4909. 'Saying, By the man to whom these belong I am pregnant' means that this characteristic was contained in their semblance of religion. This is clear from the representation of Judah, to whom 'the man' refers here, as the semblance of religion existing among the Jewish nation, dealt with in 4864, 4905, and from the meaning of 'carrying in the womb' or 'being pregnant' as being brought forth, dealt with in 4904, but here as being contained within; for what has been brought forth is that contained within, that is to say, that which has been conceived. That which has been brought forth is a first effect; and because this in turn produces an effect it is called the cause from which this further effect is produced, dealt with above in 4904. What exactly was contained within their semblance of religion may be seen from what has been stated above in 4899 and also from what follows below.