4896. 'And also the men of the place said, There has been no harlot there' means perception received from truths that it was not something false. This is clear from what is said just above in 4892, 4893, where similar words occur.

4891. 'In the fountains on the wayside' means that had the appearance of being something true. This is clear from the meaning of 'the fountains' as the truths of the Church, dealt with in 2702, 3096, 3424, 4861. The expression 'on the wayside' is used because 'way' has reference to truth, and in the contrary sense to falsity, 627, 2333, 3123, 3142. And because he asked, 'Where is the harlot in the fountains on the wayside?' the meaning is, Was it something false having the appearance of being something true?