Hebrews Chapter 4 verse 12 Holy Bible

Hebrews 4 : 12 Bible Verse Songs

• Spirit of The Living God by Vertical Worship
• Take Me Deeper by Pastor Chingtok Ishaku
• Alive by Hillsong Young & Free
• Ancient Words by Fountainview Academy
• Your Words by Third Day
• Your Word is Alive by The Cashmans
• Taura Shoko (Speak A Word) by Michael Mahendere

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(12) As in Hebrews 3:12 the warning against the "evil heart of unbelief" is solemnly enforced by the mention of the "Living God," so here, in pointing to the peril of disobedience, it is to the living power of the word of God that the writer makes appeal. But in what sense? Does he bring before us again the word of Scripture, or the divine Word Himself? Outside the writings of St. John there is no passage in the New Testament in which the word of God is as clearly invested with personal attributes as here. The word is "quick" (that is, living), "powerful" (or, active--mighty in operation, as most of our versions render the word), "able to discern the thoughts of the heart." Philo, whose writings are pervaded by the doctrine of the divine Word (see the Note appended to St. John's Gospel in Vol. I. of this Commentary, p. 553), in certain passages makes use of expressions so remarkably resembling some that are before us in this verse that we cannot suppose the coincidence accidental. Thus, in an allegorical explanation of Genesis 15:10, he speaks of the sacred and divine Word as cutting through all things, dividing all perceptible objects, and penetrating even to those called indivisible, separating the different parts of the soul. But though these and the many other resemblances that are adduced may prove the writer's familiarity with the Alexandrian philosophy, they are wholly insufficient to show an adoption of Philo's doctrinal system (if system it could be called) in regard to the divine Word, or to rule the interpretation of the single passage in this Epistle in which an allusion to that system could be traced. Nor is the first-mentioned argument conclusive. There certainly is personification here, and in part the language used would, if it stood alone, even suggest the presence of a divine Person; but it is not easy to believe that in the New Testament the words "sharper than a two-edged sword" would be directly applied to the Son of God. In this Epistle, moreover (and even in this context, Hebrews 4:2), reference is repeatedly made to the word of God in revelation, without a trace of any other meaning. The key to the language of this verse, so far as it is exceptional, is found in that characteristic of the Epistle to which reference has been already made--the habitual thought of Scripture as a direct divine utterance. The transition from such a conception to those of this verse was very easy; and we need not feel surprise if with expressions which are naturally applied to the utterance are joined others which lead the thought to God as Speaker. It is, therefore, the whole word of God that is brought before us--mainly the word of threatening and judgment, but also (comp. Hebrews 4:2 and the last member of this verse) the word of promise.Piercing even to the dividing asunder . . .--Rather, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, both joints and marrow. For the comparison of God's word to a sword see Isaiah 49:2; Ephesians 6:17; (Revelation 1:16); comp. also Wisdom Of Solomon 18:15-16, "Thine Almighty word leapt down from heaven out of Thy royal throne . . . and brought Thine unfeigned commandment as a sharp sword, and standing up filled all things with death." The keen two-edged sword penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit (not soul from spirit), with unfailing stroke severing bone from bone and piercing the very marrow. The latter words, by a very natural metaphor, are transferred from the material frame to the soul and spirit. . . . Parallel Commentaries ...GreekForγὰρ (gar)ConjunctionStrong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.theὁ (ho)Article - Nominative Masculine SingularStrong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.wordλόγος (logos)Noun - Nominative Masculine SingularStrong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.of GodΘεοῦ (Theou)Noun - Genitive Masculine SingularStrong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.[is] livingΖῶν (Zōn)Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine SingularStrong's 2198: To live, be alive. A primary verb; to live.andκαὶ (kai)ConjunctionStrong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. active.ἐνεργὴς (energēs)Adjective - Nominative Masculine SingularStrong's 1756: Effective, productive of due result, at work. From en and ergon; active, operative.Sharperτομώτερος (tomōteros)Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - ComparativeStrong's 5114: Sharper, keener. Comparative of a derivative of the primary temno; more keen.thanὑπὲρ (hyper)PrepositionStrong's 5228: Gen: in behalf of; acc: above. anyπᾶσαν (pasan)Adjective - Accusative Feminine SingularStrong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.double-edgedδίστομον (distomon)Adjective - Accusative Feminine SingularStrong's 1366: (lit: twain-mouthed; hence: of a sword, as a drinker of blood), two-edged. From dis and stoma; double-edged.sword,μάχαιραν (machairan)Noun - Accusative Feminine SingularStrong's 3162: A sword. Probably feminine of a presumed derivative of mache; a knife, i.e. Dirk; figuratively, war, judicial punishment.it piercesδιϊκνούμενος (diiknoumenos)Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine SingularStrong's 1338: To pass through (to), come through (to), pierce. From dia and the base of hikanos; to reach through, i.e. Penetrate.evenκαὶ (kai)ConjunctionStrong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. toἄχρι (achri)PrepositionStrong's 891: As far as, up to, until, during. Or achris akh'-rece; akin to akron; until or up to.dividingμερισμοῦ (merismou)Noun - Genitive Masculine SingularStrong's 3311: From merizo; a separation or distribution.soulψυχῆς (psychēs)Noun - Genitive Feminine SingularStrong's 5590: From psucho; breath, i.e. spirit, abstractly or concretely.andκαὶ (kai)ConjunctionStrong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. spirit,πνεύματος (pneumatos)Noun - Genitive Neuter SingularStrong's 4151: Wind, breath, spirit. jointsἁρμῶν (harmōn)Noun - Genitive Masculine PluralStrong's 719: A joint of the body. From the same as harma; an articulation.andκαὶ (kai)ConjunctionStrong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. marrow.μυελῶν (myelōn)Noun - Genitive Masculine PluralStrong's 3452: Marrow. Perhaps a primary word; the marrow.It judgesκριτικὸς (kritikos)Adjective - Nominative Masculine SingularStrong's 2924: Critical, able to judge or discern. From krites; decisive, i.e. Discriminative.[the] thoughtsἐνθυμήσεων (enthymēseōn)Noun - Genitive Feminine PluralStrong's 1761: Inward thought, reflection, plur: thoughts. From enthumeomai; deliberation.andκαὶ (kai)ConjunctionStrong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. intentionsἐννοιῶν (ennoiōn)Noun - Genitive Feminine PluralStrong's 1771: From a compound of en and nous; thoughtfulness, i.e. Moral understanding.of [the] heart.καρδίας (kardias)Noun - Genitive Feminine SingularStrong's 2588: Prolonged from a primary kar; the heart, i.e. the thoughts or feelings; also the middle.Jump to PreviousAble Active Asunder Discern Dividing Full God's Heart Intentions Intents Joints Keener Life Marrow Message Pierces Piercing Power Powerful Purposes Quick Secret Sharper Sharpest Soul Spirit Sword Thoughts Twoedged Two-Edged Word