3198. 'And lifted up his eyes and sew' means directing the attention. This is clear from the meaning of 'lifting up the eyes' as thinking, dealt with in 2789, 2829; here it means directing the attention since it is said that 'he lifted up his eyes and saw' and this has reference to Rational Good to which truth from the Natural had not yet been joined.

'Laban', as in Genesis 31:44, represents the goods of works, which have a place with people who are aside, that is, with the Gentiles. The good which 'Laban' represents is of limited use -- namely it serves to introduce genuine truths and goods, and that once it has performed that use, it is discarded. He signifies the affection of good in the natural self, or the affection of external good, and properly collateral good of a common stock.

(Odkazy: Arcana Coelestia 3665)