3205. What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us? That this signifies concerning the rational which was in good alone, namely, exploration respecting it, appears from what was said above concerning Isaac, that “he went out to meditate in the field,” by which is signified the state of the rational in good (see n. 3196); here, the rational is signified by “this man;” and its being in good is signified by “walking” (that is, meditating) “in the field.” “To meet us” denotes for conjunction.

3196. And Isaac went out to meditate in the field. That this signifies the state of the rational in good, is evident from the representation of Isaac, as being the Divine rational (concerning which often above); and from the signification of “meditating in the field,” as being its state in good; for meditating is a state of the rational when it applies the mind intently; but a “field” is doctrine and the things of doctrine (n. 368); thus the things of the church as to good (n. 2971); hence came the ancient form of expression, “to meditate in the field,” denoting to cogitate in good; which is the act of a man not married, when thinking about a wife.