Hebrews 4:12
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. | For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. | For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedHebrews 4:12-13The word of God
About Hebrews 4A promise of entering God's rest still stands, but the word did not profit the wilderness generation, "not being mixed with faith," while "we which have believed do enter into rest." "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God," so "Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest," for "the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword." Since "we have a great high priest... Jesus the Son of God," who "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin," we may "come boldly unto the throne of grace." Hebrews 4:1Hebrews 4:2Hebrews 4:3Hebrews 4:9Hebrews 4:11Hebrews 4:12Hebrews 4:14Hebrews 4:15Hebrews 4:16
Why this verse matters here"The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword... and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
Original Greek words
| English | Greek | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living [is] | ζῶν | zōn | G2198 | to liveζάω (zaō) ζάω, -ῶ, [in LXX chiefly for חיה (most frequently ptcp., ζῶν, inf., ζῆν, for חַי ;] 1. prop., to live, be alive (see Syn., see word βίος; in cl. usually of animal life, but sometimes of plants, as Arist., Eth. N, i, 7, 12): Act.20:12, Rom.7:1-3, 1Co.7:39, Rev.19:20, al.; ἐν αὐτῷ ζῶμεν, Act.17:28; ἐμοὶ τὸ ζῆν Χριστός, Php.1:21; διὰ παντὸς τοῦ ζῆν (M, Pr., 215, 249), Heb.2:15; ὃ δὲ νῦν ζῶ ἐν σαρκί, Gal.2:20; ζῇ ἐν ἐμοὶ Χριστός, Gal.2:20; (ὁ) ζῶν, of God (אֵל חַי and cognate phrases, Jos.3:10, Hos.2:1 (1:10), Isa.37:4, al.; see DCG, ii, 39a), Mat.16:16, Jhn.6:57, Rom.9:26, 1Th.1:9, Heb.3:12, Re … |
| for | γὰρ | gar | G1063 | forγάρ (gar) γάρ, co-ordinating particle, contr. of γε ἄρα, verily then, hence, in truth, indeed, yea, then, why, and when giving a reason or explanation, for, the usage in NT being in general accord with that of cl.; 1. explicative and epexegetic: Mat.4:18 19:12, Mrk.1:16 5:42 16:4, Luk.11:3o, Rom.7:1, 1Co.16:5, al. 2. Conclusive, in questions, answers and exclamations: Mat.9:5 27:23, Luk.9:25 22:27, Jhn.9:30, Act.8:31 16:37 19:35, Rom.15:26, 1Co.9:10, Php.1:18 (Ellic., in l.), 1Th.2:20, al. … |
| word | λόγος | logos | G3056 | wordλόγος (logos) λόγος, -ου, ὁ (λέγω) [in LXX chiefly for דָּבָר, also for מִלָּה ,אֵמֶר, etc. ;] I. Of that by which the inward thought is expressed, Lat. oratio, sermo, vox, verbum. 1. a word, not in the grammatical sense of a mere name (ἔπος, ὄνομα, ῥῆμα), but a word as embodying a conception or idea: Mat.8:8, Luk.7:7, 1Co.14:9, 19 Heb.12:19, al. … |
| of God | θεοῦ | theou | G2316 | Godθεός (theos) θεός, -οῦ, ὁ, ἡ (Act.19:37 only; see M, Pr., 60, 244), late voc., θεέ (Mat.27:46; cf. Deu.3:24, al.), [in LXX chiefly for אֱלֹהִים, also for אֵל and other cognate forms, יהוה, etc. ;] a god or deity, God. 1. In polytheistic sense, a god or deity: Act.28:6, 1Co.8:4, 2Th.2:4, al.; pl., Ac. 14:11 19:26, Gal.4:8, al. 2. Of the one true God; … |
| and | καὶ | kai | G2532 | andκαί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. … |
| active | ἐνεργὴς | energēs | G1756 | effectiveἐνεργής, ἐναργής (energēs, enargēs) ἐνεργής, -ές (late form of ἐνεργός, on WH. cf. AR, Eph., 241), at work, active, effective: 1Co.16:9, Phm 6, Heb.4:12 (Cremer, 261).† (AS) |
| and | καὶ | kai | G2532 | andκαί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. … |
| sharper | τομώτερος | tomōteros | G5114 | sharperτομώτερος (tomōteros) τομός, -ή, -όν (τέμνω), sharp: compar., -ώτερος, metaphorically, Heb.4:12.† (AS) |
| than | ὑπὲρ | huper | G5228 | above/forὑπέρ (huper) ὑπέρ (when following subst.—poët.—ὕπερ; so as adv., 2Co.11:23), prep. with genitive, accusative I. C. genitive, primarily of place (rest or motion), over, above, across, beyond, hence, metaphorically, 1. for, on behalf of: of prayer, Mat.5:44, Act.8:24, Rom.10:1, Jas.5:16, al.; of laying down life, Jhn.10:11, Rom.9:3, al.; esp. of Christ giving his life for man's redemption, Mrk.14:24, Jhn.10:15, Act.21:13, Rom.5:6-8, al.; opposite to κατά, Mrk.9:40, Luk.9:50, Rom.8:31. … |
| any | πᾶσαν | pasan | G3956 | allπᾶς (pas) πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν, genitive, παντός, πάσης, παντός, [in LXX chiefly for כֹּל ;] all, every. I. As adj., 1. with subst. anarth., all, every, of every kind: Mat.3:10 4:23, Mrk.9:49, Luk.4:37, Jhn.2:1o, Act.27:20, Rom.7:8, Rev.18:17, al. mult.; pl., all, Act.22:15, Rom.5:12, Heb.1:6, al.; of the highest degree, π. ἐξουσία (προθυμία, χαρά), Mat.28:18, Act.17:11, Phi 2:29, al.; also the whole (though in this sense more frequently with art.), Mat.2:3, Act.2:36, Rom.11:26. … |
| sword | μάχαιραν | machairan | G3162 | swordμάχαιρα (machaira) μάχαιρα, -ης (Att.. -ας; see WH, App., 1568; ΒΙ., § 7, 1), ἡ, [in LXX chiefly for חֶרֶב; also for מַאֲכֶלֶת, etc. ;] 1. (in Hom., al.) a large knife or dirk, for sacrificial purposes (Gen.22:6, 10, Jdg.19:20 A). … |
| two-edged | δίστομον | distomon | G1366 | double-edgedδίστομος (distomos) δίστομος, -ον (δίς, στόμα), [in LXX: Jdg.3:16, Psa.149:6, Pro.5:4 (פֶּה), Sir.21:3 * ;] 1. of rivers and roads, double-mouthed, double branching. 2. Of swords (Eur.; LXX, ll with), two-edged: Heb.4:12, Rev.1:16 2:12.† (AS) |
| even | καὶ | kai | G2532 | andκαί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. … |
| penetrating | διϊκνούμενος | diiknoumenos | G1338 | to penetrateδιϊκνέομαι (diikneomai) δι-ικνέομαι (Rec. διϊκ-), -οῦμαι, [in LXX for בָּרַח hi., Exo.26:28 * ;] to go through, penetrate: Heb.4:12.† (AS) |
| as far as | ἄχρι | achri | G0891 | untilἄχρι (achri) ἄχρι (and Epic ἄχρις, bef. vowel (see MM, see word), Rom.11:25 T, Gal.3:19 T, WH, mg., Heb.3:13); 1. adv., utterly (Hom.). 2. Prep. with genitive, until, unto, as far as; (a) of time Act.3:21 22:22, Rom.1:13 5:13, 1Co.4:11, 2Co.3:14, Gal.4:2, Php.1:6; ἄ. καιροῦ, Luk.4:13, Act.13:11; ἄ. ἧς ἡμέρας, Mat.24:38, Luk.1:20 17:27, Act.1:2 (τῆς ἡ. ἧς), Act.1:22; ἄ. ταύτης τ. ἡμέρας (τ. ἡ. ταύτης), Act.2:29 23:1 26:22; ἄ. ἡμερων πέντε, Act.20:6; ἄ. αὐγῆς, Act.20:11; ἄ. τοῦ νῦν, Rom.8:22, Php.1:5; ἄ. τέλους, Heb.6:11, Rev.2:26; … |
| [the] division | μερισμοῦ | merismou | G3311 | divisionμερισμός (merismos) μερισμός, -οῦ, ὁ (μερίζω), [in LXX for מַחְלְקָה, מַחֲלֹקֶת, Jos.11:23, Est.6:18 * ;] 1. a dividing, division: ψυχῆς κ. πνεύματος (i.e. between them or of the things themselves, see Westc., in l), Heb.4:12. 2. a distribution, bestowal (cf. μερίζω, 2); pl., Heb.2:4.† (AS) |
| of soul | ψυχῆς | psuchēs | G5590G | soulψυχή (psuchē) ψυχή, -ῆς, ἡ, [in LXX very frequently for נֶפֶשׁ, sometimes for לֵבַב ,לֵב, etc. ;] 1. breath (Lat. anima), breath of life, life (Hom., al.; in Arist., of the vital principle): Mat.6:25, Mrk.3:4 10:45, Luk.12:22, Jhn.10:11, Act.20:10, 24 2Co.1:23, Php.2:30, 1Th.2:8, al. 2. the soul, (a) as the seat of the will, desires and affections: Mat.26:38, Mrk.12:30" (LXX) 14:34, Luk.1:46, Jhn.10:24, Act.14:2, Php.1:27, al.; ἐκ ψυχῆς, from the heart, heartily: Eph.6:6, Col.3:23; … |
| then | τε | te | G5037 | and/bothτε (te) τέ, enclitic copulative particle (= Lat. -que as καί = and, ac, atque, not very frequently in NT, more than two-thirds of the occurrences being in Ac. 1. τέ solitarium, and, denoting a closer affinity than καί between words and sentences which it connects (BL, §77, 8): Mat.28:12, Jhn.4:42, Act.2:33, 37 40 10:22 11:21, al. 2. Denoting a closer connection than simple καί, τὲ . . . καί, τὲ καί, τὲ . . . τέ (Act.26:16 Rom.14:8), as well . . . as also, both . . . and: Luk.12:45, Act.1:1 15:9, 21:30, al.; τὲ . . . δέ, and . . . and, Act.19:2; τὲ γάρ . . . ὁμοίως δὲ καί, Rom.1:26, 27. (AS) |
| and | καὶ | kai | G2532 | andκαί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. … |
| spirit, | πνεύματος, | pneumatos | G4151G | spirit/breath: spiritπνεῦμα (pneuma) πνεῦμα, -τος, τό, [in LXX chiefly and very frequently for רוּחַ ;] 1. of air in motion; (a) wind: Jhn.3:8; pl., Heb.1:7 (LXX); (b) breath: π. ζωῆς, Rev.11:11; π. τοῦ στόματος, figuratively, 2Th.2:8 (cf. Ps 32 (33)6). … |
| of joints | ἁρμῶν | harmōn | G0719 | jointἁρμός (harmos) ἁρμός, -ου, ὁ [in LXX: Sir.27:2, 4Ma.10:5 * ;] a joining, joint: Heb.4:12.† (AS) |
| and | τε | te | G5037 | and/bothτε (te) τέ, enclitic copulative particle (= Lat. -que as καί = and, ac, atque, not very frequently in NT, more than two-thirds of the occurrences being in Ac. 1. τέ solitarium, and, denoting a closer affinity than καί between words and sentences which it connects (BL, §77, 8): Mat.28:12, Jhn.4:42, Act.2:33, 37 40 10:22 11:21, al. 2. Denoting a closer connection than simple καί, τὲ . . . καί, τὲ καί, τὲ . . . τέ (Act.26:16 Rom.14:8), as well . . . as also, both . . . and: Luk.12:45, Act.1:1 15:9, 21:30, al.; τὲ . . . δέ, and . . . and, Act.19:2; τὲ γάρ . . . ὁμοίως δὲ καί, Rom.1:26, 27. (AS) |
| also | καὶ | kai | G2532 | andκαί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. … |
| marrows, | μυελῶν, | muelōn | G3452 | marrowμυελός (muelos) μυελός, -οῦ, ὁ [in LXX: Gen.45:18 (חֶלֶב), Job.21:24 (מֹחַ) Job.33:24 * ;] marrow: Heb.4:12.† (AS) |
| and | καὶ | kai | G2532 | andκαί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. … |
| able to judge | κριτικὸς | kritikos | G2924 | discerningκριτικός (kritikos) κριτικός, -ή, -όν (κρίνω), critical, able to discern or judge: with genitive obj., Heb.4:12.† (AS) |
| [the] thoughts | ἐνθυμήσεων | enthumēseōn | G1761 | reflectionἐνθύμησις (enthumēsis) ἐνθύμησις, -εως, ἡ (ἐνθυμέομαι), [in Sm.: Job.21:27, Eze.11:21 * ;] consideration, pondering (EV, device): Act.17:29; pl., thoughts, feelings: Mat.9:4 12:25, Heb.4:12.† SYN.: ἔννοια, the action of the reason; while ἐνθ. is rather that of the affections (cf. Westc., Heb., l.with) (AS) |
| and | καὶ | kai | G2532 | andκαί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. … |
| intentions | ἐννοιῶν | ennoiōn | G1771 | thought/purposeἔννοια (ennoia) ἔννοια, -ας, ἡ (νοῦς), [in LXX: Pro.1:4 2:11 3:21 4:1 5:2 8:12 16:22 18:15 19:7 23:4, 19 24:7 (מְזִמָּה, etc.), Wis.2:14, Da TH Sus 1:28* ;] 1. thinking, consideration. 2. a thought, purpose, design: Heb.4:12, 1Pe.4:1.† SYN.: ἐνθῦμησις, which see (Cremer, 439) (AS) |
| of [the] heart; | καρδίας· | kardias | G2588 | heartκαρδία (kardia) καρδία, -ας, ἡ, [in LXX chiefly for לֵבָב ,לֵב ;] the heart, 1. the bodily organ which is regarded as the seat of life ( 2Ki.18:14, 4Ki.9:24, al.). 2. In a psychological sense, the seat of man's collective energies, the focus of personal life, the seat of the rational as well as the emotional and volitional elements in human life, hence that wherein lies the moral and religious condition of the man (DB, ii, 317f.; DGG, ii, 344a); (a) of the seat of physical life ( Jdg.19:5, Psa.101 (102):5 103 (104):15): Act.14:17, Jas.5:5; … |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.