2374. They pressed upon the man. That this signifies that they desired to offer violence to truth, is evident from the signification of a man [vir], as being the intellectual and rational in man, and consequently truth (see n. 158, 1007). To offer violence to truth is to pervert the things of faith; and these are perverted when they are separated from charity, and when it is denied that they lead to the good of life.

158. That man [vir] signifies the internal man, or what is the same, one who is intelligent and wise, is plain from Isaiah:

I behold, and there is no man [vir], even among them, and there is no counselor (Isaiah 41:28),

meaning none wise and intelligent. Also in Jeremiah:

Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see if ye can find a man, if there be any executing judgment, seeking the truth (Jeremiah 5:1)

“One who executes judgment” means a wise person; and “one who seeks the truth” an intelligent one.