Hebrews 5:13
in Hebrews 5For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe.
KJV
For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
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This verse in Hebrews 5
Commentary
15 notes on this verseFor we do everything in our power to see that our gathering consists of intelligent people, and we dare to bring forward in common discourse at the time of our gathering our most noble and divine beliefs when we have an intelligent audience. But we conceal and pass over the more profound truths whenever we see that the meeting consists of simple-minded folk who are in need of that teaching which is figuratively called milk.
This site's exposition
every one that useth milk is unskilful
on Hebrews 5:13-14
Milk suits the babe because he is unskilful in the word of righteousness, untrained in applying truth to conduct and discernment. Strong meat belongs to them of full age, whose senses are exercised by use, gymnasium language, to discern both good and evil, maturity measured by trained perception rather than years alone. The chapter closes on the edge of the exhortation that opens chapter 6, leaving the principles behind to go on unto perfection.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers4 voices
Philosophers, then, are children, unless they have been made men by Christ. "For if the son of the bond woman shall not be heir with the son of the free," at least he is the seed of Abraham, though not of promise, receiving what belongs to him by free gift. "But strong meat belongeth to those that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."
To those who are still infants, faith is seen in humble words, (for milk is suitable for infants), but to the perfect, faith is in solid food and the high thinking concerning Christ. "For everyone who lives on milk." For everyone, he says, who partakes …
A commentator
Ephrem the SyrianCOMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 5 · Written before 373.
proposed
"Every one who lives on milk" as food … whose hope of salvation is in the promises of the earthly law, is "unskilled in the word of righteousness," that is, in the crucifixion of our flesh, by which the righteousness of God is proclaimed.
"For every one that partaketh of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe." What is "the Word of righteousness"? He seems to me here to hint at conduct also. That which Christ also said, "Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees", this he says likewise, "unskilled in the word of righteousness," that is, he that is unskilled in the philosophy that is above, is unable to embrace a perfect and exact life. Or else by "righteousness" he here means Christ, and the high doctrine concerning Him. That they then were "become dull," he said; but from what cause, he did not add, leaving it to themselves to know it, and not wishing to make his discourse hard to bear. But in the case of the Galatians he both "marveled" and "stood in doubt", which tends much more to encourage, as it is the language of one who would never have expected that this should happen. For this is what the doubting implies. Thou seest that there is another infancy, Thou seest that there is another full age. Let us become of "full age" in this sense: It is in the power even of those who are children, and the young to come to that "full age": for it is not of nature, but of virtue.
The Medieval Church1 voice
By "righteousness" here he means either a manner of life that is entirely upright, speaking as if to say that the "unskilled" person is not experienced in heavenly wisdom and cannot lead a higher life; Christ also demanded this, saying: "unless your righteousness exceeds the …
8 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
268. – Then (v. 13) he explains the simile: first he explains what he said about milk; secondly, about solid food: (v. 14). In regard to the first he does two things: first, he gives the explanation; secondly, the reason behind the explanation (v. 13b). …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
Everyone that useth milk - That neither desires, nor can digest, anything else: otherwise strong men use milk; but not milk chiefly, and much less that only. Is unexperienced in the word of righteousness - The sublimer truths of the gospel. Such are all who desire and can digest nothing but the doctrine of justification and imputed righteousness.
Christ despises not his babes; he has provided suitable food for them. It is good to be babes in Christ, but not always to continue in that childish state; we should endeavor to pass the infant state; we should always remain in malice children, but in understanding we should grow up to a manly maturity. There is strong meat for those that are of full age,
For everyone that useth milk,....
(2.) That all we bring to God must go through the high priest's hands, as the great agent between God and man. That he might offer sacrifices for sin; that is, the offerings that were appointed to make atonement, that sin might be pardoned and sinners accepted. Thus Christ is constituted a high priest for both these ends.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
For every one that useth milk - Referring to the food of children. The apostle has in view here those Christians who resemble children in this respect, that they are not capable of receiving the stronger food adapted to those of mature age. Is unskilful - Inexperienced; who has not skill to perform anything. The word is properly applied to one who has not experience or skill, or who is ignorant.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
useth--Greek, "partaketh," that is, taketh as his portion. Even strong men partake of milk, but do not make milk their chief, much less their sole, diet. the word of righteousness--the Gospel wherein "the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith" (Ro 1:17), and which is called "the ministration of righteousness" (2Co 3:9).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
For every one that useth milk - It is very likely that the apostle, by using this term, refers to the doctrines of the law, which were only the rudiments of religion, and were intended to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. The word of righteousness - Αογος δικαιοσυνης· The doctrine of justification. I believe this to be the apostle’s meaning. He that uses milk - rests in the ceremonies and observances of the law, is unskilful in the doctrine of justification; for this requires faith in the sacrificial death of the promised Messiah.
The words behind it
11 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| πᾶς | pas | Everyone | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ὁ | ho | who | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μετέχων | metechon | is partaking [only] | G3348 → | 8 times |
| γάλακτος | galaktos | of milk | G1051 → | |
| ἄπειρος | apeiros | [is] inexperienced | G552 → | |
| λόγου | logou | in [the] word | G3056 → | 329 times |
| δικαιοσύνης· | dikaiosunes | of righteousness; | G1343 → | 92 times |
| νήπιος | nepios | an infant | G3516 → | |
| γάρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ἐστιν· | estin | he is; | G1510 → | 2333 times |
πᾶςEveryone
pasG3956 →1235 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ὁwho
hoG3588 →19766 times
μετέχωνis partaking [only]
metechonG3348 →8 times
γάλακτοςof milk
galaktosG1051 →
ἄπειρος[is] inexperienced
apeirosG552 →
λόγουin [the] word
logouG3056 →329 times
δικαιοσύνης·of righteousness;
dikaiosunesG1343 →92 times
νήπιοςan infant
nepiosG3516 →
γάρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ἐστιν·he is;
estinG1510 →2333 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Timothy 3:16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
it leads to
- Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.
- Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- 2 Peter 1:19–21
We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day…
- Mark 12:24
Jesus said to them, “Aren’t you mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?
- Psalms 19:7–11
The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple.
- Romans 15:4
Through
1 Peter 2:2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
it leads to
- Hebrews 5:12–13
Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food!
- Ephesians 4:15
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.
- 2 Peter 3:18
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
- Hebrews 5:12–13
Where this verse is studied
About Hebrews
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata Book 1; Ephrem the Syrian, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 5; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary on Hebrews; John Chrysostom, Homily on Hebrews 8; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews; Origen of Alexandria, AGAINST CELSUS 3.52; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Hebrews and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Hebrews.