3465. 'And he called it Shibah' means the conjunction of confirmed truth by means of them. This is clear from the meaning of 'calling', that is to say, 'calling by name', as the essential nature, dealt with in 144, 145, 1754, 1896, 2009, 3421, and so from the fact that names mean a real thing or a state, 1946, 2643, 3422. Meant here therefore is the conjunction of confirmed truth by means of them, that is, by matters of doctrine; for in the original language Shibah is a word for an oath, which means confirmation, 2842, 3375. It is called the conjunction of confirmed truth when interior truths join themselves to exterior truths, which are matters of doctrine drawn from the literal sense of the Word. The fact that with such persons the conjunction is effected by means of the truths of faith and not so much by the goods of charity has been stated above in 3463.

1946. 'And you will call his name Ishmael' means its state of life. In ancient times sons and daughters used to be given names which meant the state that their parents were passing through, especially that of their mothers at the time of conception, or while they were with child, or when they gave birth, or after their infants had been born. Names accordingly carried a meaning. The origin of Ishmael's name is explained here, namely 'because Jehovah has hearkened to your affliction', which was his mother's state. What Ishmael represents however is described in the next verse.