6458. 'Which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite' means redemption. This is clear from the meaning of 'buying' as making one's own, dealt with in 5374, 5397, 5410, 5426, thus also redeeming, since what one redeems one makes one's own; from the representation of 'Abraham' in the highest sense as the Lord, dealt with in 1965, 1989, 2011, 3245, 3251, 3305, 3703, 4615, 6098, 6185, 6276; from the meaning of 'the field' as the Church, dealt with in 2971, 3766; and from the representation of 'Ephron the Hittite' as those with whom the ability exists to receive what is good and true, dealt with in 2933, 2940, 2969. From all this one may see what the meaning of these words is - the redemption by the Lord of those in the Church with whom the ability exists to receive what is good and true.

2971. 'The field and the cave which was in it' means as regards the good and truth of faith. This is clear from the meaning of 'the field' as the Church and also good itself which constitutes the Church (that which is celestial - or good that stems from love to the Lord and charity towards the neighbour - is compared to 'the ground' as well as to the field, and is actually called these, because that which is celestial - or good - is the recipient of the truths of faith; and these truths are compared to and are also actually called 'seeds'); and from the meaning of 'a cave' as the truth of faith which is enveloped in obscurity, dealt with in 2935. It is said to be in obscurity because it is with spiritual people, see 1043, 2708, 2715.