4725. 'And they said, a man to his brother' means the thoughts held mutually by them. This is clear from the meaning of 'saying' as perceiving and thinking, dealt with in 3395; and from the meaning of 'a man to his brother' as mutually. Among the ancients 'a man to his brother' was a customary saying used by them to mean something mutual, the reason being that 'a man' meant truth, 3134, 3459, and 'a brother' good, 4121, and a perfect mutual bond exists between truth and good. For when truth is joined to good, and good to truth, the action is mutual and reciprocal, 2731.

3395. 'And Isaac said to him, Because I said, Perhaps I may die because of her' means that it would not be received. This is clear from what has been stated above in 3387, at the words 'for he was afraid to say, My wife, [thinking,] The men of the place may perhaps kill me on account of Rebekah'. More plainly than anywhere else 'saying' here means perceiving and thinking.