Dividing Soul and Spirit

By Cal Cook

Hebrews 4:12-16 is taken from within the context of arguing that Jesus Christ is greater than Joshua. Joshua is one of my favorites from the O.T.! He, not Moses was deemed worthy to bring the Israelites into the Promised Land yet as the writer argues he did not bring them into the promised rest. Till this day Israel still struggles to exist in a world that hates them…they are constantly being threatened and attacked, by cowards sending children with bombs and hiding in schools while they shoot rockets over the border.

Verses 12 & 13 of our passage are really the wrap up warning of this argument for entering into the Rest of God. The author is warning us that the Israelites did not remain faithful, they were tempted and turned away from God just as we are tempted…God knows.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

This idea of cutting or dividing between soul and spirit intrigues me because I have often struggled to recognize the difference. I have read and heard many say we are made in the image of God with a Triune nature, Body, Mind and Spirit…yet in other places Body, Mind and Soul. Some would argue there is no difference, yet then why are the two mentioned and divided? Certainly the Word of God here speaking through the author is telling us the two are intertwined and connected to such a degree only God can separate them…yet it is possible.

Jesus uses the Shema to answer the question which is the greatest commandment in Mark 12:29-31. The Greek word used there is psychē

translated soul, the same as it is in Hebrews 4:12. The same as it is in each of the parallel passages: Matthew 22:37 and Luke 10:27. All of course are quoting Deuteronomy 6:4-5 which uses the Hebrew word nephesh

which is translated as not only soul but also mind…interestingly enough Deuteronomy and Matthew only say, “Heart, soul and strength” yet Mark and Luke add mind! nephesh

also speaks of life, translated that way 117 times in the KJV, second most next to soul (475 times). And even ‘that which breathes, the breathing substance’ this once again incites and intrigues since breathe in Greek is pneuma

translated most often as

Spirit which of course according to Hebrews 4:12 the word of God is dividing between!

The Word of God is dividing between that which breathes and the breath! The means by which we live and the life giving force within us! I think I just learned something…we live and exist as a soul, yet the power for living comes from the spirit. As God breathed the breath of life into us Genesis 2:7 we became alive, He created our soul.

There is so much here yet I can only scratch at it! The Word of God is so sharp it can separate that which gives us life from our life. Exposing our very inner being, those thoughts and desires that separate us from God, removing that which desires rest from the rest it was made for. Dividing between spirit and soul…