Devine Scripture

Hebrews 5:11

What does Hebrews 5:11 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 5:11 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 5:11 means

The writer has much more to say about Christ’s Melchizedekian priesthood, but it is hard to explain because the readers have become dull of hearing. The difficulty lies not only in the subject’s depth but also in their sluggish spiritual condition. They are not alert or eager; they have lost the edge of attentiveness that good teaching requires. This verse gently but firmly diagnoses the problem: the barrier to deeper understanding is not lack of information but lack of receptivity. The author wants to go further, yet he must first awaken their ears and hearts to hear what God has for them.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Of whom we have many things to say, and hard of interpretation, seeing ye are become dull of hearing.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Of whom we have many things to say, and hard of interpretation, seeing ye are become dull of hearing.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Of whom we have much to say which it is hard to make clear, because you are slow of hearing.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

concerning whom we have much discourse and of hard explanation to say, since ye have become dull of hearing,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Of whom we have much to say and hard to be intelligibly uttered: because you are become weak to hear.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Concerning whom we have much to say, and hard to be interpreted in speaking [of it], since ye are become dull in hearing.

Context

This marks a transition from doctrine to admonition. After affirming Christ’s appointment and qualification (vv. 5–10), the writer pauses to address the readers’ readiness. Verse 11 introduces the issue—dull hearing—before verses 12–14 depict their immaturity with the image of milk and solid food. The exhortation aims to prepare them to receive the more advanced teaching about Melchizedek that will come later. It is a pastoral interlude designed to stir growth.

v.10named of God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

v.11This passage

v.12For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Mark 8:21

    And he said unto them, Do ye not yet understand?

  • 2 Peter 3:16

    as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

  • John 16:12

    I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

  • Luke 24:25

    And he said unto them, O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!

  • Matthew 13:15

    For this people’s heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them.

  • Mark 8:17

    And Jesus perceiving it saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? do ye not yet perceive, neither understand? have ye your heart hardened?

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