"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged 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
When studying the
scriptures, readers often come across ideas or words that are metaphorically linked
over and over again to the point where it becomes obvious the connection isn't accidental. In many cases these connections are linguistic ones that were already established
thousands of years ago in Hebrew or other Semitic languages, or even possibly in
the first language that Adam and Eve used with their children. What’s
especially exciting to me is that the Lord continued using some of
these metaphorical linkages even while dictating revelations to his prophets in English during the early days of the Restoration, so that the original Semitic language connection remains for His instructive purposes.
One example that
appears regularly throughout all four books of the LDS Church’s Standard Works
is the metaphorical link between word/mouth and sword/a sword’s edge. The word for “mouth,
word, commandment, opening, aperture” in Hebrew, פֶּה peh, is the same one used for “edge of a
sword”. The dual meanings bridge again in the word פִּיפִיָה
pee-fee-YAH, which signifies “sharp
edge” or “mouth”.
Starting with the Old Testament, I’ll list some verses where the word=sword simile is used for instructive as well as creative purposes.
Old Testament
And he hath made my
mouth like a sharp sword (Isaiah 49:2)
New Testament
And take the helmet
of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians
6:17)
And to the angel of
the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword
with two edges… Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight
against them with the sword of my mouth. (Revelation 2:12, 16)
The Book of Mormon
And the Lord is
near, and he justifieth me. Who will contend with me? Let us stand together.
Who is mine adversary? Let him come near me, and I will smite him with
the strength of my mouth. (2 Nephi 7:8)
And now, as the
preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that
which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the
people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto
them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of
the word of God. (Alma 31:5)
I love this example in particular because Alma uses the historical literary connection between word
and sword in the verse but then turns the analogy upside down by setting
the word and the sword in opposition to one another!
Doctrine and
Covenants
Behold, I am God;
give heed unto my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged
sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed
unto my words. (Doctrine and Covenants, Section 6:2)
In addition to referencing the Hebrew-related dual meanings of word and sword, this verse also includes the literary device chiasmus (chiasm), which appears frequently throughout the scriptures. To make this example of chiasm more easily recognizable, I've highlighted and labeled (with letters) the parallel elements that appear in inverted order. The two references to God's word at the beginning and end of the verse effectively frame the word "sword", which is centered perfectly at the middle.
Behold, I am God; give heed unto my word (A), which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword (B), to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my words (A).
In addition to referencing the Hebrew-related dual meanings of word and sword, this verse also includes the literary device chiasmus (chiasm), which appears frequently throughout the scriptures. To make this example of chiasm more easily recognizable, I've highlighted and labeled (with letters) the parallel elements that appear in inverted order. The two references to God's word at the beginning and end of the verse effectively frame the word "sword", which is centered perfectly at the middle.
Behold, I am God; give heed unto my word (A), which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword (B), to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my words (A).
(Also see D.C. 11:2,
12:2, and 14:2)
Outside of the
Biblical Hebrew context, these passages are still easily open to interpretation
and application since the word=sword metaphor has been used for
centuries in literature. But knowing the common linguistic roots of these words
has helped me better understand how our Father speaks in a uniform way throughout the ages.
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