4348. 'Until he came right up to his brother' means a joining on the part of good that develops from truth, meant by 'Jacob'. This is clear from the meaning of 'coming right up to' as so as to join oneself; from the representation of Esau, to whom 'brother' refers here, as Divine Good within the natural, dealt with above in 4337; and from the representation of 'Jacob' as the good of truth, also dealt with above in 4337. The implications of all this have been explained immediately above in 4347.

As with many common verbs, the meaning of “to say” in the Bible is highly dependent on context. Who is speaking? Who is hearing? What is it about? Is it a command, a message, an apology, instruction? All these things enter into the meaning of “say.” In general, though, “saying” has to do with sharing truth at various levels -- from the most exalted power people can have to perceive the Lord's desires directly to the most basic of orders issued to people at their lowest.