As with many common verbs, the meaning of “to say” in the Bible is highly dependent on context. Who is speaking? Who is hearing? What is it about? Is it a command, a message, an apology, instruction? All these things enter into the meaning of “say.” In general, though, “saying” has to do with sharing truth at various levels -- from the most exalted power people can have to perceive the Lord's desires directly to the most basic of orders issued to people at their lowest.

4185. 'The daughters are my daughters, and the sons are my sons, and the flock is my flock' means that all affections for truth, all truths and goods were its own. This is clear from the meaning of 'daughters', who in this case are Rachel and Leah, as affections for truth, dealt with in 3758, 3782, 3793, 3819; from the meaning of 'sons' as truths, dealt with in 489, 491, 533, 1147, 3373; and from the meaning of 'flock' as goods, dealt with in 343, 1565, 2566. The fact that intermediate good laid claim to these as its own is self-evident, for Laban said 'the daughters are my daughters, and the sons are my sons, and the flock is my flock'.