2101. 'All born in his house, and everyone purchased with his silver, and every male among the men of Abraham's house' means those inside the Church in whom truths of faith have been joined to goods. This is clear from the meaning of 'those born in the house' as celestial people, from the meaning of 'those bought with silver' as spiritual people - these being people inside the Church, dealt with above in 2048, 2051, 2052; and also from the meaning of 'male' as those who possess the truth of faith, also dealt with above in 2046. From what appears in those paragraphs it is evident that people inside the Church are meant with whom truths of faith have been joined to goods.

2046. 'Every male' means those who possess the truth of faith. This is clear from the meaning of 'a male' as truth, dealt with in 672, 749. The reason why the word 'male', meaning the truth of faith, is used is that nobody can be purified from those filthy loves except the person who is governed by truth. From truth he recognizes what is pure or impure, and what is holy or unholy. Until he possesses such knowledge there are no channels into which and through which heavenly love flowing in constantly from the Lord is able to operate, for it cannot be received except within truths. It is by means of cognitions of truth therefore that a person is reformed and regenerated, but this does not take place before he has been endowed with them. Conscience itself is formed by means of the truths of faith, for the conscience with which a regenerate person is endowed is a conscience for what is true and right. On this matter see 977, 986 (end), 1033, 1076, 1077. This also is the reason why flint knives, or 'swords of flint', as they are called, were used for circumcision. 'Swords of flint' means truths, see above 2039 (end).