Hebrews 5:13 BSB — MannaFest

Hebrews 5:13

For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

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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Commentary

4 voices

Origen of Alexandria

AGAINST CELSUS 3.52 (253)

For 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.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers1 voice

Clement of Alexandria

The Stromata Book 1 (215)

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."

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

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.

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

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,

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

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.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

11 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
πᾶς	pas	Everyone	G3956 →
γὰρ	gar	for	G1063 →
ὁ	ho	who	G3588 →
μετέχων	metechōn	is partaking [only]	G3348 →
γάλακτος	galaktos	of milk	G1051 →
ἄπειρος	apeiros	[is] inexperienced	G552 →
λόγου	logou	in [the] word	G3056 →
δικαιοσύνης·	dikaiosunēs	of righteousness;	G1343 →
νήπιος	nēpios	an infant	G3516 →
γάρ	gar	for	G1063 →
ἐστιν·	estin	he is;	G1510 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
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.
Through
1 Peter 2:2
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
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.

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01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About Hebrews

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About Hebrews