ἁρμός (harmos)
harmos
joint
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun harmos refers to a joint or a place where parts are joined together. In Scripture, it appears only once, in Hebrews 4:12, where it describes the sharpness of God’s word as it penetrates human nature.
Its root connects to verbs meaning to fit or join, suggesting a precise union of separate pieces. The author uses this anatomical term to illustrate how divine truth can distinguish between soul and spirit, exposing the deepest inner workings of a person with surgical precision.
This single usage highlights the word’s theological weight: just as a joint connects bones while allowing movement, God’s word reaches the core of human identity, revealing what is hidden. The image emphasizes clarity and discernment rather than physical pain, showing how truth separates and clarifies the components of our being.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word harmos points to the precise connections within our bodies, like the joints that allow movement and hold us together. In Hebrews 4:12, this term helps describe how God’s Word works with surgical accuracy. It does not just skim the surface of our lives but reaches into the deepest structural parts of who we are.
This imagery offers comfort rather than fear. When we feel confused or divided inside, Scripture brings clarity. It distinguishes between fleeting emotions and enduring spirit, helping us understand what truly matters. We can trust that this Word knows us completely, seeing both our hidden struggles and our true intentions without judgment.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of joints1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἁρμῶν1×
Key Verses
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Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
This verse uses the term to illustrate how divine truth penetrates human nature with precision, distinguishing between soul and spirit.