Hebrews 4:12

New International Reader's Version

The word of God is alive and active. It is sharper than any sword that has two edges. It cuts deep enough to separate soul from spirit. It can separate bones from joints. It judges the thoughts and purposes of the heart.

Cross References

Psalm 110:2

The Lord will make your royal authority spread out from Zion to other lands. He says, “Rule over your enemies who are all around you.”

Psalm 119:130

When your words are made clear, they bring light. They bring understanding to childish people.

Psalm 139:2

You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know what I’m thinking even though you are far away.

Psalm 149:6

May they praise God with their mouths. May they hold in their hands a sword that has two edges.

Psalm 45:3

Mighty one, put your sword at your side. Put on glory and majesty as if they were your clothes.

Proverbs 5:4

But in the end she is like bitter poison. She cuts like a sword that has two edges.

Ecclesiastes 12:11

The sayings of those who are wise move people to take action. Their collected sayings are like nails pounded in firm and deep. These sayings are given to us by one shepherd.

Isaiah 11:4

He will always do what is right when he judges those who are in need. He’ll be completely fair when he makes decisions about poor people. When he commands that people be punished, it will happen. When he orders that evil people be put to death, it will take place.

Isaiah 49:2

He made my words like a sharp sword. He hid me in the palm of his hand. He made me into a sharpened arrow. He took good care of me and kept me safe.

Isaiah 55:11

The words I speak are like that. They will not return to me without producing results. They will accomplish what I want them to. They will do exactly what I sent them to do.

Jeremiah 17:10

The Lord says, “I look deep down inside human hearts. I see what is in people’s minds. I reward each person in keeping with their conduct. I bless them based on what they have done.”

Jeremiah 23:29

“My message is like fire,” announces the Lord. “It is like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces.

Luke 8:11

“Here is what the story means. The seed is God’s message.

John 12:48

But there is a judge for anyone who does not accept me and my words. These words I have spoken will judge them on the last day.

John 6:51

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Everyone who eats some of this bread will live forever. This bread is my body. I will give it for the life of the world.”

Acts 2:37

When the people heard this, it had a deep effect on them. They said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

Acts 4:31

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. They were bold when they spoke God’s word.

Acts 5:33

When the leaders heard this, they became very angry. They wanted to put the apostles to death.

Acts 7:38

Moses was with the Israelites in the desert. He was with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai. Moses was with our people of long ago. He received living words to pass on to us.

Romans 1:16

I want to preach it because I’m not ashamed of the good news. It is God’s power to save everyone who believes. It is meant first for the Jews. It is meant also for the Gentiles.

1 Corinthians 1:24

But there are those God has chosen, both Jews and Greeks. To them Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom.

2 Corinthians 2:17

Unlike many people, we aren’t selling God’s word to make money. In fact, it is just the opposite. Because of Christ we speak honestly before God. We speak like people God has sent.

2 Corinthians 4:2

Instead, we have given up doing secret and shameful things. We don’t twist God’s word. In fact, we do just the opposite. We present the truth plainly. In the sight of God, we make our appeal to everyone’s sense of what is right and wrong.

Ephesians 5:13

But everything the light shines on can be seen. And everything that the light shines on becomes a light.

Ephesians 5:26

He did it to make her holy. He made her clean by washing her with water and the word.

Ephesians 6:17

Put on the helmet of salvation. And take the sword of the Holy Spirit. The sword is God’s word.

1 Thessalonians 2:13

We never stop thanking God for the way you received his word. You heard it from us. But you didn’t accept it as a human word. You accepted it for what it really is. It is God’s word. It is really at work in you who believe.

1 Thessalonians 5:23

God is the God who gives peace. May he make you holy through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept free from blame. May you be without blame from now until our Lord Jesus Christ comes.

Hebrews 13:7

Remember your leaders. They spoke God’s word to you. Think about the results of their way of life. Copy their faith.

Hebrews 6:5

They have tasted the good things of God’s word. They have tasted the powers of the age to come.

James 1:18

God chose to give us new birth through the message of truth. He wanted us to be the first harvest of his new creation.

1 Peter 1:23

You have been born again by means of the living word of God. His word lasts forever. You were not born again from a seed that will die. You were born from a seed that can’t die.

Revelation 1:16

He held seven stars in his right hand. Coming out of his mouth was a sharp sword with two edges. His face was like the sun shining in all its brightness.

Revelation 19:15

Coming out of the rider’s mouth is a sharp sword. He will strike down the nations with the sword. Scripture says, “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” (Psalm 2:9) He stomps on the grapes of God’s winepress. The winepress stands for the terrible anger of the God who rules over all.

Revelation 19:21

The rest were killed by the sword that came out of the rider’s mouth. All the birds stuffed themselves with the dead bodies.

Revelation 2:16

So turn away from your sins! If you don’t, I will come to you soon. I will fight against those people with the sword that comes out of my mouth.

Revelation 2:23

I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I search hearts and minds. I will pay each of you back for what you have done.

Revelation 20:4

I saw thrones. Those who had been given authority to judge were sitting on them. I also saw the souls of those whose heads had been cut off. They had been killed because they had spoken what was true about Jesus. They had also been killed because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its statue. They had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. They came to life and ruled with Christ for 1,000 years.

Judges 3:16

Ehud had made a sword that had two edges. It was about a foot and a half long. He tied it to his right leg under his clothes.