A "house" is essentially a container -- for a person, a family, several families or even a large group with shared interests (think of the term "houses of worship.") In the Bible, a "house" is also a container, but for spiritual things rather than natural things. In various uses a "house" can represent part of the mind, the whole mind, a whole person or even a church. The other nuance to the word "house" is that it is generally used in regards to our affections and desires rather than our thoughts and principles. This makes sense; we tend to engage our thoughts and rationality when we are out in the world doing our work, but when we are inside our houses we are driven most by love for our families and the desire to be good to those we love. So "house" tends to represent the things we want and care about -- which are ultimately the things that define us.

8368. 'And here there were twelve springs of water' means that in that state they had truths in full abundance. This is clear from the meaning of 'twelve' as all things in their entirety, dealt with in 2089, 2129 (end), 2130 (end), 3272, 3858, 3913, 7973, and so full abundance; and from the meaning of 'springs' as the truths of faith, dealt with in 2702, 3096, 3424, 4861. From these meanings it is evident that 'twelve springs of water' means truths in full abundance; and from them it follows that those words also mean enlightenment and resulting pleasure. For a person possessing truths in full abundance is also enlightened; and if a person who is enlightened desires truth out of affection for it, he is given pleasure by his enlightenment.