2006-06-26 04:59:49 · 10 answers · asked by jackal 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Trivia
It's from "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and it means vengeance of the Lord.
Up until the 1800's "terrible" used to mean "causing terror", so the "terrible swift sword" meant the troops would rain down on the enemy and strike terror in their hearts as if the Lord himself were brandishing a mighty sword.
2006-06-26 05:02:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Terrible Swift Sword
2016-11-14 21:26:52 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Inspiring of terror. Hence “terrible swift sword” (from Battle Hymn of the Republic) means that the sword is frightening, not cheap and rusty. Generally a compliment, since the assumption was that those terrified ought to be terrified
2006-06-26 05:07:05 · answer #3 · answered by parsonsel 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Battle Hymn of The Republic
2006-06-26 05:02:03 · answer #4 · answered by AlphaFemale 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Although the phrase was most famously used in Battle Hymn of the Repubic, it apparently has its roots in biblical references in both the Old Testament and New (e.g. Revelations references a sword representing judgment of God at the second coming of the Messiah).
2006-06-26 05:13:25 · answer #5 · answered by astrocatastrophe 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a phrase from the "Battle Hymn of the Republic"
"He is loosening the lightening
from his terrible swift sword,
His truth is marching on....
Glory, Glory Hallelujah...etc., etc.
2006-06-26 05:07:09 · answer #6 · answered by alis volat propriis 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Civil War song, the "Battle Hymn of the Republic".
2006-06-26 22:01:19 · answer #7 · answered by Ken W 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"The Battle Hymn of the Republic"
2006-06-26 09:32:14 · answer #8 · answered by lilwolfy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was the sword God used to cast Lucifer out of Heaven and into hell
2006-06-26 05:15:46 · answer #9 · answered by all_this_yella 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Doesn't "battle hymn" seem like an oxymoron? (You know, like "jumbo shrimp")
2006-06-26 05:04:13 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋