2061. 'God said to Abraham' means perception. This is clear from the meaning of the expression used in the historical sense - God saying - which in the internal sense means perceiving, dealt with already in 1791, 1815, 1819, 1822, 1898, 1919. Because a different subject is taken up at this point - namely the things meant by the names 'Sarai' and 'Sarah', as well as by the promise of a son borne by Sarah, and by Ishmael's being a great nation in the future - it is introduced by a new perception which the Lord had, expressed here, as in many other places, by the words 'God said to Abraham'.

1898. That 'Sarai said to Abram' means that it was so perceived by Him is clear from the meaning of 'Sarai' and of 'Abram', that is to say, 'Sarai' is truth allied to good, while 'Abram' is the Internal Man. Consequently the phrase 'Sarai said to Abram' cannot in the internal sense mean any talking of one to another, but perception. At that time the Lord's perception came from truth allied to the good which served to dictate to Him what the situation was. Something similar occurs with the celestial man who receives perception, in that there is something of truth allied to good which dictates, and later on good from which, or through which, truth is perceived. 'Saying' in the internal sense means perceiving, see 1791, 1815, 1819, 1822.