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 when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 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.

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

• 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 5:48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
• 1 Corinthians 2:6Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
• Ephesians 4:13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
• Philippians 3:15Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
• James 3:2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
• Job 6:30Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?
• Job 12:11Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
• Job 34:3For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
• Psalms 119:103How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
• Matthew 6:22The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
• Ephesians 1:18The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
• Genesis 3:5For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
• 2 Samuel 14:17Then thine handmaid said, The word of my lord the king shall now be comfortable: for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad: Therefore Yhwh thy God will be with thee.
• 1 Kings 3:9Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
• Isaiah 7:15Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
• Romans 14:1Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

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