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

2You don’t need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding. For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come— 6and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.

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 10:26Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins.
• Hebrews 12:15Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.
• Matthew 5:13“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
• Matthew 12:31“So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven.
• Luke 11:24“When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’
• John 15:6Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.
• 2 Timothy 2:25Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.
• 2 Timothy 4:14Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm, but the Lord will judge him for what he has done.
• 2 Peter 2:20And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before.
• 1 John 5:16If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it.
• Hebrews 10:32Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering.
• Numbers 24:3and this is the message he delivered: “This is the message of Balaam son of Beor, the message of the man whose eyes see clearly,
• Matthew 7:21“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.
• Luke 10:19Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.
• John 3:27John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.
• John 4:10Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give 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