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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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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 5:11 tn Grk “concerning which the message for us is great.”
  2. Hebrews 5:11 tn Or “dull.”
  3. Hebrews 5:12 tn Grk “because of the time.”
  4. Hebrews 5:12 tn Grk “the elements of the beginning of the oracles of God.”
  5. Hebrews 5:12 tn Grk “you have come to have a need for.”
  6. 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.

11 Concerning [a]him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though [b]by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you (A)the [c](B)elementary principles of the (C)oracles of God, and you have come to need (D)milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an (E)infant. 14 But solid food is for (F)the [d]mature, who because of practice have their senses (G)trained to (H)discern both good and evil.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 5:11 Lit whom, which
  2. Hebrews 5:12 Lit because of the time
  3. Hebrews 5:12 Lit elementary principles of the beginning
  4. Hebrews 5:14 Or perfect, cf. 5:9