יּקנרק'ד

Hebrews Chapter 4  Verses 12,13 

: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.”

This is one of the most misapplied verses of scripture in the bible.  Too often, people try to make the phrase, “word of God,” used above to apply to the written word or to the spoken word.  However, to be consistent with what the context says, the proper application has to be to the “living Word,” which is described in John 1:1-3 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”  Here, the “Word,” and the Son of God are equated to be one and the same.   

From examining Heb. 4:12, 13 we can definitely conclude that the “word of God” in that passage is the Son of God.  We look at what the passage says about the word of God: 

          1.  The word of God is “quick.”  The word, quick, means life giving.  The Son of God gives life.  The scriptures bring to light life and immortality: 2 Tim. 1:10 “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:”  The scriptures do not give life. 

          2.  The word of God is powerful.  John 1:1-3 tells us just how powerful the Son of God is.  He created all things.  Neither, the written word or the preached word has ever created anything.  God is the only Creator. 

          3.  The word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword.  In the book of Revelation we are told of one out of whose mouth went a sharp sword with two edges:  

                   a. Rev. 2:12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;” 

                   b. Rev. 2:16 “Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”

These verses speak of a sharp sword coming out of Christ’s mouth.  Even if one were to assume that this is the spoken word, which it is, they would still have difficulty trying to apply this to Heb. 4:12.  The reason is that the one spoken of in Heb. 4:12 is “sharper” than a two edged sword.  It did not say that the “word of God” here was a two-edged sword, but it said that He is “sharper” than a two-edged sword.  The Son of God is sharper than a two-edge sword. 

          4.  The word of God pierces even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow.  The written scriptures or the preached word cannot divide asunder the soul and spirit or the joints and marrow, however, the “living word,” the Son of God can do this. 

          5.  The word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Neither the written word or the preach word can discern the thoughts and intents of ones heart.  However, the living word, the Son of God, can discern the thoughts and intents of ones heart.  It was said in Gen. 6:5 “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”  The Son of God can look into our hearts and know what our thoughts are and our intents are.  The scriptures and the preached word cannot do this. 

          6.  All creatures are manifest in the sight of the word of God.  Of the three things that are called “the word of God” in the scriptures only one has sight and can see.  The one who has sight and can see is the Son of God.  Moreover, he sees all creatures, which neither the written word nor the preached word are capable of doing. 

          7.  All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.  The scriptures are not a “him” and the preached word is not a “him.”  The Son of God is a “him.” Moreover, he has “eyes” that neither the written word nor the preached word has.       

All rational reason from the above tells us that the “word of God” in this passage is the “Son of God.”