73. And out of His mouth a sharp two-edged sword going forth, signifies the dispersion of falsities by the Word. This is evident from the signification of "going forth out of the mouth," as being, in reference to the Lord, Divine truth, thus the Word, for the Word goes forth out of the Lord's mouth. This is evident also from the signification of "the long sword," or the "sword," as being truth combating; and as truth, when it combats, disperses falsities, therefore a "long sword" also signifies the dispersion of falsities. The long sword is called "two-edged and sharp," because truth completely disperses. (That "long sword" or "sword" signifies truth combating against falsities and destroying them, see Arcana Coelestia 2799, 6353, 8294.) As "the long sword" is frequently mentioned in the following pages (as in chap. 2:12, 16; 6:4, 8; 13:10, 14; 19:15, 21), passages from the Word illustrating and showing that it signifies truth combating and dispersing falsities, will here be omitted. This will be illustrated and shown in those places.

9736. 'And the poles shall be on the two sides of the altar' means the power of the good from which truth springs, and that of the truth which springs from the good. This is clear from the meaning of 'the poles' as power, as immediately above; and from the meaning of 'the two sides' as the good from which truth springs, and the truth that springs from the good, thus a marriage of good to truth and of truth to good. The reason for this is that things on the right side in a human being have connection with the good from which truth springs, and those on the left side with the truth that springs from the good, see 9604, and that by their being joined together the marriage of good and truth is therefore meant, 9495. So it is then that like things are meant by 'the sides of the altar' where the poles went; for all representatives on the natural level resemble the human form and have the same meaning as the parts of it they resemble, 9496.