Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is living and active

 4:12

“For the word of God is living and active”. These words in 4:12,13 are well-known, but usually taken without regard for the context. Taken as isolated, what is said about them is usually true and valuable enough. God’s word is not a dead letter, but is alive and has a powerful effect. However, the writer has just been giving a major exposition on Ps 95, and in context the meaning is that these words of David, written hundreds of years ago, are just as relevant today. Moreover, it gets to the heart of the matter. “It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow”. We should probably not get too hung up on any supposed sharp difference between soul and spirit. The two words are used interchangeably. The important difference here is “soul and spirit” and “joints and marrow”, where one can see the difference between the spiritual and the physical. However, even here we should be very careful, for the Bible does not see such a sharp distinction between the two. In Greek thought there tended to be a fairly sharp separation, but in Biblical thought spirit and body are meant to work together in harmony, it is sin that brings separation. The word of God “judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart”. The word of God sorts out what is what, what is really going on.