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Hebrews 5:11-14
New International Version
Hebrews 5:11-14
New International Version
Warning Against Falling Away(A)
11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths(B) of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!(C) 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant,(D) is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature,(E) who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.(F)
Hebrews 5:11-14
New English Translation
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.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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.
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New English Translation (NET)
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