4996. 'In that you are his wife' means because this truth must not be joined to any other good. This is clear from the meaning of 'wife' as truth wedded to its own good, dealt with in 1468, 2517, 3236, 4510, 4823, in this case unspiritual natural truth wedded to unspiritual natural good, as above in 4988.

4510. 'And their women' means charity. This is clear from the meaning of the words for 'woman' and 'wife' (femina, mulier, uxor) as affections for truth and affections for good. Affections for truth are meant when the partner is mentioned or when the expression 'husband' is used, affections for good when the partner is not mentioned or when the term 'man' is used, 915, 1468, 2517, 3236. At present affections for good are meant because the women belonged to the men of the city, who meant truths, 4478 (end), and because the city is everywhere called the city of Shechem, who represented the truth of the Church among the Ancients, 4454. The affection for spiritual good is the same as charity, and this is why 'women' here means charity.