4184. 'Laban answered and said to Jacob' means an obscure state of perception. This is clear from the meaning of 'answering and saying' as perception; for 'saying' in historical narratives of the Word means perceiving, see 1898, 1919, 2080, 2862, 3395, 3509. The fact that an obscure state of perception is meant is clear from the assertions made here by Laban - that the daughters, the sons, and the flock were his own, when in fact they were not. The meaning in the internal sense is that intermediate good claimed all goods and truths to itself. Regarding these assertions made by Laban, see what has been said already in 3974, 4113.

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.