9226. Seven days it shall be with its mother. That this signifies their first state, when they are in truths, is evident from the signification of “seven days,” as being the first state of those who are being regenerated, for “days” denote states (n. 23, 487, 488, 493, 893, 2788, 3462, 3785, 4850, 5672, 5962, 8426, 9213), and “seven” denotes from the beginning to the end, thus what is full (n. 728, 6508); and from the signification of “mother,” as being the church as to truth, thus also the truth of the church (n. 289, 2691, 2717, 3703, 4257, 5581, 8897). From this it follows that by “seven days it shall be with its mother” is signified the first state to the full, that is, an entire state from beginning to end, while they are in truths. How the case herein is will be told in the following article.

5581. And their father said unto them. That this signifies perception from the things of the church, is evident from the signification of “saying” in the historicals of the Word, as being perception (of which often above); and from the representation of Israel, who here is the “father,” as being the church (that “Israel” is the internal spiritual church, and “Jacob” the external, may be seen above, n. 4286, 4292, 4570). He is called “father” because by “father” in the Word is also signified the church, and likewise by “mother;” but by “mother” the church as to truth, and by “father” the church as to good. The reason of this is that the church is a spiritual marriage, which is from good as the father, and from truth as a mother.