3664. 'Go to Paddan Aram' means the cognitions of such truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'Aram' or Syria as cognitions, dealt with in 1232, 1234, 3249. The reason 'Paddan Aram' means cognitions of truth is that it was situated in Syria of the [Two] Rivers, where Nahor, Bethuel, and Laban lived; for 'Syria' means the cognitions of truth, see 3051. Paddan Aram has also been referred to previously in 25:20, and is mentioned again in 31:18 below; and in those places too it means cognitions of truth.

1234. That 'Aram' means cognitions of good has been shown just above, from which it follows that 'the sons of Aram' are derivative cognitions and the products of cognitions. Derivative cognitions are natural truths, while the products of cognitions are deeds done in accordance with them. The fact that these things are meant cannot be confirmed so easily from the Word, for they are not among the names that are mentioned frequently. Uz alone is mentioned, in Jeremiah 25:20 and Lamentations 4:21. From this then it follows that 'Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash' mean just so many types of these cognitions, and of deeds done in accordance with them.