'Poor' signifies someone who is not in truths, and people who are ignorant of good and truth, but desire instruction.

(Referenser: Heaven and Hell 420)

4958. The reason 'hungering' means being led by affection to desire good is that in the internal sense 'bread' means the good of love and charity, while food in general means good, 2165, 2177, 3478, 4211, 4217, 4735. The reason 'thirsting' means being led by affection to desire truth is that wine and also water mean the truth of faith - wine, 1071, 1798, water, 2702. 'A stranger' means one who wishes to receive instruction, see 1463, 4444; and one who is 'naked' means a person who acknowledges that no good or truth at all exists within him, one who is 'sick' a person who acknowledges that evil is present within him, and one who is 'bound' or 'in prison' a person who acknowledges that falsity is present, as is evident from many places in the Word where such names are used.