1367. That 'Haran' means interior idolatrous worship and 'Terah' idolatrous worship in general has been stated and shown already. That 'the land of his birth' means the source from which their idolatrous worship derived is clear from the meaning of 'birth' as a source and derivation, dealt with above at verses 10 and 27.

A 'sword,' as in Ezekiel 21:9-15, signifies a person so desolated that he can see nothing good and true, but only falsities and contradictions. A 'sword,' in the Word, signifies the truth of faith combating and the vastation of truth. In an opposite sense, it signifies falsity combating and the punishment of falsity.

The 'sword,' in Revelation 1:16, represents a dispersion of falsities by the Lord because the sword came out from His mouth, which means it comes from the Word. Because the Word is understood by doctrine taken from it, this is also symbolically meant. It is called a sharp two-edged sword because it pierces the heart and soul.

A 'flaming sword which turned every way,' as in Genesis 3:24, signifies divine truth in extremes, which, like the Word in its literal sense, can be turned.

(Посилання: Arcana Coelestia 2799)