Hebrews 5 14

Hebrews 5:14 kjv

But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Hebrews 5:14 nkjv

But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Hebrews 5:14 niv

But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Hebrews 5:14 esv

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Hebrews 5:14 nlt

Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.

Hebrews 5 verses

Hebrews 5 14 Meaning

Hebrews 5:14 declares that spiritual "solid food," representing deeper, more advanced biblical truths, is intended for believers who have reached maturity. This maturity is attained through consistent spiritual exercise and training, which refines their spiritual senses or faculties. Such discipline enables them to skillfully discern between what is truly good and what is truly evil, whether in teachings, actions, or influences, guiding them towards righteous judgment and living.

Hebrews 5 14 Context

Hebrews 5:14 concludes the author's strong admonition regarding the spiritual immaturity of his audience. In Hebrews 5:11-12, he expresses his difficulty in conveying deeper truths because they have become "dull of hearing" and still require basic instruction, akin to "milk." Verse 13 defines "milk" as pertaining to "the word of righteousness," something spiritual infants partake in, indicating their inability to grasp complex ethical and theological distinctions. This verse, then, marks a pivotal point, urging the readers to progress beyond the elementary principles (mentioned explicitly in Heb 6:1) towards Christian maturity. Historically, the audience, likely Jewish Christians, might have been prone to regression due to persecution, weariness, or temptation to revert to elements of the Old Covenant. The call to mature discernment here prepares them for the upcoming exposition on Christ's superior high priesthood (from Heb 7 onwards), which demands a more sophisticated theological understanding to fully appreciate the new covenant. This section subtly serves as a polemic against complacency and intellectual laziness within the Christian walk.

Hebrews 5 14 Word analysis

• But solid food: Greek: στερεά τροφή (stereá trophē). Stereá implies something firm, hard, stable, or substantial. Trophē refers to nourishment or sustenance. Together, this phrase represents the profound, intricate doctrines and theological truths of God's Word that build upon foundational beliefs, demanding greater spiritual comprehension and application.
• is for the mature: Greek: τελείοις (teleíois). This word, derived from telos (end, goal, completion), describes those who are spiritually "complete," "full-grown," or "perfect" in the sense of spiritual development and understanding, rather than sinless moral perfection. They have reached a stage where they can process and apply deeper insights into divine truth.
• who because of practice: Greek: διὰ τὴν ἕξιν (dià tḕn héxin). Dia indicates cause or means, "through" or "because of." Héxis signifies a developed "habit," "disposition," or "skill" acquired through consistent exercise and training. It underscores that spiritual maturity is not innate or automatic but a cultivated ability resulting from diligent effort and repeated engagement with truth.
• have their senses trained: Greek: γεγυμνασμένα ἔχουσι τὰ αἰσθητήρια (gegymnasména échousi tà aisthētēria).
  • Aisthētēria: Refers to the physical organs of perception (e.g., eyes, ears) but metaphorically to the inner faculties or spiritual senses of apprehension. These are the means by which one perceives spiritual realities.
  • Gegymnasména: A perfect passive participle of gymnazō, meaning "to train naked," evocative of vigorous athletic training. This implies an intense, disciplined, and ongoing process of exercising one's spiritual faculties, leading to a state of being highly honed and refined. The perfect tense denotes a past action with ongoing results.
• to discern good and evil: Greek: πρὸς διάκρισιν καλοῦ τε καὶ κακοῦ (pros diákrisin kaloú te kai kakoú).
  • Diákrisin: Means "distinguishing," "discernment," or "judgment." It is the critical ability to differentiate, evaluate, and rightly separate one thing from another.
  • Kaloú te kai kakoú: Refers to "good and evil" in a broad sense, encompassing moral, ethical, doctrinal, and spiritual categories. This is the practical outcome of trained spiritual senses: the ability to recognize righteous actions from unrighteous ones, true teachings from false, and divine will from human error or deception.

Words-group analysis

• "solid food is for the mature" (στερεά τροφή τελείοις): This pairing sets a clear criterion for handling advanced spiritual truth. It suggests that there are levels of spiritual revelation and that not all truths can be properly received without a certain level of developed understanding, reinforcing the need for progression from foundational teachings.
• "because of practice have their senses trained" (διὰ τὴν ἕξιν γεγυμνασμένα ἔχουσι τὰ αἰσθητήρια): This highlights the indispensable role of personal discipline and consistent spiritual application in achieving spiritual maturity. The vivid imagery of "trained senses" indicates that spiritual understanding is not merely intellectual, but an intuitive, experiential capacity, refined through repeated application, much like a muscle grows stronger with exercise.
• "to discern good and evil" (πρὸς διάκρισιν καλοῦ τε καὶ κακοῦ): This phrase reveals the ultimate purpose and practical result of spiritual maturity and disciplined senses. It moves beyond abstract knowledge to the functional ability of making sound, Christ-like judgments in moral, ethical, and doctrinal matters, reflecting an alignment of one's will and understanding with God's.

Hebrews 5 14 Bonus section

The concept of "spiritual senses" (aisthētēria) in Hebrews 5:14 implies that just as humans have physical senses to interact with the natural world, believers possess spiritual faculties to perceive and understand spiritual realities. These senses can be either dulled through neglect and lack of practice (leading to a need for milk) or sharpened through rigorous spiritual discipline and application of God's Word (enabling consumption of solid food). This ongoing "training" transforms passive knowledge into an active, perceptive discernment that informs a believer's entire life. This idea echoes prophetic themes of having eyes that truly see and ears that truly hear (e.g., Isa 6:10, Matt 13:16). Furthermore, the ultimate goal of "discerning good and evil" highlights that spiritual growth is deeply intertwined with ethical living. It's not merely intellectual ascent to theology but the practical application of wisdom that leads to choosing rightly, which is foundational to a life of Christ-like obedience.

Hebrews 5 14 Commentary

Hebrews 5:14 serves as a strong challenge to Christian believers, moving beyond the gentle critique of their sluggishness (Heb 5:11). It firmly asserts that deep, profound spiritual truth – the "solid food" – is not for spiritual novices, but exclusively for those who are "mature." This maturity is not inherent; it is a cultivated state achieved through consistent spiritual "practice" or disciplined engagement with God's Word and its principles. This ongoing "training" refines the believer's spiritual "senses," which can be thought of as their capacity to perceive and apprehend divine truth and spiritual reality. The fruit of this laborious discipline is the ability to "discern good and evil." This discernment goes beyond simple black-and-white moral choices; it involves the intricate skill of distinguishing truth from error, discerning righteous motivations from selfish ones, and identifying God's will amidst complex situations. Practically, a mature believer is one who consistently applies biblical truth to life, learning from both successes and failures, leading to a finely tuned spiritual sensitivity. For example, a mature believer is better equipped to recognize subtle deceptions within a persuasive argument that might initially appear righteous, or to wisely navigate a morally ambiguous situation not explicitly covered by a simple rule, instead relying on cultivated spiritual insight and Godly character.