The parenthesized references correspond to the parenthesized numbering in Burnet, Early Greek Philosophy.
Note that Heraclitus distances himself from the poets, esp. Homer (43, 119)
Heraclitus use of the phrase "the god" (ho theos) appears to have three different meanings, which also occur elsewhere in ancient Greek philosophical writings. Translators sometimes render "ho theos" as "God," thereby introducing misleading associations with the traditional unique God of monotheistic religion. Note that Heraclitus does occasionally refer to the gods (hoi theoi) in the plural.
GOD = UNIVERSE (36)GOD = CONTROLLING LAW OF THE UNIVERSE (28,65)
A GOD = A PRIVILEGED OBSERVER (61, 97). Heraclitus seems to believe that there are immortal, or at least very long-lived, living beings who are superior in wisdom to human beings but not identical to the divine thought that steers the universe or to the universe as a whole.
. . . but it gives clues to the investigator (11)
Paradoxical language that can be interpreted mirrors reality. Heraclitus may have something like a correspondence theory of truth: that true speech mirrors reality. In this case, since nature itself is paradoxical (contrary [para] to popular opinion [doxa]), Heraclitus' style can express that reality by mirroring it in paradoxical language (statements that seem contradictory). Such language might be truer in his view than, say, prose.
...and right interpretation of surface appearances (4)
Possibly it is understood as a fundamental reality that undergoes transformations into earth, water, and air, while somehow remaining present as basic fire, much as in Anaximenes' thought air is transformed into fire, water, and earth, while somehow remaining present as air.Also, fire understood as a flame can serve as a metaphor for the preservation of pattern or lawfulness in spite of, or because of, oscillation and transformation.