619. 'Bought from the earth' signifies that they are those who could be regenerated and thus redeemed in the world. By those 'bought from the earth' are signified those redeemed in the world. That redemption is liberation from hell, and salvation by means of conjunction with the Lord, may be seen (n. 281); and since this is effected by regeneration, therefore by those 'bought' are signified those regenerated and thus redeemed by the Lord. And because all can be regenerated and redeemed, if they will, and few are willing, therefore by 'bought from the earth' is signified that they are those who could be regenerated by the Lord and thus redeemed. What these are like is now described (vers. 4 and 5).