Luke 2:35 (WEB)
Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
As quoted in the map (KJV)
Luke 2:35 (KJV)
(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
Key words
- ῥομφαίαrhomphaia · Greek
- 'sword' — the great sword, used in the Septuagint for the flaming sword of Eden (Genesis 3:24) and the sword of divine judgment (Ezekiel 21).
- ψυχήpsychē · Greek
- 'soul' — the same word the Septuagint uses when Rachel's soul departs as she bears Benjamin (Genesis 35:18).
- διελεύσεταιdieleusetai · Greek
- 'shall pierce through' — will pass right through.
Why it matters
A sword will pass through Mary's own soul. Pitre connects this with Rachel, whose soul departed as she bore her second son, Benjamin, 'son of my sorrow.' At the cross Mary undergoes a death of the soul and in that sorrow receives a second son, the beloved disciple — the new Benjamin born of the New Rachel.