5403. And Jacob said to his sons. That this signifies perception regarding truths in general, 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, 2862, 3395, 3509); and from the signification of “sons,” as being the truths of faith (n. 489, 491, 533, 1147, 2623, 3373, 4257); and because they were the sons of Jacob, truths in general are signified; for by Jacob’s twelve sons, as by the twelve tribes, were signified all things of faith, thus truths in general (n. 2129, 2130, 3858, 3862, 3926, 3939, 4060).

1897. Verse 2. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold I pray, Jehovah hath shut me up from bearing; go in I pray unto my handmaid; it may be that I shall be built up by her; and Abram harkened to the voice of Sarai. “Sarai said unto Abram,” signifies that it was so perceived; “Behold I pray, Jehovah hath shut me up from bearing,” signifies the state before the interior or Divine rational man was born; “go in I pray unto my handmaid,” signifies conjunction with the exterior man; “it may be that I shall be built up by her,” signifies that in this way the rational could be born. “And Abram harkened to the voice of Sarai,” signifies that it could not be done in any other way.