3126. Verses 28-30 And the girl ran and told [those of] her mother's house all about these things. And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban; and Laban ran to the man outside, to the spring. And so it was - when he saw the nose-jewel and the bracelets on his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, who said, Thus the man spoke to me - that he went to the man, and behold, he was standing with the camels at the spring.

'The girl ran' means the inclination of that affection. 'And told [those of] her mother's house all about these things' means towards whatever natural good enlightenment was able to reach. 'And Rebekah had a brother' means the affection for good in the natural man. 'His name was Laban' means the essential nature of that affection. 'And Laban ran to the man outside, to the spring' means its inclination towards truth that was to be introduced into Divine truth. 'And so it was, when he saw the nose-jewel and the bracelets on his sister's hands' means when it recognized Divine Good and Divine Truth within the power of the affection for truth, meant by 'a sister'. 'And when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister' means the inclination of it. 'Who said, Thus the man spoke to me' means the leanings of truth in the natural man. 'And he went to the man' means that it attached itself. 'And behold, he was standing with the camels' means presence in general facts. 'At the spring' means the enlightenment of them from Divine truth.

3067. 'And let the girl to whom I say' means an affection that has innocence within it. This is clear from the meaning of 'the girl'. In the Word affections for good and truth are called young children, girls, young women, and daughters, but in every case the different usage has regard to state. When 'a daughter' is used affection in general is meant, but when 'a young woman' affection that has charity within it is meant. When however 'a girl' is used affection that has innocence within it is meant, the reason being that girlhood comes next after early childhood, which in the internal sense is innocence, as does 'a boy' or 'small child' by which is meant a state in which innocence is present, see 430.