5254. And I have heard upon thee, signifies the capacity of the celestial of the spiritual; saying thou hearest a dream to interpret it, signifies of perceiving what is in the things foreseen; as is evident from the signification of “hearing upon thee,” as being to perceive and know that it is such, and consequently that there is the capacity; from the representation of Joseph, to whom these words are spoken, as being the celestial of the spiritual (see n. 4286, 4592, 4594, 4963, 5086, 5087, 5106); from the signification of “hearing,” as being to perceive (n. 5017); from the signification of a “dream,” as being what is foreseen (of which just above, n. 5252); and from the signification of “interpreting,” as being what was therein (of which also above, n. 5253). From this it is plain that by the words “I have heard upon thee, saying, Thou hearest a dream to interpret it,” is signified the capacity of the celestial of the spiritual for perceiving what is in the things foreseen.

5086. The place where Joseph was bound. That this signifies the state of the celestial of the natural now as to these things, is evident from the signification of “place,” as being state (see n. 2625, 2837, 3356, 3387, 4321, 4882); from the representation of Joseph, as being the celestial of the spiritual from the rational (n. 4286, 4585, 4592, 4594, 4963), here the celestial of the natural, because now in the natural from which are temptations (n. 5035, 5039); and from the signification of “being bound,” as being a state of temptations (see n. 5037). In the foregoing chapter the subject treated of is the state of temptations of the celestial of the spiritual in the natural as to those things which were of the interior natural, and here as to those things which are of the exterior natural.