Devine Scripture

Hebrews 5:13

What does Hebrews 5:13 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 5:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 5:13 means

Those who live on “milk” lack experience with the word of righteousness; they are spiritual infants. The “word of righteousness” is God’s message that both declares and trains people in what is right. To be unskilled in it is to have little capacity to handle Scripture in a way that shapes life and judgment. The verse does not despise beginnings—milk is necessary for infants—but it warns against staying there. Continued immaturity leaves a person unable to navigate moral and doctrinal challenges, easily swayed because the basic tools of discernment remain undeveloped.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For everyone who takes milk is without experience of the word of righteousness: he is a child.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for every one who is partaking of milk <FI>is<Fi> unskilled in the word of righteousness--for he is an infant,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For every one that is a partaker of milk is unskilful in the word of justice: for he is a little child.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For every one that partakes of milk [is] unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe;

Context

This further defines the problem raised in verses 11–12. The readers are not ready for solid teaching because they are inexperienced in applying God’s word. Verse 13 explains the deficiency; verse 14 will present the positive alternative: mature believers whose faculties have been trained by practice to distinguish good from evil. The contrast prepares the appeal in the next chapter to leave elementary doctrine and grow up into fuller understanding of Christ’s priesthood.

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.

v.13This passage

v.14But solid food is for fullgrown men, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.

Cross references

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

  • Isaiah 28:9

    Whom will he teach knowledge? and whom will he make to understand the message? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts?

  • 1 Corinthians 13:11

    When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things.

  • Romans 2:20

    a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth;

  • 1 Peter 2:2

    as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation;

  • Ephesians 4:14

    that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;

  • Psalms 119:123

    Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, And for thy righteous word.

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