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Sword

From: Concise Bible Dictionary: S

By: George A. Morrish

• 1 min. read • grade level: 10

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Sword

This is constantly referred to in scripture as the instrument of death, and is mentioned in the New Testament as being borne by the magistrate (Rom. 13:4⁴For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. (Romans 13:4)), showing that the gospel does not set aside God’s governmental principle of capital punishment which was enjoined after the flood (Gen. 9:5-6⁵And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. ⁶Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. (Genesis 9:5‑6)). See Armor, ARMS.

SWORD OF THE SPIRIT. This is the word (ρῆμα) of God, what His mouth has spoken, and is the only offensive weapon given to Christians with which to fight the Lord’s battles (Eph. 6:17¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:17)). The word (λόγος) of God is likened to a two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12¹²For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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)), and the words of the Lord Jesus when He will come forth in judgment on Christendom and the world are compared to a “sharp two-edged sword” (Rev. 1:16¹⁶And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. (Revelation 1:16); Rev. 19:15¹⁵And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. (Revelation 19:15)).

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Concise Bible Dictionary: S

• Susanchites

• Sword

• Sycamine (συκάμινος)

• Sycamore (Shiqmah, συκομωραία)

• Syria-maachah

• Syria, Syrian

• Syriac, Syrian Tongue

• Syrophenician