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  What it means

  Literally “he who fights by the sword dies by the sword.” Means live by the sword, die by the sword — those who use violence or aggression will ultimately be destroyed by the same means.

  Vocabulary

  • miecz — sword
  • wojować — to wage war / to fight (imperfective)
  • ginąć — to perish / to die (imperfective)

  Grammar note

  'Mieczem' uses the instrumental — the weapon used in fighting. 'Od miecza' uses the genitive after 'od' — dying from/by the sword.

  Cultural context

  A biblical reference (Matthew 26:52) deeply embedded in Polish culture. Used in political and moral commentary.

  Intermediate

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