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

2We shouldn’t repeat the basic teachings about such things as baptisms, setting people apart for holy tasks, dead people coming back to life, and eternal judgment. 3If God permits, we will do this. Some people once had God’s light. They experienced the heavenly gift and shared in the Holy Spirit. 5They experienced the goodness of God’s word and the powers of the world to come. 6Yet, they have deserted ⌞Christ⌟. They are crucifying the Son of God again and publicly disgracing him. Therefore, they cannot be led a second time to God.

Hebrews 6:4 word by word

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• impossibleἀδύνατοςadunatos · unableG102
• for those who wereφωτίζωphōtizō · to illuminateG5461
• onceἅπαξhapax · onceG530
• andτεte · and/bothG5037
• have tastedγεύωgeuomai · to tasteG1089
• of theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• of theδωρεάdōrea · free giftG1431
• heavenlyἐπουράνιοςepouranios · heavenlyG2032
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• were madeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• partakersμέτοχοςmetochos · partakerG3353
• of theπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• Holyἅγιοςhagios · holyG40

Cross-references for Hebrews 6:4

• Hebrews 10:26If we go on sinning after we have learned the truth, no sacrifice can take away our sins.
• Hebrews 12:15Make sure that everyone has kindness from God so that bitterness doesn’t take root and grow up to cause trouble that corrupts many of you.
• Matthew 5:13“You are salt for the earth. But if salt loses its taste, how will it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people.
• Matthew 12:31So I can guarantee that people will be forgiven for any sin or cursing. However, cursing the Spirit will not be forgiven.
• Luke 11:24“When an evil spirit comes out of a person, it goes through dry places looking for a place to rest. But it doesn’t find any. Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to the home I left.’
• John 15:6Whoever doesn’t live in me is thrown away like a branch and dries up. Branches like this are gathered, thrown into a fire, and burned.
• 2 Timothy 2:25He must be gentle in correcting those who oppose the Good News. Maybe God will allow them to change the way they think and act and lead them to know the truth.
• 2 Timothy 4:14Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will pay him back for what he did.
• 2 Peter 2:20People can know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and escape the world’s filth. But if they get involved in this filth again and give in to it, they are worse off than they were before.
• 1 John 5:16If you see another believer committing a sin that doesn’t lead to death, you should pray that God would give that person life. This is true for those who commit sins that don’t lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I’m not telling you to pray about that.
• Hebrews 10:32Remember the past, when you first learned the truth. You endured a lot of hardship and pain.
• Numbers 24:3and he delivered this message: “This is the message of Balaam, son of Beor. This is the message of the man whose eyesight is clear.
• Matthew 7:21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the person who does what my Father in heaven wants.
• Luke 10:19I have given you the authority to trample snakes and scorpions and to destroy the enemy’s power. Nothing will hurt you.
• John 3:27John answered, “People can’t receive anything unless it has been given to them from heaven.
• John 4:10Jesus replied to her, “If you only knew what God’s gift is and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked him for a drink. He would have given you 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