“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)
We run to Scripture for many things–encouragement, comfort, hope, assurance. But rarely do we open the Word in hopes being pierced. Yet, that’s exactly what the Word does.
Here is how the Amplified translation renders this verse:
For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.
The word translated “pierce” or “penetrate” is diikneomai, which means “to go through, to reach through; i.e. penetrate–pierce”. It comes from two words: dia, meaning “through” and hikanos, which has the meaning of competent, ample, or sufficient, or enough. Hebrews 4:12 is the only place in Scripture where the word dikkneomai appears.
What does the Word of God pierce? The KJV says “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.” And the Amplified further explains “the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.
This implies that in our very core and nature, there are things that need exposing—things that need to be brought to light; intentions, thoughts, desires, purposes. And these things can be exposed and understood not through our own reasoning but only through the Word of God.
Psalm 119:130 tells us the entrance of God’s words brings light. Light is a beautiful thing, but it exposes bad and good alike. Shine light into a dark place, and you’ll see things you want to see–and things you don’t.
The piercing of God’s Word can be painful, and what’s exposed can be ugly. But what’s exposed can also be healed. And the same Word that pierces us also makes us whole.
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Amen, we grow through the light which exposes the need to transform. Great Word thank you.
Amen. Thank you, John!
Thank you, Gina, for this insightful post. It greatly blessed me. You have an extraordinary ability to “pierce” through to the core meaning of a passage and to draw forth its essence. Thank you so much for using your writing gift to proclaim truth.
Awesome article. Love it!