Hebrews 4:12

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

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.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Ζῶν γὰρ ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἐνεργής, καὶ τομώτερος ὑπὲρ πᾶσαν μάχαιραν δίστομον, καὶ διϊκνούμενος ἄχρι μερισμοῦ ψυχῆς τὲ καὶ πνεύματος, ἁρμῶν τε καὶ μυελῶν, καὶ κριτικὸς ἐνθυμήσεων καὶ ἐννοιῶν καρδίας.

Transliteration

Zōn for the logos of Theou, and energēs, and tomōteros beyond all machairan distomon, and diikoumenos until merismou of psychēs both and of pneumatos, of harmōn both and of myelōn, and kritikos of enthymēseōn and of ennoiōn of kardias.

Grammar Details

• *Zōn*: present active participle, nominative masculine singular - living/alive
• *logos*: nominative masculine singular - word/message
• *Theou*: genitive masculine singular - of God
• *energēs*: nominative masculine singular - active/effective/powerful
• *tomōteros*: comparative adjective, nominative masculine singular - sharper
• *machairan*: accusative feminine singular - sword/knife
• *distomon*: accusative feminine singular - two-edged/double-mouthed
• *diikoumenos*: present middle participle, nominative masculine singular - penetrating/passing through
• *merismou*: genitive masculine singular - division/separation
• *psychēs*: genitive feminine singular - soul
• *pneumatos*: genitive neuter singular - spirit
• *harmōn*: genitive feminine plural - joints
• *myelōn*: genitive masculine plural - marrow
• *kritikos*: nominative masculine singular - able to judge/discerning
• *enthymēseōn*: genitive feminine plural - thoughts/reflections
• *ennoiōn*: genitive feminine plural - intentions/purposes
• *kardias*: genitive feminine singular - heart

Word Meanings

• *Zōn*: living/alive/active
• *logos*: word/message/speech/account/reason
• *Theou*: God/deity
• *energēs*: active/effective/powerful/operative
• *tomōteros*: sharper/more cutting
• *machairan*: sword/knife/dagger
• *distomon*: two-edged/double-mouthed
• *diikoumenos*: penetrating/passing through/piercing
• *merismou*: division/separation/distribution
• *psychēs*: soul/life/self
• *pneumatos*: spirit/breath/wind
• *harmōn*: joints/articulations
• *myelōn*: marrow/innermost part
• *kritikos*: able to judge/discerning/critical
• *enthymēseōn*: thoughts/reflections/considerations
• *ennoiōn*: intentions/purposes/thoughts
• *kardias*: heart/mind/inner self

Referenced Verses

• Jer 23:29 : 29 Is not my word like fire? saith Jehovah; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
• Eph 6:17 : 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
• Isa 55:11 : 11 so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
• Isa 49:2 : 2 and he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me: and he hath made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he kept me close:
• 1 Pet 1:23 : 23 having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth.
• Rev 1:16 : 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
• 1 Thess 2:13 : 13 And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when ye received from us the word of the message, [even the word] of God, ye accepted [it] not [as] the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe.
• Rom 1:16 : 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel: {G5547} for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
• Ps 119:130 : 130 The opening of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple.
• 1 Cor 14:24-25 : 24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one unbelieving or unlearned, he is reproved by all, he is judged by all; 25 the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.
• Rev 19:15 : 15 And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress {G3631} of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty.
• 2 Cor 10:4-5 : 4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds), 5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
• 1 Thess 5:23 : 23 And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• 1 Pet 2:4-5 : 4 unto whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed of men, but with God elect, precious, 5 ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
• John 6:51 : 51 I am the living bread which came down out of heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: yea and the bread {G1161} which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world.
• Acts 4:31 : 31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein {G1722} they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
• Rev 20:4 : 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as worshipped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
• Ps 149:6 : 6 [ Let] the high praises of God [be] in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand;
• Rev 19:21 : 21 and the rest were killed with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, [even the sword] which came forth out of his mouth: and all the birds were filled with their flesh.
• Rev 2:16 : 16 Repent therefore; or else {G1161} I come to thee quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.
• Rev 2:23 : 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works.
• Eph 5:13 : 13 But all things when they are reproved are made manifest by the light: for everything that is made manifest is light.
• Heb 13:7 : 7 Remember them that had the rule over you, men that spake unto you the word of God; and considering the issue of their life, imitate their faith.
• Ps 139:2 : 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; Thou understandest my thought afar off.
• Luke 8:11 : 11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
• Jer 17:10 : 10 I, Jehovah, search the mind, I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.
• Ps 45:3 : 3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O mighty one, Thy glory and thy majesty.
• Prov 5:4 : 4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword.
• Isa 11:4 : 4 but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
• Jas 1:18 : 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
• 2 Cor 2:17 : 17 For we are not as the many, corrupting the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God, speak we in Christ.
• Acts 2:37 : 37 Now when they heard [this,] they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, {G435} Brethren, what shall we do?
• Eccl 12:11 : 11 The words of the wise are as goads; and as nails well fastened are the words of the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
• Ps 110:2 : 2 Jehovah will send forth the rod of thy strength out of Zion: Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
• 2 Cor 4:2 : 2 but we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
• 1 Cor 1:24 : 24 but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
• Acts 5:33 : 33 But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and minded to slay them.