EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Hebrews 5:14
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 5:14 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
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. 13Anyone 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. People 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.
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
Words taken from the KJV.
- Butδέde · thenG1161
- strongστερεόςstereos · strongG4731
- meatτροφήtrophē · foodG5160
- belongethεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- to them that are of full ageτέλειοςteleios · perfectG5046
- those whoἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- by reason ofδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- useὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- useἕξιςhexis · habit/practiceG1838
- their sensesαἰσθητήριονaisthētērion · senseG145
- exercisedγυμνάζωgumnazō · to trainG1128
- toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- discernδιάκρισιςdiakrisis · discernmentG1253
- bothτεte · and/bothG5037
- goodκαλόςkalos · goodG2570
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- evilκακόςkakos · evil/harm: evilG2556
Cross-references for Hebrews 5:14
- Matthew 5:48So you must be good in every way, as your Father above is good in every way.’
- 1 Corinthians 2:6But we do speak about wise thoughts to those of you who know Christ very well. But those wise thoughts do not belong to this world. They are not the ideas that the rulers of this world think are important. Those rulers will not be powerful for long.
- Ephesians 4:13In that way, all of us will become united, like one person. We will all believe in Jesus as the Son of God. We will all know him. We will become like a man who has grown up well. We will be completely as God wants us to be, just like Christ himself.
- Philippians 3:15All of us should agree to live like that, if we properly understand God's message. If you think differently about these things, God will show you clearly what is right.
- James 3:2We all make many mistakes. So, if someone never says anything that is bad, that person is completely good. It shows that he has authority over his whole body.
- Job 6:30I have not spoken any lies. I know what is right and what is wrong.
- Job 12:11We use our mouths to taste food. And we use our ears to test what we hear.
- Job 34:3You recognize nice food when you eat it. So you should recognize the value of my words.
- Psalms 119:103Your words are very good. They taste sweeter than honey in my mouth!
- Matthew 6:22Your eyes are like lamps and your body is like a room. Make sure that your eyes are like a clean lamp, then your whole body will have light.
- Ephesians 1:18I pray that God will bring light into your minds. Then you will understand about the many good things that he has prepared for you. You know that you will receive those things because he has chosen you to be his people. God has prepared very valuable things for you in heaven.
- Genesis 3:5God knows that when you eat the fruit from this tree, you will understand things. You will become like God himself. You will know about good things and evil things.’
- 2 Samuel 14:17Now I can say, “I know that the promise of my lord the king will keep me safe. The king can judge things like an angel of God. He knows what is right and what is wrong.” I pray that the Lord your God will be with you!’
- 1 Kings 3:9So please give me a wise mind that understands things well. Then I will be able to rule your people properly. I will know the difference between right things and wrong things. I will only be able to rule this great nation of your people if you do that for me.’
- Isaiah 7:15One day he will know how to choose good things and refuse to do evil things. By that time there will be cream and honey for him to eat.
- Romans 14:1It is difficult for some Christians to trust God completely about everything. You should accept people like that as your friends. Do not argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.
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
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