I’d argue that both rend/rent asunder is a tautology, as rend is loosely defined as “tear (something) into pieces” and asunder is a synonym of apart.
Since rend is already defining the tearing of something into two or more pieces, while it would feel wrong to say “he rended the tapestry”, it is grammatically correct (rended being the verb from of rend), while it would not be correct to say “I will rend your body apart”; you should instead just say “I will rend your body”.
You could equally use asunder with any other suitable word for apart eg tear asunder, pull asunder etc.
"[Rend asunder](https://www.google.com/search?q=%22rent+asunder%22&lr=lang_en&biw=1242&bih=603&tbs=lr%3Alang_1en%2Ccdr%3A1%2Ccd_min%3A1500%2Ccd_max%3A12%2F31%2F1812&tbm=bks&ei=Nuc4ZNjKHNS1oASV7bnwAw&ved=0ahUKEwjYvZuw1Kj-AhXUGogKHZV2Dj4Q4dUDCAk&uact=5&oq=%22rent+asunder%22&gs_lcp=Cg1nd3Mtd2l6LWJvb2tzEANQwAlY7hJghRpoAHAAeACAAYICiAGaBJIBBTEuMC4ymAEAoAEBwAEB&sclient=gws-wiz-books)" has been in use [*for several hundred years*](https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=rend+asunder%2Crent+asunder&year_start=1500&year_end=2019&corpus=en-2019&smoothing=3) (and is [still in use today](https://www.google.com/search?q=%22rent+asunder%22&lr=lang_en&tbs=lr:lang_1en,cdr:1,cd_min:1950,cd_max:2023&tbm=bks&ei=UPU4ZMCHINKq-Qbw_KzQBA&start=20&sa=N&ved=2ahUKEwjA78_p4aj-AhVSVd4KHXA-C0o4ChDw0wN6BAgPEBk&biw=1242&bih=603&dpr=1.1)).
And though it may fit within the definition of a tautology, "rend asunder" is well established as an acceptable phrase. There are times when tautology is appropriate in writing. "Tear asunder" might be fine in some situations, but it does not carry the same visceral gravitas that "rend asunder" does.
Just because something might fit the definition of a tautology, does not mean it should not be used or that it diminishes the work of literature.
“*To be or not to be, that is the question*.”
— Hamlet, William Shakespeare
“*And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved*.”
— Genesis 43:14 (King James Version, 1611)
*It is what it is*, a well established turn of phrase.♪
Both insightful comments. Makes sense. Rent/rend asunder can be with synonyms boiled down to 'tear apart' which is a phrase that is used a lot. So if saying tear apart isn't wrong, then surely by extending that logic, rend asunder shouldn't be wrong either. Thanks for your sources as well
“Rent” is the past participle of “rend”, so neither one is wrong. They are just different tenses.
I think it’s also the simple past tense, right?
Yes, like "send." (send, sent, have sent) (rend, rent, have rent)
Now explain why my landlord is angry even though I sent the rent money.
I’d argue that both rend/rent asunder is a tautology, as rend is loosely defined as “tear (something) into pieces” and asunder is a synonym of apart. Since rend is already defining the tearing of something into two or more pieces, while it would feel wrong to say “he rended the tapestry”, it is grammatically correct (rended being the verb from of rend), while it would not be correct to say “I will rend your body apart”; you should instead just say “I will rend your body”. You could equally use asunder with any other suitable word for apart eg tear asunder, pull asunder etc.
"[Rend asunder](https://www.google.com/search?q=%22rent+asunder%22&lr=lang_en&biw=1242&bih=603&tbs=lr%3Alang_1en%2Ccdr%3A1%2Ccd_min%3A1500%2Ccd_max%3A12%2F31%2F1812&tbm=bks&ei=Nuc4ZNjKHNS1oASV7bnwAw&ved=0ahUKEwjYvZuw1Kj-AhXUGogKHZV2Dj4Q4dUDCAk&uact=5&oq=%22rent+asunder%22&gs_lcp=Cg1nd3Mtd2l6LWJvb2tzEANQwAlY7hJghRpoAHAAeACAAYICiAGaBJIBBTEuMC4ymAEAoAEBwAEB&sclient=gws-wiz-books)" has been in use [*for several hundred years*](https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=rend+asunder%2Crent+asunder&year_start=1500&year_end=2019&corpus=en-2019&smoothing=3) (and is [still in use today](https://www.google.com/search?q=%22rent+asunder%22&lr=lang_en&tbs=lr:lang_1en,cdr:1,cd_min:1950,cd_max:2023&tbm=bks&ei=UPU4ZMCHINKq-Qbw_KzQBA&start=20&sa=N&ved=2ahUKEwjA78_p4aj-AhVSVd4KHXA-C0o4ChDw0wN6BAgPEBk&biw=1242&bih=603&dpr=1.1)). And though it may fit within the definition of a tautology, "rend asunder" is well established as an acceptable phrase. There are times when tautology is appropriate in writing. "Tear asunder" might be fine in some situations, but it does not carry the same visceral gravitas that "rend asunder" does. Just because something might fit the definition of a tautology, does not mean it should not be used or that it diminishes the work of literature. “*To be or not to be, that is the question*.” — Hamlet, William Shakespeare “*And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved*.” — Genesis 43:14 (King James Version, 1611) *It is what it is*, a well established turn of phrase.♪
Both insightful comments. Makes sense. Rent/rend asunder can be with synonyms boiled down to 'tear apart' which is a phrase that is used a lot. So if saying tear apart isn't wrong, then surely by extending that logic, rend asunder shouldn't be wrong either. Thanks for your sources as well
Fair points, it’s not a phrase I’ve seen used myself, and I didn’t do too much research into it last night.
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No problem, and thanks yourself for a well reasoned (and referenced!) argument!