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

12For though you should in fact be teachers by this time, you need someone to teach you the beginning elements of God’s utterances. You have gone back to needing milk, not solid food. 13For everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced in the message of righteousness, because he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both 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 5:48So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
• 1 Corinthians 2:6Now we do speak wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are perishing.
• Ephesians 4:13until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God – a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ’s full stature.
• Philippians 3:15Therefore let those of us who are “perfect” embrace this point of view. If you think otherwise, God will reveal to you the error of your ways.
• James 3:2For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well.
• Job 6:30Is there any falsehood on my lips? Can my mouth not discern evil things?
• Job 12:11Does not the ear test words, as the tongue tastes food?
• Job 34:3For the ear assesses words as the mouth tastes food.
• Psalms 119:103Your words are sweeter in my mouth than honey!
• Matthew 6:22“The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.
• Ephesians 1:18– since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened – so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
• Genesis 3:5for God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will open and you will be like divine beings who know good and evil.”
• 2 Samuel 14:17So your servant said, ‘May the word of my lord the king be my security, for my lord the king is like the angel of God when it comes to deciding between right and wrong! May the Lord your God be with you!’”
• 1 Kings 3:9So give your servant a discerning mind so he can make judicial decisions for your people and distinguish right from wrong. Otherwise no one is able to make judicial decisions for this great nation of yours.”
• Isaiah 7:15He will eat sour milk and honey, which will help him know how to reject evil and choose what is right.
• Romans 14:1Now receive the one who is weak in the faith, and do not have disputes over differing opinions.

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