The Lord had shown the people of the Most Ancient Church (Adam) the spiritual gifts of their celestial state, their state of love to the Lord. He had shown them the loving affections (beasts of the field), the inspired thoughts (fowl of the air) and the life that filled their spiritual existence (living creatures). And the people recognized the nature of those things, and where they came from (they gave them names).

But it was not enough. The people wanted to lead themselves and feel life as their own. They did not want to be in the highest celestial state anymore.

(Референце: Arcana Coelestia 142, 143, 144, 145)

According to Swedenborg, a person's name in the Bible represents his or her entire spiritual nature, their whole state of love (good or evil) and thought (from heavenly wisdom to infernal insanity). This is why the name of the Lord is so important; it represents and embodies His perfect love and perfect wisdom, which is everything that we should worship and follow. It's easy to see that names are important in the Bible. Jehovah changed Abram and Sarai to Abraham and Sarah, changed Jacob to Israel and included in the Ten Commandments the order that believers "shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain." In the New Testament, Zacharias was told to name John the Baptist "John," and both Joseph (Matthew 1:21) and Mary (Luke 1:31) were told to name Jesus "Jesus." Jesus himself renamed Simon as Peter, and included the phrase "hallowed be thy name" in the Lord's prayer.

(Референце: Luke 1)