5468. And they said a man to his brother. That this signifies perception concerning the cause, is evident from the signification of “saying” in the historicals of the Word, as being perception (see n. 1791, 1815, 1819, 1822, 1898, 1919, 2080, 2619, 3509); and from the signification of “a man to his brother,” as being mutually (n. 4725). The reason why their “saying a man to his brother” here signifies perception concerning the cause, namely, why Joseph spoke hardly to them, calling them spies, and keeping them in custody three days, is that in the verses which now follow, their mutual discourse treats of the cause; wherefore perception concerning this is signified.