An even closer study of Jesus’ words reveals that the “sword” to which Jesus refers is not a rhomphaia, the kind of sword used only for war.1 The sword that Jesus brings is a machaira. Like a machete, a machaira is a long knife or a short sword designed as a multipurpose tool, such as cutting meat or cleaning fish. Also like a machete, a machaira can be used for fighting, but it is not its only or primary purpose. Its primary purpose is to divide, and here Jesus says his coming is as a machaira to divide families.
