4184. And Laban answered and said unto Jacob. That this signifies an obscure state of perception, is evident from the signification of “answering and saying,” as being perception. (That in the historic parts of the Word “to say” denotes to perceive, may be seen above, n. 1898, 1919, 2080, 2862, 3395, 3509.) That the state of perception is obscure is evident from what Laban says, namely, that the daughters, the sons, and the flock were his, whereas they were not his; and from the internal sense, that the mediate good claimed all goods and truths as its own. (As regards these things said by Laban, see above, n. 3974, 4113)

3395. And Isaac said unto him, Because I said, Lest I die for her. That this signifies that it would not be received, is evident from what has been said above (n. 3387), at the words, “because he feared to say, She is my woman; lest the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah.” That to “say” signifies to perceive and to think, is better seen here than elsewhere.