What Does Hebrews 4:13 Mean?

(13) **In his sight**.—Still the proper subject is “the word of God”; but, as explained above, it has assumed the meaning, *God speaking and present in His word. *Touched by this word, every creature “returns of force to its own likeness”—shows itself as it is. **Opened.**—Better, *exposed, laid bare.* The Greek word is peculiar (literally meaning, *to take by the neck*)*, *and it seems impossible to determine with certainty the exact metaphor which it here presents. It is usually applied to a wrestler who by dragging back the neck overthrows his adversary: and “prostrate” has been suggested as the meaning here. Another explanation refers the word to the drawing back of a criminal’s head, so as to expose his face to public gaze; but, though we read of such a custom in Latin authors, we have no proof that the Greek word was used in this sense. There seems no good reason for supposing any allusion to a sacrificial victim with head thrown back (slain, or ready to be slain). **Unto the eyes of him . . .**—Rather, *unto His eyes: with Whom* (or, *and with Him*)* we have to do.* The last solemn words recall the connection of the whole passage. No thought of unbelief or disobedience escapes His eye: the first beginnings of apostasy are manifest before Him. Hebrews 4:14-16 are the link connecting all the preceding part of the Epistle with the next great section, . Heb 5:1 to Heb 10:18. Following the example of Luther, Tyndale and Coverdale begin the fifth chapter here; but the connection of the three verses with what precedes is too close to justify this.