Hebrews 4:12 (WEB)
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.
Fathers and councils · 21
Athanasius of Alexandria
“…and intents of the heart, neither is there any creature hidden before Him, but all things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him with whom is our account.’” — editor's note: Heb. iv. 12, 13.
Read the whole comment“Woe to them against whom these are brought; for ‘it is sharper than a two-edged sword,’ slaying beforehand and very swiftly those who will lay hold of it.” — editor's note: Heb. iv. 12.
Read the whole comment“For the Son of God is “living and active,” and works day by day, and brings about the salvation of all.” — editor's note: Heb. iv. 12.
Read the whole comment
Catena Aurea on Luke
- Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
“(Heb. 4:12.)” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment
Tertullian
“See we, then, whether that which has another action be not another sword,—that is, the Divine word of God, doubly sharpened with the two Testaments of the ancient law and the new law; sharpened by the equity of its own wisdom; rendering to each one according to his own action.” — editor's note: Comp. Heb. iv. 12; Rev. i. 16; ii. 12; xix. 15, 21; also Eph. vi. 17.
Read the whole comment
John Damascene
“If then the Word of God is quick and energising, and the Lord did all that He willed; if He said, Let there be light and there was light, let there be a firmament and there was a firmament; if the heavens…” — editor's note: Heb. iv. 12.
Read the whole comment
John Cassian
- John Cassian, Conferences I–X II.4Conference II
“…sword, and reaching even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart:” and by this it is clearly shown that no virtue can possibly be perfectly acquired or continue without the grace of discretion.” — editor's note: Heb. iv. 12.
Read the whole comment - John Cassian, Conferences I–X VII.5Conference VII
“For it is “sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart:” as it divides and cuts off whatever carnal and earthly things it may find in us.” — editor's note: Heb. iv. 12.
Read the whole comment - John Cassian, Conferences I–X VII.13Conference VII
“…and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart; and there is no creature invisible in His sight, but all things are naked and open to His eyes.”” — editor's note: Heb. iv. 12, 13.
Read the whole comment
Origen
“And therefore that language which is found in the Acts of Paul, where it is said that “here is the Word a living being,” appears to me to be rightly used.” — editor's note: This work is mentioned by Eusebius, Hist. Eccles., iii. c. 3 and 25, as among the spurious writings current in the Church. The Acts of Paul and Thecla was a…
Read the whole comment
Theodoret of Cyrus
“For if while on the cross He raised corpses of the saints that had previously undergone dissolution, much more can God the everliving Word raise the body, which He wore, as says Paul, ‘For the word of God is quick and powerful.’”” — editor's note: Hebrews iv. 12
Read the whole comment
Ambrose of Milan
““For the Word of God is living and mighty, yea, working effectually, sharp and keener than any the sharpest sword, piercing even to the sundering of soul and spirit, of limbs and marrow.”” — editor's note: Heb. iv. 12.
Read the whole comment“And of the Son of God you have also in the Epistle to the Hebrews: “Who is the Searcher of the mind and thoughts.”” — editor's note: Heb. iv. 12.
Read the whole comment
Augustine of Hippo
“By “swords sharpened on both sides,” we understand the Word of the Lord: it is one sword, but therefore are they called many, because there are many mouths and many tongues of the saints.” — editor's note: Heb. iv. 12.
Read the whole comment“And Scripture says that the word of God is a doubly sharp sword, on account of the two edges, the two Testaments.” — editor's note: Heb. iv. 12.
Read the whole comment
Catena Aurea on Matthew
- Hilary of PoitiersCatena Aurea on Matthew
“The word of God, we may remember, is likened to a sword; [margin note: Eph 6:17, Heb 4:12] so here the sword that is sent upon the earth is His preaching poured into the heart of man.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment
John Chrysostom
“Then, lest any think that they will simply be deprived of rest only, he adds also the punishment, saying ( c. iv. 12 ), “For the Word of God is quick, and powerful; and sharper than any two-edged sword, and pierceth even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,…” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“Hebrews iv. 11–13” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment
Basil the Great
“By a sword is meant the word which tries and judges our thoughts, which pierces even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of our thoughts.” — editor's note: cf. Heb. iv. 12.
Read the whole comment
Gregory of Nazianzus
“The cutting of the Word, which separates the worse from the better, and makes a division between the faithful and the unbeliever; and stirs up the son and the daughter and the bride against the father and the mother and the mother in law, the young and fresh against the old and shadowy.” — editor's note: Heb. iv. 12.
Read the whole comment
Clement of Alexandria
“But we say that the fire sanctifies not flesh, but sinful souls; meaning not the all-devouring vulgar fire but that of wisdom, which pervades the soul passing through the fire.” — editor's note: Consult Matt. iii. 11; Luke iii. 16; Heb. iv. 12. [See what is said of the philosophic ἐκπύρωσις (book v. cap. i. p. 446, supra, this volume) by our author.…
Read the whole comment
Cross-references · 18
Cited together in Conferences I–X II.4.
Cited together in Conferences I–X VII.13.
Cited together in Conferences I–X VII.13.
Cited together in Conferences I–X VII.13.
Cited together in Conferences I–X II.4.
Cited together in Conferences I–X II.4.
Cited together in Conferences I–X II.4.
Cited together in Conferences I–X II.4.
Cited together in Conferences I–X II.4.
Cited together in Conferences I–X II.4.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies VII.6.
Cited together in Hilary of Poitiers on Matthew 10:34–36 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Ambrose of Milan on Luke 2:33–35 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Ambrose of Milan on Luke 2:33–35 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies VII.6.
Cited together in Conferences I–X VII.13.
Cited together in Conferences I–X II.4.
Cited together in Hilary of Poitiers on Matthew 10:34–36 (Catena Aurea).