5421. 'And Joseph saw his brothers, and recognized them' means perception and recognition by the celestial of the spiritual. This is clear from the meaning of 'seeing' as perception, dealt with in 2150, 3764, 4567, 4723; from the representation of 'Joseph' as the celestial of the spiritual, dealt with above in 5417; from the meaning of 'his brothers' as general truths known to the Church, also dealt with above, in 5419; and from the meaning of 'recognizing' as recognition resulting from perception. Regarding this recognition on Joseph's side and the non-recognition on his brother's side, see below in 5422, 5427, 5428.

2150. 'And he saw' means when He recognized this. This is clear from the meaning in the internal sense of 'seeing' as understanding and recognizing, and also of becoming enlightened, dealt with in 1584. Nothing is more common in the Word than for 'seeing' to have such meanings Here the meaning is that He recognized the presence of perception from the Divine, as just stated.