Hebrews 5:11-14
New English Translation
The Need to Move on to Maturity
11 On this topic we have much to say[a] and it is difficult to explain, since you have become sluggish[b] in hearing. 12 For though you should in fact be teachers by this time,[c] you need someone to teach you the beginning elements of God’s utterances.[d] You have gone back to needing[e] milk, not[f] solid food. 13 For everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced in the message of righteousness, because he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both good and evil.
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- Hebrews 5:11 tn Grk “concerning which the message for us is great.”
- Hebrews 5:11 tn Or “dull.”
- Hebrews 5:12 tn Grk “because of the time.”
- Hebrews 5:12 tn Grk “the elements of the beginning of the oracles of God.”
- Hebrews 5:12 tn Grk “you have come to have a need for.”
- Hebrews 5:12 tc ‡ Most texts, including some early and significant ones (א2 A B* D Ψ 0122 0278 1881 M sy Cl), have καί (kai, “and”) immediately preceding οὐ (ou, “not”), but other equally significant witnesses (P46 א* B2 C 33 81 1739 lat Or Did) lack the conjunction. As it was a natural tendency for scribes to add a coordinating conjunction, the καί appears to be a motivated reading. On balance, it is probably best to regard the shorter reading as authentic. NA28 has καί in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.
Hebrews 5:11-14
Lexham English Bible
Advanced Teaching Hindered by Immaturity
11 Concerning this[a] we have much to say and it is difficult to explain[b], since you have become sluggish in hearing. 12 For indeed, although you[c] ought to be teachers by this time[d], you have need of someone to teach you again the beginning elements of the oracles of God, and you have need of[e] milk, not[f] solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes of milk is unacquainted with the message of righteousness, because he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have trained their faculties for the distinguishing of both good and evil.
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- Hebrews 5:11 Literally “which”
- Hebrews 5:11 Literally “great for us the message and hard to explain to say”
- Hebrews 5:12 Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“ought”) which is understood as concessive
- Hebrews 5:12 Literally “because of the time”
- Hebrews 5:12 Literally “you are having need of”
- Hebrews 5:12 Some manuscripts have “and not”
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