Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
The word of God (o logov tou qeou). That just quoted about the promise of rest and God's rest, but true of any real word of God.
Living (zwn). Cf. the Living God (Hebrews 3:12). In Philo and the Book of Wisdom the Logos of God is personified, but still more in John 1:1-18 where Jesus is pictured as the Logos on a par with God. "Our author is using Philonic language rather than Philonic ideas" (Moffatt). See John 6:63: "The words which I have spoken are spirit and are life."
Active (energhv). Energetic, powerful (John 1:12; Philippians 3:21; Colossians 1:29).
Sharper (tomwterov). Comparative of tomov, cutting (from temnw, to cut), late adjective, here only in the N.T.
Than (uper). Often so after a comparative (Luke 16:8; II Corinthians 12:13).
Two-edged (distomon). "Two-mouthed" (di-, stoma), double-mouthed like a river (Polybius), branching ways (Sophocles), applied to sword (cifov) by Homer and Euripides.
Piercing (diiknoumenov). Present middle participle of diikneomai, old verb to go through, here only in N.T.
Even to the dividing (axri merismou). Old word from merizw (merov, part), to partition.
Of soul and spirit (yuxhv kai pneumatov). As in I Thessalonians 5:23; I Corinthians 15:45, but not an argument for trichotomy. Psychology is constantly changing its terminology.
Of both joints and marrow (armwn te kai muelwn). From arw, to join, comes armov, old word, here only in the N.T. Muelov (from muw, to shut), old word, here only in N.T. This surgeon goes into and through the joints and marrow, not cleaving between them.
Quick to discern (kritikov). Verbal adjective in -ikov, from krinw, skilled in judging, as the surgeon has to be and able to decide on the instant what to do. So God's word like his eye sees the secret lurking doubt and unbelief "of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (enqumhsewn kai ennoiwn kardiav). The surgeon carries a bright and powerful light for every dark crevice and a sharp knife for the removal of all the pus revealed by the light. It is a powerful picture here drawn.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Hebrews 4:12:
John 1:1
1 Corinthians 16:9
Ephesians 6:17
Philemon 1:6
Hebrews 2:4
Hebrews 3:7
Hebrews 4:13
1 Peter 4:1
Revelation 1:16
Revelation 19:13
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