Hebrews 5:14

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

12By now you should be teachers. Instead, you still need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food. 13All those who live on milk lack the experience to talk about what is right. They are still babies. However, solid food is for mature people, whose minds are trained by practice to know the difference between good and evil.

Hebrews 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 5:48That is why you must be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.
• 1 Corinthians 2:6However, we do use wisdom to speak to those who are mature. It is a wisdom that doesn’t belong to this world or to the rulers of this world who are in power today and gone tomorrow.
• Ephesians 4:13This is to continue until all of us are united in our faith and in our knowledge about God’s Son, until we become mature, until we measure up to Christ, who is the standard.
• Philippians 3:15Whoever has a mature faith should think this way. And if you think differently, God will show you how to think.
• James 3:2All of us make a lot of mistakes. If someone doesn’t make any mistakes when he speaks, he would be perfect. He would be able to control everything he does.
• Job 6:30Is there injustice on my tongue, or is my mouth unable to tell the difference between right and wrong?
• Job 12:11Doesn’t the ear distinguish sounds and the tongue taste food?
• Job 34:3The ear tests words like the tongue tastes food.
• Psalms 119:103How sweet the taste of your promise is! It tastes sweeter than honey.
• Matthew 6:22“The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is unclouded, your whole body will be full of light.
• Ephesians 1:18Then you will have deeper insight. You will know the confidence that he calls you to have and the glorious wealth that God’s people will inherit.
• Genesis 3:5“God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened. You’ll be like God, knowing good and evil.”
• 2 Samuel 14:17I thought that you would reassure me. You are like God’s Messenger, who is able to distinguish right from wrong. May the Lord your God be with you!”
• 1 Kings 3:9Give me a heart that listens so that I can judge your people and tell the difference between good and evil. After all, who can judge this great people of yours?”
• Isaiah 7:15He will eat cheese and honey until he knows how to reject evil and choose good.
• Romans 14:1Welcome people who are weak in faith, but don’t get into an argument over differences of opinion.

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

• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Belong
• Meat
• Priest
• Strong
• Age; Old Age
• Catechist; Catechumen
• Christ, Offices of
• Congregation
• Discern
• Discernings of Spirits

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