4440. 'And his sons were with his cattle in the field' means that his descendants dwelt in their own semblance of religion. This is clear from the meaning of 'his sons' as descendants; from the meaning of 'cattle' as external truths, dealt with in 1435, ¹ 4391; and from the meaning of 'the field' as the Church, dealt with in 2971, 3766. Consequently 'his sons were with his cattle in the field' means that they dwelt in their own semblance of religion; for the kind of Church that existed with them must be called a semblance of religion since it involves external worship devoid of internal.

Voetnoten:

'To hearken,' as mentioned in Genesis 30:22, signifies providence. 'To hearken to father and mother,' as mentioned in Genesis 28:7, signifies obedience from affection.

See Obedience.

(Referenties: Arcana Coelestia 3684)