There are two Biblical references to this phrase: Ehud, one of the Judges, was famous for his double-edged sword (Judges 3:16), and it can be found in Psalms (149:6) as a weapon the righteous would use to fight their enemies. It appears that the Biblical meaning refers to a doubly sharp sword that is more dangerous and effective than a normal one, whereas today we use this phrase referring to a sharp sword (or any situation) that would also have negative consequences for the bearer. When someone's tongue is like a double-edged sword, they can praise and condemn at the same time. Of course, my pen may be mightier than the sword, so it's a good thing that no one can read my handwriting.

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