6683. 'And the midwives said to Pharaoh' means a discernment regarding that true factual knowledge in the natural. This is clear from the meaning of 'saying' in the historical narratives of the Word as a discernment, dealt with often; from the meaning of 'the midwives' as true factual knowledge in the natural, dealt with just above in 6681; and from the representation of 'Pharaoh' as false factual knowledge in general, also dealt with above, in 6679, 6681.

6651. 'And a new king arose over Egypt' means separated factual knowledge, which is opposed to the Church's truths. This is clear from the representation of Pharaoh, to whom 'king' refers here, as factual knowledge in general, dealt with in 6015. The word 'king' is used because in the genuine sense 'king' means truth, 1672, 2015, 2069, 3670, 4581, 4966, 5044, 6148, and in the contrary sense falsity; and since 'king' refers here to Pharaoh, false factual knowledge is meant, that is, factual knowledge that is opposed to the Church's truths. This also explains why the expression 'new king' is used, for the one who lived in Joseph's time represented factual knowledge that accorded with the Church's truths. For the meaning of 'Egypt' as factual knowledge, here that knowledge in particular, see above in 6638.