HEBREWS 4:12

“sharper than a two edged sword”

KING JAMES VERSION (KJV)

TRANSLATION, MEANING, CONTEXT

To get what Hebrews 4:12 means based on its source text, scroll down or follow these links for the original scriptural meaning , biblical context and relative popularity.

“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.”

Very high popularity: 8,100 searches a month
Popularity relative to other verses in Hebrews chapter 4 using average monthly Google searches.

Hebrews 4:12 Translation & Meaning

What does this verse really mean? Use this table to get a word-for-word translation of the original Greek Scripture. This shows the English words related to the source biblical texts along with brief definitions. Follow the buttons in the right-hand column for detailed definitions and verses that use the same root words. Use this reference information to gain deeper insight into the Bible and enrich your understanding. Information based on Strong's Exhaustive Concordance[1].

KJV Verse Original Greek Meaning/ Definition
This is a simplified translation of the original Greek word. Follow the buttons on the right to get more detail.
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For γὰρ Properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles) For
the The (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom) the
word λόγος Something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e., Christ) word
of θεοῦ A deity, especially (with G3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by Hebraism) of
God θεοῦ A deity, especially (with G3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by Hebraism) God
is (No Greek definition. English implied.)
quick, Ζῶν To live (literally or figuratively) quick
and καὶ And, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words and
powerful, ἐνεργὴς Active, operative powerful
and καὶ And, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words and
sharper τομώτερος More keen sharper
than ὑπὲρ "over", i.e., (with the genitive case) of place, above, beyond, across, or causal, for the sake of, instead, regarding; with the accusative case superior to, more than than
any πᾶσαν All, any, every, the whole any
twoedged δίστομον Double-edged twoedged
sword, μάχαιραν A knife, i.e., dirk; figuratively, war, judicial punishment sword
piercing διϊκνούμενος To reach through, i.e., penetrate piercing
even καὶ And, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words even
to ἄχρι (of time) until or (of place) up to to
the dividing asunder μερισμοῦ A separation or distribution dividing asunder
of soul ψυχῆς Breath, i.e., (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from G4151, which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from G2222, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew H5315, H7307 and H2416) soul
and καὶ And, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words and
spirit, πνεύματος A current of air, i.e., breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e., (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit spirit
and τὲ Both or also (properly, as correlation of G2532) and
of the joints ἁρμῶν An articulation (of the body) joints
and καὶ And, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words and
marrow, μυελῶν The marrow marrow
and καὶ And, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words and
is (No Greek definition. English implied.)
a discerner κριτικὸς Decisive ("critical"), i.e., discriminative discerner
of the thoughts ἐνθυμήσεων Deliberation thoughts
and καὶ And, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words and
intents ἐννοιῶν Thoughtfulness, i.e., moral understanding intents
of the heart. καρδίας· The heart, i.e., (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle heart

Verse Context

See Hebrews 4:12 with its adjacent verses in bold below. Follow either of the two large buttons below to see these verses in their broader context of the King James Bible or a Bible concordance.

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  • 10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

  • 11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

  • 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.

  • 13  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

  • 14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.




Sources:

The King James Bible (1611) and Strong's Concordance (1890) with Hebrew and Greek dictionaries are sourced from the BibleForgeDB database (https://github.com/bibleforge) within the BibleForge project (http://bibleforge.com). Popularity rankings are based on search volume data from the Google AdWords Keyword Planner tool.


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