For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. [NLT]
Hebrews 4:12-13
- [ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ] (ho logos tou Theou) – the word of God
- [Ζῶν] (zōn) “alive”, “living”
- [ἐνεργὴς] (energēs) “powerful”, “active”, “energized”
- [τομώτερος ὑπὲρ] (tomōteros huper) “sharper than”, “sharper beyond”
- [πᾶσαν μάχαιραν δίστομον] (pasan machairan distimon) “sharpest two-edged sword” “every sword double-edged”
- [διϊκνούμενος ἄχρι μερισμοῦ] (diïknoumenos achri merismou) “cutting between” “passing through to the point of dividing”
- [ψυχῆς] (psuchēs) “soul”
- [πνεύματος] (pneumatos) “spirit”
- [ἁρμῶν] (armōn) joint
- [μυελῶν] (muelōn) marrow
- [κριτικὸς] (kritikos) It “exposes”, “exposing”, “judging”
- [ἐνθυμήσεων καὶ ἐννοιῶν καρδίας] (enthumēseōn kai ennoiōn kardias) “our innermost thoughts and desires“, “thoughts and desires of the heart”
- [οὐκ ἔστιν κτίσις] (ouk estin ktisis) “Nothing in all creation” “there is no creature”
- [ἀφανὴς ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ] (aphanēs enōpion autou) “hidden from God” “unmanifest” “not laid bare”
- [πάντα] (panta) “Everything” “all things”
- [γυμνὰ] (gumna) “naked”
- [τετραχηλισμένα] (tetrachēlismena) “exposed”
- [τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ] (tois ophthalmois autou) before his eyes “to the eyes of Him”
- [πρὸς ὃν ἡμῖν ὁ λόγος] (pros hon hēmin ho loyos) “He is the one to whom we are accountable” “before the One we the account (word)”
Hebrews 4:12
1 The Word of God [ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ] (ho logos tou Theou)
Many times we spell Word with a capital W when we write The Word of God. Why? It is a personification of the Word and it is appropriate. The Greek text doesn’t capitalise the ‘l’ of Logos. However the sense involved in the Word of God is that the attributes of God are indeed personified in our interaction with God, the Word (Jesus) and God’s Spirit. I have shared before the idea that “the Bible is the only book we can read where the author is always present when we are reading it.” We all know reading the Bible is not like reading any other book. There are many times when the Bible seems inexplicably, intimately present within us. There are many times when the Bible speaks to us poignantly and personally in ways appropriate for each day’s circumstances. How is that possible? It is a result of the degree to which God, Jesus (the Word made flesh) and the Holy Spirit are intimately involved during our interaction with the Word of God.
The Word of God is:-
- a) the spoken Word of God in past times and currently
- b) the written Word of God, accurately transmitted and reliable through to the 21st Century
- c) the Spirit communicated Word through Rhēma moments when the Holy Spirit Himself quickens the written Word of God to us in ways that inspire on a totally different level.
2 Alive [Ζῶν] (zōn)
[Ζῶν] is a present participle of the verb [zaō] to live, to be alive, to have vitality, to be filled with life and vigour. Hence the Word of God is “alive”, “living” , vital and filled with life. The end result for us from our interaction with the Word of God on whatever level on the continuum represented between God <-> Jesus <-> Holy Spirit is that we come alive with Spirit inspired life, living hope and vibrant expectation. It is this aspect of the Word of God which enables ‘It’ to become alive within us as we interact with the Word. It is indeed alive in ways we can’t explain which gives ‘It’ the quality of being inexplicably present and relevant as we read ‘It’.
3. Active [ἐνεργὴς] (energēs)
The Word of God is also “powerful”, “active”, “energized”, filled with ‘energy’ and ‘power’ as the Greek word indicates. The Word of God works in us in active ways but also activates the effects of that same word within us. God is faithful to His Word and as a result it is not voided, but is always actively working within us to accomplish the work He has started. (Phil 1:6, Isaiah 55:11). The Word of God works within us even when we don’t expect it or figure the effects have long since ceased. It is not true. The Word of God continues to be active, filled with power and life sufficient to complete His work in us up to the day of Christ’s return.
4/5. Sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword [τομώτερος ὑπὲρ πᾶσαν μάχαιραν δίστομον] (tomōteros huper pasan machairan distimon)
This is an interesting expression, literally ‘sharper than (or sharper beyond , over and above) {the sharpness} of {all, any} double edged sword. [Tomos] is the adjective for sharp and [tomōteros] is the comparative form for ‘sharper’. Meaning the sharp edge of the Word of God is sharper by far, far beyond the sharpness of the any and all double-edged swords. The double edged sword was more efficient than a single-edged sword with regard to penetration. The double cutting edge meant there was less resistance and more cutting power. It is interesting that the same instrument is referred to in Proverbs 5:4 in reference to its sharpness. The [machaira], although a term used for a long sword initially, became a general term for all swords, long or short, including even a dagger. The shape was like the shape of the tongue which of course had particular relevance when used to refer to the Word of God.
6. Piercing through to the point [διϊκνούμενος ἄχρι μερισμοῦ] (diïknoumenos achri merismou)
Piercing through with a broad double-edged sword does much damage. But damage and punishment is not in focus in this verse. Rather the idea is that the piercing of the broad double-sided blade penetrates deep, up to the point of dividing or separating the soul and spirit and also the joints and the marrow. Now you have to admit that is a deep degree of penetration. I think we could all agree the broad sword could not achieve such penetration to the point of penetrating to the division of separation between soul and spirit as well as joints and marrow. However the Word of God certainly has that power, in that it is alive, active and sharp and working on other levels than just corporal.
7/8/9/10 Of dividing between soul & spirit, joints & marrow and thought and desire
The Greek text contains a repetition of τε καὶ – [ψυχῆς τε καὶ πνεύματος, ἁρμῶν τε καὶ μυελῶν]. It is an interesting construction. [τε καὶ] means “both and”. The sense in this case is that the separation occurs between each pair or doublet, both between soul and spirit and between both joints and marrow. It is curious in the sense that we have two doublets of deep body parts (if we can call the soul and spirit a body part). Soul & spirit are coupled together and so too are joints & marrow. The coupling of these two pairings begs more investigation bearing in mind both are combined with the idea of exposing the thoughts and desires of the heart. We appear to have yet another coupling of thoughts & desires. Thoughts and desires of the heart are another deep seated separation. They are stacking up aren’t they? Not only that, but there is yet another exposure coming up in the form of [τετραχηλισμένα ]. This is no flippant comment, a chance stringing together of some random Greek words. There is deep thought behind this combination, which we will have to leave unexposed until the following Gem.
Moments of enlightenment in the Word of God surprise us. It is not that we seize them but that they seize us.
Ian
Jesus taught profound truth in simple ways. We do the opposite. Many “deep” teachers are actually just muddy!
Rick Warren
All you need is deep within you waiting to unfold and reveal itself. Ask God to point it out and make it accessible.
Ian
My relationship with God is only as deep as my relationship to His Word.
Robb Thompson