Hebrews 6:4

Hebrews 6:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
• New International Version (NIV)It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
• English Standard Version (ESV)For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,
• New King James Version (NKJV)For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,

Context of Hebrews 6:4

2of [the] doctrine of washings, and of imposition of hands, and of resurrection of [the] dead, and of eternal judgment; 3and this will we do if God permit. For it is impossible to renew again to repentance those once enlightened, and who have tasted of the heavenly gift, and have been made partakers of [the] Holy Spirit, 5and have tasted the good word of God, and [the] works of power of [the] age to come, 6and have fallen away, crucifying for themselves [as they do] the Son of God, and making a show of [him].

Hebrews 6:4 word by word

ἀδύνατον γὰρ τοὺς ἅπαξ φωτισθέντας, γευσαμένους τε τῆς δωρεᾶς τῆς ἐπουρανίου καὶ μετόχους γενηθέντας πνεύματος ἁγίουRead the interlinear

• impossibleἀδύνατοςadunatos · unableG102
• onceἅπαξhapax · onceG530
• enlightenedφωτίζωphōtizō · to illuminateG5461
• tastedγεύωgeuomai · to tasteG1089
• heavenlyἐπουράνιοςepouranios · heavenlyG2032
• giftδωρεάdōrea · free giftG1431
• partakersμέτοχοςmetochos · partakerG3353
• Holyἅγιοςhagios · holyG40
• Spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151

Cross-references for Hebrews 6:4

• Hebrews 10:26For where we sin wilfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains any sacrifice for sins,
• Hebrews 12:15watching lest [there be] any one who lacks the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and many be defiled by it;
• Matthew 5:13Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have become insipid, wherewith shall it be salted? It is no longer fit for anything but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot by men.
• Matthew 12:31For this reason I say unto you, Every sin and injurious speaking shall be forgiven to men, but speaking injuriously of the Spirit shall not be forgiven to men.
• Luke 11:24When the unclean spirit has gone out of the man, he goes through dry places seeking rest; and not finding [any] he says, I will return to my house whence I came out.
• John 15:6Unless any one abide in me he is cast out as the branch, and is dried up; and they gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
• 2 Timothy 2:25in meekness setting right those who oppose, if God perhaps may sometime give them repentance to acknowledgment of [the] truth,
• 2 Timothy 4:14Alexander the smith did many evil things against me. The Lord will render to him according to his works.
• 2 Peter 2:20For if after having escaped the pollutions of the world through [the] knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, again entangled, they are subdued by these, their last state is worse than the first.
• 1 John 5:16If any one see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life, for those that do not sin unto death. There is a sin to death: I do not say of that that he should make a request.
• Hebrews 10:32But call to mind the earlier days in which, having been enlightened, ye endured much conflict of sufferings;
• Numbers 24:3And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor saith, and the man of opened eye saith,
• Matthew 7:21Not every one who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but he that does the will of my Father who is in the heavens.
• Luke 10:19Behold, I give you the power of treading upon serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall in anywise injure you.
• John 3:27John answered and said, A man can receive nothing unless it be given him out of heaven.
• John 4:10Jesus answered and said to her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that says to thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

Commentaries on Hebrews 6:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened - Before I proceed to explain the different terms in these verses, it is necessary to give my opinion of their design and meaning: I do not consider them as having any reference to any person professing Christianity. They do not belong, nor are they applicable, to backsliders of any kind. They belong to apostates from Christianity; to such as reject the whole Christian system, and its author, the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4For it is impossible - It is needless to say that the passage here Hebrews 6:4-6, has given occasion to much controversy, and that the opinions of commentators and of the Christian world are yet greatly divided in regard to its meaning. On the one hand, it is held that the passage is not intended to describe those who are true Christians, but only those who have been awakened and enlightened, and who then fall back; and on the other it is maintained that…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4In Greek, the word translated impossible starts the sentence for emphasis. It means this absolutely cannot happen (see also Hebrews 6:18; 10:4; 11:6). They were once enlightened when they "first learned about Christ" (see 10:32 and corresponding study note). The good things of heaven might refer to the manna given from heaven (Exodus 16:4, 15; Psalm 78:24) as a symbol of spiritual blessings.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. We must "go on toward perfection"; for if we fall away, after having received enlightenment, it will be impossible to renew us again to repentance. for those--"in the case of those." once enlightened--once for all illuminated by the word of God taught in connection with "baptism" (to which, in He 6:2, as once for all done," once enlightened" here answers); compare Ep 5:26. This passage probably originated the application of the term "illumination" to…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 6:4

• Apostasy
• Backsliders
• Holy Spirit
• Reprobacy
• Unpardonable Sin

In the dictionaries

• Holy Ghost
• Afresh
• Anchor
• Backslide
• Counsel
• Crucify
• Enlighten
• Immutable
• Nigh
• Persuade

Commentaries on Hebrews 6

• 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