5162. 'And he lifted up the head' means [according to] what was of providence and what was of foresight. This is clear from the meaning of 'lifting up the head' as a decision attributable to providence and also to foresight, dealt with above in 5124, 5155. Providence is at work in the case of that power of sensory perception which is subject to the understanding part and is retained as something good, this being represented by 'the cupbearer'; but foresight is at work in the case of that sensory perception which is subject to the will part and is cast aside as something evil, this being represented by 'the baker'. That which is good is of providence while that which is evil is of foresight because everything good originates in the Lord but everything evil in hell or in the human proprium. As regards the human proprium being nothing but evil, see 210, 215, 694, 874-876, 987, 1023, 1044, 1047, 1581, 3812 (end), 4328.

3811. Verses 14-15 And Laban said to him, Surely you are my bone and my flesh. And he dwelt with him for a full month. And Laban said to Jacob, Because you are my brother should you serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your reward be?

'Laban said to him, Surely you are my bone and my flesh' means joined together as regards truths and as regards goods. 'And he dwelt with him for a full month' means a new state of life. 'And Laban said to Jacob, Because you are my brother' means, because they are kindred, by virtue of good. 'Should you serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your reward be?' means that there must be a means by which they are joined together.