Hebrews 5 12

Hebrews 5:12 kjv

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

Hebrews 5:12 nkjv

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

Hebrews 5:12 niv

In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!

Hebrews 5:12 esv

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,

Hebrews 5:12 nlt

You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God's word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.

Hebrews 5 verses

Hebrews 5 12 Meaning

Hebrews 5:12 signifies a stern but loving rebuke to the original audience, who, despite having been believers for a significant period, remained spiritually immature. The author states that they ought to have progressed enough in their understanding of Christian doctrine to be able to instruct others. Instead, they still required re-teaching of the most fundamental aspects of God's revealed truth, much like infants who can only consume milk and are not ready for solid food, symbolizing basic spiritual teachings versus deeper, more complex theological understanding. This points to a lamentable state of spiritual stagnation rather than growth.

Hebrews 5 12 Context

Hebrews chapter 5 introduces the concept of Christ's high priesthood according to the order of Melchizedek (Heb 5:6, 10), a complex theological point that is foundational to understanding the superiority of Christ over the Old Covenant priesthood. However, before delving deeper, the author pauses his theological argument with a sharp rebuke in verse 11 and following, indicating his frustration that his audience is not ready to grasp such profound truths. He addresses a problem of spiritual regression or stagnation among these Jewish Christians who had been believers long enough to have matured beyond foundational principles. Historically, this community was facing persecution and internal pressures, which made spiritual immaturity particularly dangerous, increasing their vulnerability to falling away from faith. The author challenges them to move past the basics and genuinely embrace the deeper implications of Christ's New Covenant.

Hebrews 5 12 Word analysis

• For though by this time (καὶ γὰρ ὀφείλοντες εἶναι διὰ τὸν χρόνον - kai gar opheilontes einai dia ton chronon):

  • "by this time" (διὰ τὸν χρόνον - dia ton chronon): Signifies a significant passage of time since their conversion, implying ample opportunity for growth and learning. It highlights the expected duration of spiritual development.

• you ought to be teachers (ὀφείλοντες εἶναι διδάσκαλοι - opheilontes einai didaskaloi):

  • "ought to be" (ὀφείλοντες - opheilontes): Implies a moral obligation or debt. It was an expected state of spiritual maturity, not just an aspiration.
  • "teachers" (διδάσκαλοι - didaskaloi): Refers to those capable of instructing others in the ways of God. This indicates a progression beyond mere reception of truth to the ability to articulate, apply, and transmit it. It's a standard for a mature believer, not limited to a formal teaching office.

• you need someone to teach you again (πάλιν ἔχετε χρείαν τοῦ διδάσκειν ὑμᾶς - palin exete chreian tou didaskein hymas):

  • "you need" (ἔχετε χρείαν - exete chreian): Indicates a state of lack, a deficit in their spiritual understanding.
  • "again" (πάλιν - palin): This adverb is crucial. It points to a regrettable necessity for repetition, suggesting a cycle of needing to learn fundamental truths that should have been long mastered.

• the basic principles of the oracles of God. (τινὰ στοιχεῖα τῆς ἀρχῆς τῶν λογίων τοῦ θεοῦ - tina stoicheia tēs archēs tōn logiōn tou theou):

  • "basic principles" / "first principles" (στοιχεῖα τῆς ἀρχῆς - stoicheia tēs archēs): "Stoicheia" refers to elementary components or ABCs of a subject. Here, it denotes fundamental, foundational spiritual truths, like those outlined in Hebrews 6:1-2 (repentance from dead works, faith toward God, teachings about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment). They are the foundational building blocks of the faith.
  • "oracles of God" (τῶν λογίων τοῦ θεοῦ - tōn logiōn tou theou): Refers to God's divine utterances or inspired declarations, specifically the sacred Scriptures. It emphasizes that these basic principles are divinely revealed truths from God himself, not human wisdom.

• You need milk, not solid food! (καὶ γέγονατε χρείαν ἔχοντες γάλακτος, οὐ στερεᾶς τροφῆς - kai gegonate chreian echontes galaktos, ou stereas trophēs):

  • "milk" (γάλακτος - galaktos): A metaphor for easily digestible, foundational spiritual truths, suitable for spiritual infants or new converts.
  • "not solid food" (οὐ στερεᾶς τροφῆς - ou stereas trophēs): A metaphor for mature, deeper, and more complex spiritual doctrines that require greater discernment and application. The strong contrast emphasizes their continued spiritual infancy.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "by this time you ought to be teachers, you need... again": This juxtaposition highlights the chasm between spiritual expectation (maturity and ability to teach) and current reality (re-teaching of basics). The time given for spiritual growth has yielded insufficient fruit.
  • "basic principles of the oracles of God": Emphasizes that even these most foundational truths are divinely revealed, making their spiritual immaturity even more concerning. They are struggling with the very groundwork of God's direct revelation.
  • "milk, not solid food": This powerful analogy concisely expresses the spiritual condition: a complete inability to process deeper doctrines because they have not even properly assimilated the fundamentals. It indicates an intellectual and spiritual lethargy that hinders progress.

Hebrews 5 12 Bonus section

The rebuke in Hebrews 5:12, while strong, is immediately followed by a call to move "on to maturity" (Heb 6:1), demonstrating that the author's intention is restoration and progression, not condemnation. The expected "teachers" are not necessarily formally appointed elders, but all mature believers who, by their thorough understanding and experience of God's truth, are naturally equipped to guide and support others. This implies a significant personal responsibility for spiritual growth beyond passive consumption. The lack of assimilation of the "oracles of God" is particularly grave for a Jewish Christian audience, as the Law and Prophets were intrinsically tied to their identity; yet, they struggled even with the basic implications of God's fuller revelation in Christ. The inability to move beyond "milk" could contribute to a susceptibility to erroneous teachings or a return to less-developed covenant practices.

Hebrews 5 12 Commentary

Hebrews 5:12 serves as a sharp indictment and urgent plea, stemming from the author's frustration over the spiritual sluggishness of his readers. While intending to expound on Christ's exalted Melchizedekian priesthood—a truth demanding deep spiritual discernment—he found his audience unequipped to comprehend. Their spiritual growth had stalled, leaving them stuck in a perpetual state of infancy. This immaturity was not due to a lack of time; indeed, they had been believers long enough to progress to the point of being able to instruct others. Their "dullness of hearing" (v. 11) was not merely intellectual deficiency but a moral and spiritual complacency, a disinterest in pressing deeper into the things of God. The "basic principles" or "elementary doctrines" refer to foundational truths such as repentance, faith, baptisms, the resurrection, and eternal judgment—essential yet elementary tenets that every believer should quickly grasp and apply. The need for "milk" rather than "solid food" powerfully conveys that they could not yet digest mature teachings because they hadn't internalized the very rudiments of their faith. This lack of growth placed them at risk, not only of missing out on deeper intimacy with Christ but also of being more vulnerable to drifting away from the truth when faced with trials or temptations. The verse calls for sincere self-assessment and a renewed commitment to diligently pursue spiritual understanding and maturity, demonstrating the serious nature of spiritual stagnation within the Christian life.