3622. 'Like these of the daughters of the land' means because they are not from that ground, that is, from truths which the genuine Church knows. This is clear from the meaning of 'the daughters of the land' as Churches, for 'the daughters' means affections for good and truth, 2363, and 'the land' means the region where the Church is situated, and so means the Church itself, dealt with in 662, 1066, 1067, 1262, 1733, 1850, 2117, 2118 (end), 2928, 3355. 'The daughters of the land' accordingly means the goods and truths of the Church.

1262. From this it now becomes clear that 'the earth' here also means the Church; for when the earth is mentioned, one's only perception is of the nation or people there, and when a nation or people is envisaged one's only perception is of their character. Consequently 'the earth' means nothing other than the Church, as shown already in 662, 1066.