8461. And they said a man to his brother. That this signifies amazement, is evident from the fact that “saying” involves that which follows, here that they were amazed when they saw the manna, as they said, “What is this [Man hoc]? because they knew not what it was;” and from the signification of “a man to his brother,” as being mutually (n. 4725).

4725. And they said a man to his brother. That this signifies their mutual thoughts, is evident from the signification of “saying,” as being to perceive and to think (n. 3395); and from the signification of “a man to his brother,” as being mutually. It was a customary form of speech with the ancients to say “a man to his brother” when what is mutual was signified; for the reason that a “man” signified truth (n. 3134, 3459), and a “brother” good (n. 4121), between which there intervenes a most intimate mutual relation; for the conjunction of truth with good and of good with truth takes place mutually and reciprocally (n. 2731).