New American Standard Bible 1995

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Hebrews

4

:

12

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

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Greek: Transliteration:
For the word a word (as embodying an idea), a statement, a speech N-NMS H3056 λόγος logos
of God God, a god N-GMS H2316 θεοῦ theou
is living to live V-PPA-NMS H2198 Ζῶν zōn
and active at work, active Adj-NMS H1756 ἐνεργὴς energēs
and sharper sharp Adj-NMS-C H5114 τομώτερος tomōteros
than over, beyond, fig. on behalf of, for the sake of, concerning Prep H5228 ὑπὲρ uper
any all, every Adj-AFS H3956 πᾶσαν pasan
two-edged double-mouthed, two-edged Adj-AFS H1366 δίστομον distomon
Analysis:

Two: Two divergent opinions

The classic example for the number "two" is found in Matthew chapter 26. There, Yeshua says to His disciples,

"You know that after two days comes the Passover, and the Son of Man will be given over for crucifixion."  Matthew 26:2

The phrase "after two days" is somewhat meaningless because after two days can mean three or more days. The period is unspecified. The reason for such ambiguous language is because the purpose of the number two in this passage is not solely numerical. This means that the text is not intending to provide the reader with some definite information concerning a time period. Rather, the purpose of the number two in this context is one of the numerological meanings of the number two.  Often the number two relates to two divergent opinions. In the aforementioned verse, the author wants to inform the reader that there are two very different understandings for this coming Passover. Yeshua wants to emphasize that He is going up to Jerusalem in order to die as the true Passover sacrifice. Even though Yeshua states this emphatically, the disciples did not receive this. In fact, the disciples did not perceive at all what was going to take place during Passover in regard to Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua and the disciples have two divergent opinions concerning the Passover.

This same principle is also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant). In the book of Amos one reads,

"Can two walk together without them having agreed" Amos 3:3

The word which was translated into English with the phrase "them having agreed" is נועדו. The root of this word is יעד, which relates to a specific destination. The word which precedes this word is בלתי and in this context the word implies a change to the condition. In other words, had there not been a change in the condition, then the two could not walk together, i.e. they could not have arrived at the common destination.

The concept of divergent or different is also seen in the book of Genesis. In speaking about the sun and moon one reads, "And God made two great lights…" (Genesis 1:16). Obviously the sun and moon are very different, as one is a source of light, while the latter just reflects light. Also in the book of Genesis, one encounters the account of the flood. Here Noah is commanded to bring onto the ark two sorts of each type of animal. In this passage, the two relates to two different (or divergent) kinds of the same sort, i.e. male and female. 

Likewise, two angels came to Sodom, demonstrating that the people of Sodom had a very different way of living from that of the Law of God. Once again, the reader should not assume that every occurrence of the number two in the Bible demands this interpretation. However, one will find in a great majority of Biblical passages, the reader will be assisted in arriving at the proper interpretation, when he considers this divergent quality for the number two. 

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sword, a short sword or dagger N-AFS H3162 μάχαιραν machairan
and piercing to go through, penetrate V-PPM/P-NMS H1338 διϊκνούμενος diiknoumenos
as far until, as far as Prep H891 ἀχρὶ achri
as the division a dividing, distribution N-GMS H3311 μερισμοῦ merismou
of soul breath, the soul N-GFS H5590 ψυχῆς psuchēs
and spirit, wind, spirit N-GNS H4151 πνεύματος pneumatos
of both and (denotes addition or connection) Conj H5037 τε te
joints a joining, joint N-GMP H719 ἁρμῶν armōn
and marrow, marrow N-GMP H3452 μυελῶν muelōn
and able to judge critical Adj-NMS H2924 κριτικὸς kritikos
the thoughts deliberation, pondering, pl. thoughts N-GFP H1761 ἐνθυμήσεων enthumēseōn
and intentions thinking, thoughtfulness, i.e. moral understanding N-GFP H1771 ἐννοιῶν ennoiōn
of the heart. heart N-GFS H2588 καρδίας kardias

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
King James Bible For the word of God is living quick, and active powerful, and sharper than any two-edged twoedged sword, and piercing as far as even to the division dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of both the joints and marrow, and able to judge is a discerner of the thoughts and intentions intents of the heart.
Berean Bible For the word of God is living and active active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing penetrating even as far as the division of soul and spirit, and of both joints and marrow, marrows, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrew Greek English For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.