3029. The servant said unto him. That this signifies the Lord’s perception concerning the natural man, is evident from the signification of “saying,” as being to perceive (see n. 1791, 1815, 1819, 1822, 1898, 1919, 2080, 2506, 2515, 2552); and from the signification here of “servant,” as being the natural man (see n. 3019, 3020). Whatever is done in the natural man, and what the quality of the natural man is, is perceived in the rational; for that which is lower in man is perceived by that which is higher (se e n. 2654). Hence it is that by “the servant said unto him” is signified the Lord’s perception concerning the natural man.

2238. Jehovah said. That this signifies perception, is evident from the signification, in the historical sense, of “saying,” as being to perceive, as shown several times before. When the expression “Jehovah said” occurs in the historicals of the Word, it signifies a perception which is not altogether continuous with the previous one, but is a sequent one, and sometimes a new one (see also n. 2061).