American Standard Version
Hebrews 5:14
14But solid food is for fullgrown men, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.
Hebrews 5:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
- New International Version (NIV)But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
- English Standard Version (ESV)But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Context of Hebrews 5:14
12For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food. 13For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. But solid food is for fullgrown men, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.
Read all of Hebrews 5Hebrews 5:14 word by word
τελείων δέ ἐστιν ἡ στερεὰ τροφὴ τῶν διὰ τὴν ἕξιν τὰ αἰσθητήρια γεγυμνασμένα ἐχόντων πρὸς διάκρισιν καλοῦ τε καὶ κακοῦ.¶Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Hebrews 5:14
- Matthew 5:48Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
- 1 Corinthians 2:6We speak wisdom, however, among them that are fullgrown: yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nought:
- Ephesians 4:13till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
- Philippians 3:15Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye are otherwise minded, this also shall God reveal unto you:
- James 3:2For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.
- Job 6:30Is there injustice on my tongue? Cannot my taste discern mischievous things?
- Job 12:11Doth not the ear try words, Even as the palate tasteth its food?
- Job 34:3For the ear trieth words, As the palate tasteth food.
- Psalms 119:103How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
- Matthew 6:22The lamp of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
- Ephesians 1:18having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
- Genesis 3:5for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.
- 2 Samuel 14:17Then thy handmaid said, Let, I pray thee, the word of my lord the king be comfortable; for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: and Jehovah thy God be with thee.
- 1 Kings 3:9Give thy servant therefore an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this thy great people?
- Isaiah 7:15Butter and honey shall he eat, when he knoweth to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
- Romans 14:1But him that is weak in faith receive ye, yet not for decision of scruples.
Commentaries on Hebrews 5:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14But strong meat - The high and sublime doctrines of Christianity; the atonement, justification by faith, the gift of the Holy Ghost, the fullness of Christ dwelling in the souls of men, triumph in and over death, the resurrection of the body, the glorification of both body and soul in the realms of blessedness, and an endless union with Christ in the throne of his glory. This is the strong food which the genuine Christian understands, receives, digests…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14Strong meat - Solid food pertains to those of maturer years. So it is with the higher doctrines of Christianity. They can be understood and appreciated only by those who are advanced in Christian experience. Of full age - Margin, “Perfect.” The expression refers to those who are grown up. Who by reason of use - Margin, Or, “an habit,” or, “perfection.” Coverdale and Tyndale render it, “through custom.” The Greek word means “habit, practice.” The meaning…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-14Verses 11-14 Dull hearers make the preaching of the gospel difficult, and even those who have some faith may be dull hearers, and slow to believe. Much is looked for from those to whom much is given. To be unskilful, denotes want of experience in the things of the gospel. Christian experience is a spiritual sense, taste, or relish of the goodness, sweetness, and excellence of the truths of the gospel. And no tongue can express the satisfaction which the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14Knowing the difference between right and wrong shows spiritual maturity.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. strong meat--"solid food." them ... of full age--literally, "perfect": akin to "perfection" (He 6:1). by reason of use--Greek, "habit." senses--organs of sense. exercised--similarly connected with "righteousness" in He 12:11. to discern both good and evil--as a child no longer an infant (Is 7:16): so able to distinguish between sound and unsound doctrine. The mere child puts into its mouth things hurtful and things nutritious, without discrimination…Read the comment
Topics related to Hebrews 5:14
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Hebrews 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries