Topical Bible: The Sword: Bright

◄ The Sword: Bright ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

The concept of the "bright sword" in the Bible is a powerful symbol often associated with divine judgment, warfare, and the authority of God. The imagery of a bright or shining sword is used to convey the might and purity of God's intervention in human affairs, as well as the righteousness of His judgments.

Biblical References:

1. Deuteronomy 32:41 : "When I sharpen My flashing sword, and My hand grasps it in judgment, I will take vengeance on My adversaries and repay those who hate Me." This verse is part of the Song of Moses, where God declares His intention to execute judgment upon His enemies. The "flashing sword" symbolizes the swift and decisive nature of God's retribution.

2. Ezekiel 21:9-10 : "Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord says: A sword, a sword, sharpened and polished—sharpened for the slaughter, polished to flash like lightning!’" Here, the sword is depicted as a tool of divine judgment, prepared and ready to execute God's will. The brightness of the sword underscores its readiness and the inevitability of the coming judgment.

3. Revelation 19:15 : "And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter." In this apocalyptic vision, the sword represents the Word of God, emanating from the mouth of Christ. It is both a weapon of judgment and a symbol of His sovereign authority over the nations.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

The bright sword is emblematic of God's holiness and the purity of His justice. Its brightness signifies the clarity and truth of God's judgments, which are untainted by human error or corruption. The sword's sharpness and readiness highlight the immediacy and certainty of divine action against sin and rebellion.

In the context of spiritual warfare, the bright sword also represents the believer's reliance on the Word of God as a weapon against spiritual adversaries. Ephesians 6:17 refers to "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God," emphasizing the power and authority of Scripture in the life of a Christian.

Theological Significance:

The imagery of the bright sword serves as a reminder of God's ultimate authority and the certainty of His justice. It reassures believers of God's control over the forces of evil and His commitment to righteousness. The bright sword also calls believers to live in accordance with God's Word, recognizing its power to discern truth and execute justice.

In summary, the bright sword in biblical literature is a multifaceted symbol of divine judgment, authority, and the purity of God's Word. It serves as a powerful reminder of the sovereignty of God and the ultimate triumph of His righteousness over evil.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Nahum 3:3
The horseman lifts up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcasses; and there is none end of their corpses; they stumble on their corpses:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Strong's Hebrew

1300. baraq -- lightning
... bright, glittering sword, lightning. From baraq; lightning; by analogy, a gleam;
concretely, a flashing sword -- bright, glitter(-ing sword), lightning. ...
/hebrew/1300.htm - 6k

Library

The Witness of the Spirit
... their heavy wings and unused feet, if I am speaking to any Christian man to whom
this word has been like the cherubim and flaming sword, bright and beautiful ...
/.../romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/the witness of the spirit.htm

Book I to Pleasant Songs My Work was Erstwhile Given, and Bright ...
... into the paths of the sky: his to watch the light of the bright sun, his ... that I had
wished to burn down temples, to murder with sacrilegious sword their priests ...
/.../boethius/the consolation of philosophy/book i to pleasant songs.htm

The Release of Saint George.
... A bright light was forthwith emitted from it, which increased and increased till
it ... A magic sword, by which alone the Magician can be conquered, is held in a ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter eleven the release of.htm

"Love and I" --A Mystery
... When love puts on her own golden armour, and bares her sword bright with her
own unselfishness, she goeth on conquering and to conquer. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 28 1882/love and ia mystery.htm

A vision of the Last Day
... light that streamed forth from within was so dazzlingly bright, so transcendently
white and pure, that the Soul shrank back as from a two-edged sword, and the ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/a vision of the last.htm

A Hymn Concerning Her.
... the sword, herself stronger than steel, Cecilia joyously laughs at the foemen's
sword. ... was Thy work, O Christ, that her very garments were bright and undefiled ...
/.../bede/bedes ecclesiastical history of england/chap xx a hymn concerning.htm

Praise to Thee from Every Mouth on this Day of Thy Birth!
... and seek Him."it is written of them that they saw, that bright star and ... light."The
murderer they saw and trembled, as his guile and his sword flashed forth ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn xvii praise to thee.htm

On all the Saints.
... This sword did our Leader forge against the enemy with fire in the virgin furnace ...
sharpened it by sufferings without passion in them, and made it bright by the ...
/.../dubious or spurious writings of gregory thaumaturgus/on all the saints.htm

The End of Self-Will
... his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died ...
While the one sets in dark thunderclouds, the other is bright with victory. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the end of self-will.htm

The Men of War
... A sword shall his blood likewise spill. Here is the patience of the saints,. And
the true faith, which never faints.'. For in this bright, instructing verse. ...
/.../palgrave/the treasury of sacred song/cxvi the men of war.htm