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.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
• New Living Translation (NLT)For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right.

Context of Hebrews 5:13

11About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

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 119:123My eyes long for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.
• Romans 1:17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."
• Romans 10:5For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.
• 2 Corinthians 3:9For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.
• 2 Timothy 3:16All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
• Isaiah 28:9"To whom will he teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, those taken from the breast?
• Matthew 11:25At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;
• Mark 10:15Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."
• Romans 2:20an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—
• 1 Corinthians 13:11When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
• 1 Corinthians 14:20Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.
• Ephesians 4:14so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
• 1 Peter 2:2Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—

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