Hebrews 5:13

Hebrews 5:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
• New International Version (NIV)Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
• English Standard Version (ESV)for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

Context of Hebrews 5:13

11We have a lot more to say to you about these things. But you are slow to understand things. As a result, it is difficult to explain any more to you now. 12After all this time as believers in Jesus, you ought to be teachers. Instead of that, you still need someone to teach you the first lessons about God's message. You have become like babies, who need milk instead of proper food. Anyone who still thinks like a baby does not yet understand God's message about what is right. It is as if they are still drinking only milk. 14People who have grown up eat proper food. In the same way, people who have been believers for a long time should understand more about God's message. They should have learned about what is good and about what is bad. They should know the difference between those.

Hebrews 5:13 word by word

πᾶς γὰρ ὁ μετέχων γάλακτος ἄπειρος λόγου δικαιοσύνης· νήπιος γάρ ἐστιν·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• every oneπᾶςpas · allG3956
• that usethμετέχωmetechō · to shareG3348
• milkγάλαgala · milkG1051
• unskilfulἄπειροςapeiros · unacquaintedG552
• in the wordλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• of righteousnessδικαιοσύνηdikaiosunē · righteousnessG1343
• he isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• a babeνήπιοςnēpios · childG3516

Cross-references for Hebrews 5:13

• Psalms 119:123I have been waiting a long time for you to save me. My eyes have become tired. I am waiting for you to save me, as your true promise has said.
• Romans 1:17The good news explains how God accepts people as right with himself. He does this when they believe in Christ. It is only because of their faith. Nothing else. This is what was written in the Bible long ago: ‘Everyone that God accepts as right will live, because they trust him.’
• Romans 10:5Moses wrote about how God's Law could help people to be right with God. He said, ‘If a person obeys the rules in God's Law, then he will live by them.’
• 2 Corinthians 3:9The old agreement showed people that they were guilty. God's new agreement makes people right with him. So surely the new agreement shows God's power even more than the old one did!
• 2 Timothy 3:16Everything that is written in the Bible comes from God's Spirit. It helps us in many ways. The Bible teaches us what is true. It warns us when we are doing wrong things. It shows us what is right. It teaches us how to live good lives.
• Isaiah 28:9They say, ‘Why does the Lord try to teach us like that? Who does he think that we are? He speaks to us as if we are babies! He thinks that we have just left our mother's breast!
• Matthew 11:25At this moment, Jesus said, ‘Father, you rule over everything in heaven and on the earth! People who do not know many things can now understand your message. And so I thank you. But you have hidden these things from some other people. Those people think that they understand everything. They think that they are wise.
• Mark 10:15I tell you this: A person must become like a little child for God to rule in his life. If he does not become like a child, he will not come into the kingdom of God.’
• Romans 2:20You are sure that you can teach fools and people who do not know very much. You know that God's Law tells you everything about what is true. Because it helps you to know so much, you think that you can be a great teacher!
• 1 Corinthians 13:11When I was a child, I talked like a child. My thoughts were a child's thoughts. I understood things in a way that a child understands. But now that I have become a man, I have stopped being like a child.
• 1 Corinthians 14:20My Christian friends, do not continue to think like children think. Instead, think properly like men and women should think. The only way you should be like babies is to keep away from evil things.
• Ephesians 4:14So then we will not be like children any more. Our minds will not become confused by strange ideas. We will not change what we believe, from one thing to another. Some people teach things that are not true. They do clever things to deceive people. But we will not agree with their false message.
• 1 Peter 2:2Instead, you should want to learn about God more and more. New babies always want their mothers' milk, which makes them grow strong. God's true message is like good food that will make you strong in your spirits. Then you will continue to grow as believers so that God saves you.

Commentaries on Hebrews 5:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13For every one that useth milk - It is very likely that the apostle, by using this term, refers to the doctrines of the law, which were only the rudiments of religion, and were intended to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. The word of righteousness - · The doctrine of justification. I believe this to be the apostle's meaning. He that uses milk - rests in the ceremonies and observances of the law, is unskilful in the doctrine of…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13For every one that useth milk - Referring to the food of children. The apostle has in view here those Christians who resemble children in this respect, that they are not capable of receiving the stronger food adapted to those of mature age. Is unskilful - Inexperienced; who has not skill to perform anything. The word is properly applied to one who has not experience or skill, or who is ignorant. Here it does not mean that they were not true Christians…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. 11-14After starting to talk about the role of Jesus as high priest (Hebrews 5:1–10), the author addresses the audience with several encouragements (5:11–6:20). This change in the sermon or speech aimed to capture the listeners' attention.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. useth--Greek, "partaketh," that is, taketh as his portion. Even strong men partake of milk, but do not make milk their chief, much less their sole, diet. the word of righteousness--the Gospel wherein "the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith" (Ro 1:17), and which is called "the ministration of righteousness" (2Co 3:9). This includes the doctrine of justification and sanctification: the first principles, as well as the perfection, of…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 5:13

• Babes
• Gospel
• Milk
• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Babe
• Belong
• Meat
• Milk
• Priest
• Strong
• Christ, Offices of
• Congregation
• Experience
• Gershom

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