5813. And should he leave his father, he will die. That this signifies that if it were separated the church would perish, is evident from the signification of "leaving," as being to be separated (as just above, n. 5812); and from the signification of "dying," as being to be no more (n. 494), thus to perish. As this truth conjoined with spiritual good makes the church (n. 5806), if it were separated from that good, the church would perish. Moreover Israel, who here is the "father," represents the church (n. 4286), but not without this truth.
