Word are signified spiritual conceptions and births, such as occur when man is born anew, may be seen above, n. 1145, 1255, 1330, 2584.) How the case stands with these things will appear from what presently follows.