3797. And the flock of Laban, his mother’s brother. That this signifies the church and the doctrine therefrom, is evident from the signification of a “flock,” as being the church and doctrine (n. 3767, 3768, 3783). The reason why Laban is here called “his mother’s brother,” is that thereby is likewise signified an acknowledgment in respect to the origin, as stated just above.

3783. Cometh with the flock. That this signifies interior doctrinal things, is evident from the signification of a “flock,” as being the church, and also doctrinal things (see n. 3767, 3768, 3772); in the present case interior doctrinal things, because it is said of Rachel that she “came with the flock.”