Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edge…”

Hebrews 4:12

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.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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.

World English Bible

For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

American Standard Version

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.

Geneva Bible 1599

For the worde of God is liuely, and mightie in operation, and sharper then any two edged sword, and entreth through, euen vnto the diuiding asunder of the soule and the spirit, and of the ioints, and the marow, and is a discerner of the thoughtes, and the intents of the heart.

Darby Translation

For the word of God [is] living and operative, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and penetrating to [the] division of soul and spirit, both of joints and marrow, and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of [the] heart.

Young's Literal Translation

for the reckoning of God is living, and working, and sharp above every two-edged sword, and piercing unto the dividing asunder both of soul and spirit, of joints also and marrow, and a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart;

Bible in Basic English

For the word of God is living and full of power, and is sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting through and making a division even of the soul and the spirit, the bones and the muscles, and quick to see the thoughts and purposes of the heart.

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Cross references

“the word”

Isaiah 49:2 Luke 8:11 Hebrews 13:7 Acts 4:31 Revelation 20:4 2 Corinthians 4:2

Isaiah 49:2 · BSB

He made My mouth like a sharp sword; He hid Me in the shadow of His hand. He made Me like a polished arrow; He hid Me in His quiver.

Luke 8:11 · BSB

Now this is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.

Hebrews 13:7 · BSB

Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Acts 4:31 · BSB

After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Revelation 20:4 · BSB

Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped…

2 Corinthians 4:2 · BSB

Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the…

“is quick”

Jeremiah 23:29 Isaiah 55:11 Psalm 119:130 1 Peter 1:23 1 Thessalonians 2:13 Romans 1:16

Jeremiah 23:29 · BSB

“Is not My word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that smashes a rock?”

Isaiah 55:11 · BSB

so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.

Psalm 119:130 · BSB

The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple.

1 Peter 1:23 · BSB

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 · BSB

And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which is also now at work in you who believe.

Romans 1:16 · BSB

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.

“sharper”

Ephesians 6:17 Revelation 1:16 Psalm 149:6 Revelation 19:15 Revelation 2:16 Revelation 19:21

Ephesians 6:17 · BSB

And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Revelation 1:16 · BSB

He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.

Psalm 149:6 · BSB

May the high praises of God be in their mouths, and a double-edged sword in their hands,

Revelation 19:15 · BSB

And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

Revelation 2:16 · BSB

Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth.

Revelation 19:21 · BSB

And the rest were killed with the sword that proceeded from the mouth of the One seated on the horse. And all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

“and is”

Jeremiah 17:10 Ephesians 5:13 Psalm 139:2 Revelation 2:23 1 Corinthians 14:24 1 Corinthians 14:25

Jeremiah 17:10 · BSB

I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.

Ephesians 5:13 · BSB

But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that is illuminated becomes a light itself.

Psalm 139:2 · BSB

You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.

Revelation 2:23 · BSB

Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

1 Corinthians 14:24 · BSB

But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all,

1 Corinthians 14:25 · BSB

and the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”

Also

1 Thessalonians 5:23

1 Thessalonians 5:23 · BSB

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

11Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.

13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Read Hebrews 4