Arcana Coelestia # 2061
2061. God said unto Abraham. That this signifies perception, is evident from the signification of “God’s saying,” in the historical sense, as being in the internal sense to perceive, n. 815, 1819, 1822, 1898, 1919). As another subject here begins to be treated of, namely, that signified by “Sarai” and “Sarah,” and also that signified by the promise of a “son” from Sarah, and by Ishmael’s becoming a “great nation,” it is introduced by a new perception of the Lord, which is expressed by “God said unto Abraham,” as in other places.
Arcana Coelestia # 1822
1822. He said unto him. That this signifies perception, is evident from what was said above at verses 2 and 7. Perception itself is nothing else than a kind of internal speech, which internal speech manifests itself by being perceived. All interior dictate, and even conscience, is nothing else; but perception is a higher or more interior degree of it.