3848. 'And he gave him Rachel his daughter for his wife' means the joining of good at that point to the affection for interior truth. This is clear from the representation of 'Jacob' as the good of the natural, dealt with already, and from the representation of 'Rachel' as the affection for interior truth, also dealt with already; and the 'giving for a wife' clearly means their being joined together. Since every joining of good to truth at first seemingly goes in order from exterior things to interior, and at length to inmost, the expression affection for interior truth is therefore used here, for the affection itself which is an affection for truth flows in from good. The joining of good to the affection for internal truth first takes place when the good of the natural is joined to rational truth, and through this to rational good. This joining together is represented by 'Jacob' after the birth of his twelve sons, when he went back to his mother and father's house, about which more will be said later on.