Hebrews 5:13

13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.

Hebrews 5:13 in Other Translations

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

13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.

13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right.

13 Milk is for beginners, inexperienced in God's ways;

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

13 All those who live on milk lack the experience to talk about what is right. They are still babies.

13 Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant.

13 Anyone who lives on milk is still a baby. That person does not want to learn about living a godly life.

Hebrews 5:13 Meaning and Commentary

Hebrews 5:13

For everyone that useth milk
And sits down contented with the first principles of the Gospel, such as are easily taken in and digested; or makes use of the ceremonial law, as a schoolmaster to teach him the Gospel:

is unskilful in the word of righteousness;
the Gospel, which is a doctrine of righteousness; not of works of righteousness done by men, and of justification by them, or of a man's own righteousness; but of the pure, perfect, and everlasting righteousness of Christ: and it is called so, because it is the means of stripping a man of his own righteousness; and of revealing the righteousness of Christ unto him; and of working faith in him to lay hold upon it; and of discovering the agreement there is between the righteousness of Christ, and the justice of God; and of teaching men to live soberly, righteously, and godly: and such are unskilful in it, who either have no knowledge of the doctrine of justification; of the matter of it, Christ's righteousness; of the form of it, by imputation; and of the date of it, before faith: or have a very confused notion of it, joining their own works with Christ's righteousness, for justification, as many judaizing professors did; or who, if they have a notional knowledge of it, have no practical concern in it; do not believe with the heart unto righteousness; have not the experience, sweetness, and power of this doctrine upon them; and do not live lives agreeable to it:

for he is a babe.
This word is used sometimes by way of commendation, and is expressive of some good characters of the saints; such as harmlessness and inoffensiveness, humility, and meekness, a desire after the sincere milk of the word, freedom from rancour and malice, hypocrisy and guile; but here it is used by way of reproach, and denotes levity and inconstancy, ignorance and non-proficiency, want of digestion of strong meat, and incapacity to take care of themselves, as standing in need of tutors and governors.

Hebrews 5:13 In-Context

11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand.

12 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!

13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.

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

Cross References

• 1. S 1 Corinthians 14:20