Hebrews 4:12

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God - The design of this and the following verse is obvious. It is to show that we cannot escape the notice of God; that all insincerity, unbelief, hypocrisy, will be detected by him; and that since our hearts are perfectly open before him, we should be sincere and should not attempt to deceive him. The sense is, that the truth of God is all-penetrating and searching, and that the real thoughts and intents of the heart will be brought to light, and that if there is insincerity... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hebrews 4:12

Hebrews 4:12. For the word of God As if he had said, Take heed of unbelief, for the word of God will try and condemn you if you be guilty of it. It is greatly debated among commentators whether this is to be understood of Christ, the eternal Word, or of the gospel. “None of the properties,” says Calmet, “mentioned here can be denied to the Son of God, the eternal Word. He sees all things, knows all things, penetrates all things, and can do all things. He is the Ruler of the heart, and can... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Hebrews 4:1-13

Warning against unbelief (3:7-4:13)The writer warns his disheartened Jewish readers with some reminders from Israel’s experiences in the wilderness (see Exodus 17:1-7; Numbers 20:1-13; Psalms 95:7-11). Those experiences show that people who appear to be God’s people may be so unbelieving, bitter and complaining, that they cannot enjoy the inheritance God has promised (7-11). They should resist the tendency to unbelief and stubbornness, by encouraging one another to maintain their faith with... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Hebrews 4:12

quick = living. Greek. zao. Compare App-170 . powerful . Greek. energes. See 1 Corinthians 16:9 , and compare App-172 . sharper . Greek. tomoteros. Only here. than = above. Greek. huper. App-104 . twoedged . Greek. distomos. Only here and Revelation 1:16 ; Revelation 2:12 . sword . Greek. machaira. Same word Ephesians 6:17 , but not Luke 2:35 .Revelation 1:16 ; &c. piercing . Greek. diikneomai. Only here. dividing asunder . Greek. merismos. See Hebrews 2:4 . soul . App-110... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living, and active and sharper than any two edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.The word of God is to be understood as the Bible, God's revelation of His truth to people, especially in the sense of his commandments; and, although the passage suggests John 1:1, it would not appear that any such personalization of the word is intended here. That the word of... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Hebrews 4:12-13

Hebrews 4:12-13. For the word of God is quick, &c.— "The word of God, which promised to the faithful an entrance into God's rest in David's time, and now to us, is not a thing which died, or was forgotten, as soon as it was uttered; but it continues one and the same to all generations. It is Ζων, quick, or living: so Isaiah says, The word of our God shall stand for ever: Isa 40:8 compare Isaiah 51:6; Isa 55:11; 1Es 4:38. John 3:34. 1Pe 1:23 and powerful, efficacious, active; sufficient... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 4:12

12. For—Such diligent striving (Hebrews 4:11) is incumbent on us FOR we have to do with a God whose "word" whereby we shall be judged, is heart-searching, and whose eyes are all-seeing (Hebrews 4:11- :). The qualities here attributed to the word of God, and the whole context, show that it is regarded in its JUDICIAL power, whereby it doomed the disobedient Israelites to exclusion from Canaan, and shall exclude unbelieving so-called Christians from the heavenly rest. The written Word of God is... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 4:1-14

C. The Possibility of Rest for God’s People 4:1-14The writer returned again from exhortation to exposition. He now posed the alternatives of rest and peril that confronted the new people of God, Christians. It seems that this section ends with Hebrews 4:14 rather than 15 since 14 contains the end of an inclusio that begins in Hebrews 3:1. The writer warned his readers so they would not fail to enter into their rest."Since Moses was unable to lead the Israelites into Canaan, the writer reflects... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 4:12

After we die, or experience the Rapture, God will do a spiritual postmortem on us at the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:10). He will examine our innermost attitudes and motives. The "scalpel" He will use is His Word. The Word of God is "living" because it is the word of the living God (Hebrews 3:12), and it is "active" (energetic, powerful). The sword in view (Gr. machairan) was originally a small one like a boning knife that cooks used to cut up meat. In its... read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Hebrews 4:12

4:12 division (g-20) The passage has, I judge, the sense of dividing between each pair of objects and not of dividing each of the things by itself. read more

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