7103. 'And the king of Egypt said to them' means the reply from those steeped in falsities. This is clear from the meaning of 'saying', when Pharaoh is speaking to Moses and Aaron, as thinking that was of a contrary nature, as above in 7094, thus the thinking contained in the reply; and from the representation of Pharaoh or 'the king of Egypt' as false factual knowledge, dealt with in 6651, 6679, 6683, 6692, thus those who are steeped in falsities.

1165. In the Word 'Mizraim' or Egypt means knowledge, that is, various facts, by which people wish to probe into the arcana of faith and so confirm the false assumptions acquired in that way. 'Mizraim' also means simply knowledge, and so knowledge that is useful. This is clear not only from the places just quoted but also from very many others which would fill up page after page if they were all included. See Isaiah 19:1-end; Isaiah 30:1-3; 31:1-3; Jeremiah 2:18, 36; Jeremiah 42:14-end; Jeremiah 46:1-end; Ezekiel 16:26; 23:3; Ezekiel 29:1-end; Ezekiel 30:1-end; Hosea 7:11; 9:3, 6; 11:1, 5, 11; Micah 7:12 [NCBS: 7:15]; Zechariah 10:10-11; Psalms 80:8 and following verses.