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.

3375. 'And I will fulfil the oath which I swore to Abraham your father' means confirmation. This is clear from the meaning of 'an oath' or 'swearing' as confirmation, dealt with in 2842. Here it does not say that the covenant made with Abraham is to be fulfilled but that 'the oath' will be. The reason for this is that 'a covenant' has reference to what is celestial, which is good, whereas 'an oath' has reference to what is spiritual, namely truths, see 3037; and truths are the subject here. For the same reason also in verse 31 below it is not said of Isaac that he made a covenant with Abimelech but that 'he swore to him, a man to his brother', whereas in Genesis 21:32 it is said of Abraham that he and Abimelech 'made a covenant'; see Psalms 105:9. By the confirmation here which is meant by 'an oath' is understood the Lord's being joined to those who are in His kingdom, for an oath is the confirmation of a covenant, and by 'a covenant' is meant being joined together, 665, 666, 1023, 1038, 1864, 1996, 2003, 2021.