3949. And Jacob came from the field in the evening. That this signifies the good of truth in a state of good, but in obscurity such as belongs to the natural, is evident from the representation of Jacob, as being the good of truth of the natural (see n. 3669, 3677, 3775, 3829); from the signification of a “field,” as being the church as to good (n. 2971), and thus good; and from the signification of the “evening,” as being obscurity (n. 3056, 3833).

3056. About the time of evening. That this signifies a state of more obscurity at that time, is evident from the signification of “time,” as being state (see n. 2625, 2788, 2837); and from the signification of “evening” as being what is obscure; for “evening” in the Word signifies the state which precedes the last state of a church that is coming to its close, which last state is called “night;” and it also signifies the first state of a church just rising, which state is called “morning” (see n. 2323); in either sense it denotes what is obscure, which is signified by “evening,” but it here denotes the obscurity that precedes the morning.