872. And unto every nation and tribe and tongue and people, signifies to all who are in the goods of life and doctrine and in truths thence. This is evident from the signification of "nation" as being those who are in the good of life, because they are in the good of love (see above, n. 175, 331, 625); also from the signification of "tribe," as being those who are in truths from good (see above, n. 39, 430, 431); also from the signification of "tongue," as being confession from good of heart, thus those who are in good of doctrine (see above, n. 455, 625); also from the signification of "people" as being those who are in truths of doctrine (see above, n. 175, 331, 625). This makes clear that "every nation and tribe and tongue and people" signifies all who are in the goods of life and doctrine, and in truths thence, thus both the simple and the learned, wherever they may be, whether within the church or outside of it. In the sense of the letter "every nation, tribe, tongue, and people," means all, of whatsoever religion they are; but in the spiritual sense it means all who live well and understand well.