6143. For the Egyptians sold everyone his field. That this signifies the renunciation and subjection of all things that are of service to the church, is evident from the signification of "selling," as being to alienate so as to be no longer one's own (see n. 4098, 4752, 4758, 5886), thus to renounce and to subject; and from the signification of "field," as being the doctrine of the church, and in a general sense, the church (n. 368, 2971, 3310, 3766). From this it is plain that by "the Egyptians sold everyone his field," is signified the renunciation and subjugation of all things that are of service to the church.
