62. The stages and states of the regeneration of man - both of mankind and of the individual person - divide into six and are called the days of his creation. Gradually from being no man at all, he first becomes something, though only little, then something more, until the sixth day is reached, when he becomes 'an image'.

2108. 'Ishmael his son' means those who become rational from truths of faith. This is clear from the representation here of 'Ishmael' as those who become rational, that is, spiritual, from truth, also dealt with above, in 2078, 2087, 2088.