4719. And he said, I seek my brethren; tell me I pray where they are feeding the flock? That this signifies knowledge of how the case was, and what state they were in; proximately, according to the words, how it was with those who taught from faith, and to learn their state, is evident; for by the “brethren” are signified those who teach from faith (see n. 4712); how it was with them is signified by “seeking them,” or “seeing their peace” (n. 4712, 4713); by “where” is signified state, for in the internal sense everything relating to place denotes state (n. 2625, 2837, 3356, 3387, 4321); and by “those who feed” are signified those who teach (n. 343, 3767, 3768, 3772, 3783).

4713. And the peace of the flock. That this signifies how it was with those who were learning, or the church, is evident from the signification of “peace” as being how it was with them (of which just above, n. 4712); and from the signification of a “flock” as being those who are learning. For a “shepherd,” or one who feeds the flock, denotes one who teaches the good of charity and leads to it; and the “flock” denotes one who learns and is led (n. 343); thus also the church.