Donate via DonorboxThe Bible (the book) is like no other book in the world because it contains the words of eternal life, words that are alive and active. In other words, because of the life that’s inherent within God’s word, it has the power to give us true life. The more we abide in the word, the more our faith increases and the more our hearts are filled with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. God’s word is a beautiful thing and nothing in this world comes close to its perfection.
A Study of Hebrews 4:12
This verse really hones in on the reality that just as God Almighty is the living God, his word is the living word.
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. (Hebrews 4:12 KJV)
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 ESV)
And in the Greek, with the three key words in bold:
Ζων γαρ ο λογος του Θεου και ενεργης και τομωτερος υπερ πασαν μαχαιραν διστομον και διικνουμενος αχρι μερισμου ψυχης τε και πνευματος, αρμων τε και μυελων, και κριτικος ενθυμησεων και εννοιων καρδιας, (Hebrews 4:12 BYZ)
Key Words and Their Meanings
The three key Greek words in Hebrews 4:12 are ζάω (zaō G2198), ἐνεργής (energēs G1756) and τομώτερος (tomoteros G5114).
ζάω zaō (G2198)
ζάω, translated as “quick” (KJV) and “living” (ESV), means to live, to be alive, to be lively, to have true life, living.
ἐνεργής energēs (G1756)
ἐνεργής, translated as “powerful” in the KJV, is a compound of ἐν (en G1722) “in”, and ἔργον (érgon G2041) “work”. Thus, ἐνεργής points to being engaged in work, which is why it’s translated as “active” in the ESV, and is also defined as operative, effectual. Our word energy is derived from ἐνεργής.
Paul writes about the ἐνεργής of the word in his first epistle to the Thessalonians.
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received [it] not [as] the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13 KJV)
τομώτερος tomoteros (G5114)
τομός (tomos) is defined as finer-edged or sharper. As we know, the sharper the knife, the finer the edge, and the translation of “sharper” points to “finer-edged” and vice versa. τομός is a comparative of the primary τέμνω (témnō), which means to cut decisively, as if by a single stroke.
Because the word of God is alive, whenever we hear or read it, the life within the word effectually works within us, strengthening our faith and giving us understanding. And being sharper than any two-edged sword it has the power to cut through to the heart of the matter with unparalleled precision.
The Bread Metaphor
When the devil tempted Jesus to make stones bread, Jesus demonstrated the power of the word against the adversary by quoting a passage in Deuteronomy that shows that the bread we eat only nourishes and sustains the life of the body, whereas the spiritual bread that is the word of God nourishes our spirit such that we can have eternal life.
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4 KJV)
And he afflicted thee and straitened thee with hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thy fathers knew not; that he might teach thee that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God shall man live. (Deuteronomy 8:3 BES)
John, chapter 6, begins with account of Jesus feeding the five thousand, which caused the people to follow him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee because, as Jesus said, “Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled” (John 6:26). Jesus then explains that he is the bread of life, that the bread which he gives is his flesh, and that if we eat his flesh and drink his blood we will have eternal life. He clarifies by saying that life is inherent in the words that he speaks.
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (John 6:32-35 KJV)
I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. (John 6:48-51 KJV)
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and [they] are life. (John 6:63 NKJV)
The Words of Life
Many disciples, however, were offended by what Jesus said concerning eating his flesh and drinking his blood, and they walked away from following him. Jesus then asked the twelve if they would also leave, to which Peter replied:
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. (John 6:68 KJV)
When Stephen testified before the council, he spoke of the living words of God being given to Moses.
This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and [with] our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: (Acts 7:38 KJV)
And two more examples, one from Acts and the other from Philippians.
But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. (Acts 5:19-20 KJV)
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. (Philippians 2:16)
An Instruction from Proverbs
[My] son, attend to my speech; and apply thine ear to my words: that thy fountains may not fail thee; keep them in [thine] heart. For they are life to those that find them, and health to all [their] flesh. (Proverbs 4:20-22 BES)
The Seed Metaphor
In Peter’s second epistle, he makes it clear that the word of God is the incorruptible seed from which we are born again — the spiritual seed as opposed to the corruptible physical seed that comes from man. This, again, shows that the word of God, the living word, is that which gives us true life, eternal life, which cannot be corrupted by sin and death.
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (1 Peter 1:23 KJV)
The necessity of hearing the word is illustrated in the parable of the sower, in which Jesus equates the seed with the word of God. And just as the seed is sown into the ground, the word of God is sown into the heart via the hearing, which will bear fruit in a heart that’s soft, yielding, and fertile — the good ground
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. (Luke 8:11 KJV)
Seeds might be small but they are filled with life and energy, having the potential to grow into mature plants and trees. And whether seeds reach maturity or not depends on the soil in which they’re planted. This is what makes the seed a perfect metaphor for the word of God, because the soil of our heart must be in good condition for the word of God not only to take root within, but also to grow into maturity such that we bear fruit and are able to effectually use the words of life when speaking to others about Jesus Christ.
But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth [it]; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Matthew 13:23 KJV)
And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive [it], and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. (Mark 4:20 KJV)
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep [it], and bring forth fruit with patience. (Luke 8:15 KJV)
Just a few verses later Jesus cautioned his disciples to pay attention to how they hear.
Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. (Luke 8:18 KJV)
The longer version in Mark precedes rather than follows the parable of the sower.
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. (Mark 4:23-25 KJV)
In Romans, Paul encapsulates the connection between eternal life (salvation) and hearing the word of God.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! … So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:13-15, 17 KJV)
The Fire Metaphor
Another word that’s used in relation to God’s word is πῦρ (pyr G4442), which means fire. The life, power, and energy of fire is a perfect metaphor for the living word. πῦρ occurs three times in Jeremiah, referring to the word of God, with the last reference being inferred rather than explicit.
Behold, are not my words as fire? saith the Lord; and as an axe cutting the rock? (Jeremiah 23:29 BES)
Therefore thus saith the Lord Almighty, Because ye have spoken this word, behold, I have made my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them. (Jeremiah 5:14)
Then I said, I will by no means name the name of the Lord, and I will no more at all speak in his name. But it was as burning fire flaming in my bones, and I am utterly weakened on all sides, and cannot bear [up]. (Jeremiah 20:9 BES)
The inferred meaning of Jeremiah 20:9 can also be seen in the gospel of Luke at the conclusion of the account of the risen Jesus walking with two men on the road to Emmaus. Immediately after Jesus vanished from their sight, they acknowledged their hearts burning within when Jesus spoke all the scriptures concerning him.
And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? (Luke 24:32 KJV)
The Fountain of Life Metaphor
The Old Testament contains some good references to the fountain of life, showing the connection between the word and the life of the spirit, which is especially clear in the below verse as it makes direct correlation between hearing and keeping the words of God so that our “fountains”, our heart, many not fail us. This ties directly back to the bread metaphor that the word nourishes and strengthens our inward man.
[My] son, attend to my speech; and apply thine ear to my words: that thy fountains may not fail thee; keep them in [thine] heart. For they are life to those that find them, and health to all [their] flesh. (Proverbs 4:20-22 BES)
The following two verses use the words law and commandment to point to the word of God.
The law of the wise is a fountain of life: but the man void of understanding shall die by a snare. Sound discretion gives favour, and to know the law is the part of a sound understanding: but the ways of scorners tend to destruction. (Proverbs 13:14-15 BES)
The commandment of the Lord is a fountain of life; and it causes [men] to turn aside from the snare of death. (Proverbs 14:27 BES)
And the below proverb ties directly to the seed metaphor, for a seed cannot take root without depth of earth.
A word in the heart of a man is a deep water, and a river and fountain of life spring forth. (Proverbs 18:4 BES)
These two verses from Jeremiah equate the fountain of life with the Lord Jesus, which is a perfect connection to Jesus being the Word as well as the living waters.
For my people has committed two [faults], and evil ones: they have forsaken me, the fountain of water of life, and hewn out for themselves broken cisterns, which will not be able to hold water. (Jeremiah 2:13 BES)
O Lord, the hope of Israel, let all that have left thee be ashamed, let them that have revolted be written on the earth, because they have forsaken the fountain of life, the Lord. (Jeremiah 17:13 BES)
The Word Nourishes the Spirit
Praise God that his word is pregnant with life, such that if we hear the word with care and keep it in our hearts, our faith will continue to grow and we will be filled with God’s holy spirit, eventually bringing forth the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance (Galatians 5:22-23).