3266. 'These are the names of the sons of Ishmael' means the essential characteristics of those people's forms of doctrine, that is to say, of those who are spiritual. This is clear from the meaning of 'name' as the essential nature, dealt with in 144, 145, 1754, 1896, 2009, 2724, 3006, from the meaning of 'sons' as truths, and also matters of doctrine, dealt with in 489, 491, 533, 1147, 2623, and from the representation of 'Ishmael' as those who are spiritual, dealt with above in 3263.

2623. 'A son' means the Divine Rational. This is clear from the meaning of 'a son'. In the internal sense of the Word 'a son' means truth, 489, 491, 533; and because truth is the principal element in the rational, 2072, 2189, 'a son' also means the rational. But here the Divine Rational is meant in which the principal element is good. 'Isaac' too, to whom 'a son' refers, represents this good, as will be shown further on.