8009. 'Every male he has shall be circumcised' means that his truth is to be purged from impure kinds of love. This is clear from the meaning of 'being circumcised' as being made pure or being purged from impure kinds of love, dealt with in 2039, 2056, 2632, 3412, 3413, 4462, 7045; and from the meaning of 'male' as the truth of faith, dealt with in 749, 1046, 4005, 7838.

749. 'Male and female' means truth and good. This is clear from what has been stated already at Chapter 6:19 where 'male and female' have reference to birds, but 'male and mate' ¹ to beasts. The reason is also stated there, namely, that things of the will are married to those of the understanding, but less so those of the understanding regarded in themselves to those of the will. The former exist as male and mate ¹ but the latter as male and female. Now because here the subject first of all is the temptation of that man as regards things of the understanding, as has been stated, the phrase 'male and female' is used, and conflict, or temptation as regards things of the understanding, is meant.

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