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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Heb_5:11-14
11Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Heb_5:11 to Heb_6:12 This is one literary unit. Chapter and verse divisions are not inspired and were added much later. See Contextual Insights to chapter 6.
Heb_5:11 "him" This pronoun can be either masculine or neuter. I think the neuter fits better (cf. NRSV, TEV, NJB, NIV). Therefore, it would refer to Jesus' Melchizedekian priesthood. Heb_5:11 to Heb_6:20 is a theological parenthesis. The author will return to Melchizedek in Hebrews 7.
▣ We" This is a literary plural, and refers to the one author.
▣ "you have become dull of hearing" This context is unique in Hebrews in that three pronouns are used: "you" (Heb_5:11-12; Heb_6:9-12), "we" and "us" (Heb_5:11; Heb_6:1-3; Heb_6:9), and "those" (Heb_6:4-8). See contextual Insights, D. This seems to support the supposed historical reconstruction that the book of Hebrews was written to a group of believing Jews still content to worship in a synagogue setting with unbelieving Jews, never fully embracing the consequences of the gospel.
This is a perfect active indicative, which emphasizes a settled state of being. The term "dull" is used only twice in the NT, here and in Heb_6:12. The author was having difficulty explaining, not because of the subject matter, but because of the immaturity of the readers. They had become hard of hearing and lazy in spiritual matters.
Heb_5:12 "For though by this time you ought to be teachers" Although these believers had been Christians for a long period they had not matured. Length of time is not directly related to maturity. It seems they were continuing to fellowship with unbelieving Jews on the basis of non-controversial Jewish subjects (cf. Heb_6:1-2). This was possibly (1) to avoid governmental persecution and/or (2) to avoid the "great commission" commitment required of Christians.
NASB "elementary principles"
NKJV "first principles"
NRSV "the basic elements"
TEV "the first lessons"
NJB "the elements of the principles"
This term has many possible meanings (i.e., wide semantical field).
1. the basic teachings of a subject
2. the origin of a subject
3. angelic powers (cf. Gal_4:3; Gal_4:9; Col_2:8)
In this context #1 seems best. The author asserts that these immature believers need the basics of Christianity taught to them (use # 1), but in Heb_6:1, definition #2 fits best because Heb_6:1-2 relates to Jewish teaching, not uniquely Christian teachings, which they are to move beyond. The Greek word here is stoichea, while in Heb_6:1 it is archç (see Special Topic: Archç at Heb_3:14).
▣ "oracles of God" This term is used of OT truths in Act_7:38 and Rom_3:2.
▣ "milk. . .solid food" These are both God given and both are appropriate at certain times. However, milk is inappropriate for the mature (cf. 1Co_3:2; 1Pe_2:2).
Heb_5:13 "word of righteousness" The interpretive question is how does this phrase relate to the "good and evil" of Heb_5:14? The NJB translates the first as relating to doctrine, "the doctrine of saving justice." The TEV translates them as parallel "right and wrong" (Heb_5:13) and "good and evil" (Heb_5:14). The first phrase deals with a problem of immaturity, while the second deals with a problem of lack of action/experience.
It is possible that this phrase is in contrast to "the elementary principles" of Heb_5:12; Heb_6:1. Thereby it would refer to the gospel as over against Jewish doctrines of Heb_6:1-2.
For a word study on righteousness see special topic at Heb_1:9.
Heb_5:14 "the mature" This term is from the same Greek root translated "perfect" in Heb_5:9. Telos means mature, fully equipped for an assigned task. See Special Topic at Heb_7:11. Jesus' humanity is an example of faithfulness and growth to maturity (cf. Heb_5:8-9), just as the readers' lives must be. These believing Jews had experienced some persecution (cf. Heb_12:4), but they tended to pull back (cf. "shrink back," Heb_10:38) into the relative safety of Judaism.
▣ "because of practice have their senses trained" This is a perfect passive participle, which speaks of repeated action that has become consolidated into a settled state of being—practice makes perfect! The same verb is used of God's disciples in Heb_12:11.
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