In Genesis 43:7, regarding the tenor or tone of Joseph's words to his brothers -- 'telling' in the spiritual sense means discerning; and 'according to the tenor of his words' means that his tone or, literally "mouth", was in accord with the wish to discern.

In Exodus 34:27, being in accord with the "tenor" or "mouth" of Jehovah's words of His covenant, means being joined through these truths. In this instance, it means that by means of information concerning the primary truths to be remembered, there will be conjunction with people in external and internal worship. (Arcana Coelestia 10682-10683)

2160. Verse 4 Let now a little water be taken, and [all of you] wash your feet, and recline under the tree.

'Let now a little water be taken' means that they were to draw near and bring themselves down from Divine things nearer to His intellectual concepts. 'And wash your feet' means that they were to take on something natural so that during the state He was then passing through His perception might be improved. 'And recline under the tree' means towards the perception of the state through which He was passing, 'tree' meaning perception.