<P> "Live by the sword, die by the sword" is a proverb in the form of a parallel phrase, which can be traced back to the Gospel of Matthew . </P> <P> The saying appears in the Latin Bible in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 26, verse 52 . an unnamed follower of Jesus draws his sword and cuts off the ear of a servant of the high priest . Jesus then says to him: Converte gladium tuum in locum suum . Omnes enim, qui acceperint gladium, gladio peribunt . ("Return your sword to its place, for all who will take up the sword, will die by the sword .") The phrase in the Greek original version of the Gospel is πάντες γὰρ οἱ λαβόντες μάχαιραν ἐν μαχαίρῃ ἀπολοῦνται . </P> <P> Note that the Latin version refers to the weapon as a gladius, while the Greek version refers to it as a makhaira . </P>

Those that live by the sword die by the sword