Hebrews 5:11
New International Version
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand.

New Living Translation
There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen.

English Standard Version
About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

Berean Standard Bible
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing.

Berean Literal Bible
Concerning this there is much speech from us, and difficult in interpretation to speak, since you have become sluggish in the hearings.

King James Bible
Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

New King James Version
of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

New American Standard Bible
Concerning him we have much to say, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become poor listeners.

NASB 1995
Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

NASB 1977
Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

Legacy Standard Bible
Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

Amplified Bible
Concerning this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull and sluggish in [your spiritual] hearing and disinclined to listen.

Christian Standard Bible
We have a great deal to say about this, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
We have a great deal to say about this, and it’s difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand.

American Standard Version
Of whom we have many things to say, and hard of interpretation, seeing ye are become dull of hearing.

Contemporary English Version
Much more could be said about this subject. But it is hard to explain, and all of you are slow to understand.

English Revised Version
Of whom we have many things to say, and hard of interpretation, seeing ye are become dull of hearing.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
We have a lot to explain about this. But since you have become too lazy to pay attention, explaining it to you is hard.

Good News Translation
There is much we have to say about this matter, but it is hard to explain to you, because you are so slow to understand.

International Standard Version
We have much to say about this, but it is difficult to explain because you have become too lazy to understand.

Majority Standard Bible
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing.

NET Bible
On this topic we have much to say and it is difficult to explain, since you have become sluggish in hearing.

New Heart English Bible
About him we have many words to say, and hard to interpret, seeing you have become dull of hearing.

Webster's Bible Translation
Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

Weymouth New Testament
Concerning Him we have much to say, and much that it would be difficult to make clear to you, since you have become so dull of apprehension.

World English Bible
About him we have many words to say, and hard to interpret, seeing you have become dull of hearing.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
concerning the Word, of whom we have much [to speak], and of hard explanation to say, since you have become dull of hearing,

Berean Literal Bible
Concerning this there is much speech from us, and difficult in interpretation to speak, since you have become sluggish in the hearings.

Young's Literal Translation
concerning whom we have much discourse and of hard explanation to say, since ye have become dull of hearing,

Smith's Literal Translation
Of whom great is the word to us, and difficult of interpretation to speak, since ye have been sluggish in the hearing.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Of whom we have much to say, and hard to be intelligibly uttered: because you are become weak to hear.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Our message about him is great, and difficult to explain when speaking, because you have been made feeble when listening.

New American Bible
About this we have much to say, and it is difficult to explain, for you have become sluggish in hearing.

New Revised Standard Version
About this we have much to say that is hard to explain, since you have become dull in understanding.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Now concerning this very Mel-chis'edec, we have much to say, but it is difficult to explain because you are dull of comprehension.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But about this Melchizedek we have much to say, but it is hard to explain it because you have bad hearing.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Of him we have many things to say, and difficult to be explained, if we do say them, since you are slow in understanding.

Godbey New Testament
Concerning whom there is much word to us, and difficult to speak, since you are dull of hearing.

Haweis New Testament
Concerning whom we have much to discourse, and of difficult interpretation to explain, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

Mace New Testament
On this head we have many things to say, not easily to be comprehended, because of your prejudices.

Weymouth New Testament
Concerning Him we have much to say, and much that it would be difficult to make clear to you, since you have become so dull of apprehension.

Worrell New Testament
Concerning Whom we have much to say and difficult to explain, since ye have become dull of hearing.

Worsley New Testament
Concerning whom we have much to say and difficult to be explained, since ye are become dull of hearing.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Warning against Drifting Away
10and was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek. 11We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing. 12Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food!…

Cross References
1 Corinthians 3:1-2
Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ. / I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food. In fact, you are still not ready,

2 Peter 3:16
He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

Isaiah 6:9-10
And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ / Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

Matthew 13:13-15
This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’ / In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. / For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’

Mark 8:17-18
Aware of their conversation, Jesus asked them, “Why are you debating about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Do you have such hard hearts? / ‘Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?’ And do you not remember?

John 16:12
I still have much to tell you, but you cannot yet bear to hear it.

1 Corinthians 2:6
Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom—but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.

1 Corinthians 14:20
Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

Ephesians 4:14
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.

2 Timothy 4:3-4
For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. / So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

Jeremiah 6:10
To whom can I give this warning? Who will listen to me? Look, their ears are closed, so they cannot hear. See, the word of the LORD has become offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.

Ezekiel 12:2
“Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.

Acts 28:26-27
‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” / For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’

Romans 2:5
But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

Romans 11:8
as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.”


Treasury of Scripture

Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing you are dull of hearing.

we.

1 Kings 10:1
And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.

John 6:6
And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

John 16:12
I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

dull.

Isaiah 6:10
Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

Matthew 13:15
For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Mark 8:17,18,21
And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? …

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Hebrews 5
1. The honor of our Savior's priesthood.
11. Negligence in the knowledge thereof is reproved.














We have much to say about this
This phrase indicates the depth and richness of the subject matter the author wishes to convey. The Greek word for "much" (πολύς, polys) suggests an abundance or a great deal of information. The context here is the discussion of Jesus as the high priest in the order of Melchizedek, a profound theological concept that requires deep understanding. Historically, the role of the high priest was central to Jewish religious life, and the author is eager to expound on how Christ fulfills and surpasses this role.

but it is hard to explain
The Greek word for "hard to explain" (δυσερμήνευτος, dyshermēneutos) implies difficulty in interpretation or understanding. This difficulty is not due to the complexity of the subject alone but also the spiritual maturity required to grasp it. The author acknowledges the challenge in communicating these deep truths, which require not just intellectual comprehension but spiritual insight. This reflects the broader biblical theme that spiritual truths are discerned spiritually (1 Corinthians 2:14).

because you are dull of hearing
The phrase "dull of hearing" (νωθρός, nōthros) suggests sluggishness or laziness in listening. This is not a physical inability to hear but a spiritual condition of the heart. The historical context reveals that the original audience, likely Jewish Christians, were struggling with reverting to old covenant practices and were not fully embracing the new covenant realities in Christ. This spiritual dullness is a warning against complacency and a call to awaken to the deeper truths of the faith. The author is urging the readers to move beyond elementary teachings and mature in their understanding, echoing the call to spiritual growth found throughout Scripture (e.g., 2 Peter 3:18).

(11) Of whom.--Or, of which (subject), "Christ made High Priest after the order of Melchizedek."

Hard to be uttered.--Rather, hard of interpretation, seeing ye have become sluggish in hearing. Their faculty of "hearing" had once been acute, and then few words and little explanation, even on such a subject as this, would have sufficed; now there has come upon them a lack of interest, and with this a want of power.

Verse 11 - Hebrews 7:1. - This is the long admonitory digression (see under ver. 1) felt by the writer to be necessary before his exposition of κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχιζεδέκ. He is entering on a new theme, higher and less level to the comprehension of his readers than any that has gone before. Even so far, we have seen how their Jewish prejudices had evoked admonitions, frequently interposed in the course of the argument. Much more so now, when it is to be shown how the priesthood of Christ not only fulfils the idea of, but also supersedes, that of the sons of Aaron, being of a different order from theirs. The region of thought to be entered now, being that of "the mystery of Christ," transcends more than any that has been so far entered the ordinary conceptions of traditional Judaism. Hence the writer's shrinking from entering all at once on the subject for fear of not being even understood; hence his earnest warnings to his readers as to the necessity of advancing to the state of full-grown Christians who can discern spiritual things. Verse 11 - Hebrews 6:20. - INTERPOSED EXHORTATION. Verse 11. - Of whom (the most obvious antecedent being Melchizedek, but with regard to his typical significance, as referred to in Psalm 110.) we have many things to say (the subject itself admits a lengthy exposition) and hard of interpretation, seeing ye are become (not, as in A.V., "ye are") dull of hearing, Their dullness is the reason of the λόγος being δυσερμήνευτος. It was not that the subject was in itself inexplicable, or that the writer was incompetent to explain it; his difficulty was in adapting the interpretation to the capacity of his readers: "Non scribentis, sed vestro vitio" (Bengel). It seems from γεγόνατε ("ye are become"), in this and the following verse, that the Hebrew Christians had even retrograded in spiritual perception. This is easily conceivable. As, through the teaching of St. Paul especially, the tie between Christianity and Judaism became more and more broken, there was likely to be a certain reaction among the Hebrew Christians, who, having gone to a certain extent with the tide of thought, became conscious how far it was carrying them. They would be inclined to cling the more fondly to their old associations from the fear of losing them altogether. Such retrogressions have been observable in other times of upheaval of old ideas.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
We [have]
ἡμῖν (hēmin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

much
πολὺς (polys)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4183: Much, many; often.

to say
λόγος (logos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

about
Περὶ (Peri)
Preposition
Strong's 4012: From the base of peran; properly, through, i.e. Around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time.

[this],
οὗ (hou)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

[but it is]
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

hard to explain,
δυσερμήνευτος (dysermēneutos)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1421: Difficult to interpret, hard to be understood. From dus- and a presumed derivative of hermeneuo; difficult of explanation.

because
ἐπεὶ (epei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1893: Of time: when, after; of cause: since, because; otherwise: else. From epi and ei; thereupon, i.e. Since.

you are
γεγόνατε (gegonate)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

dull
νωθροὶ (nōthroi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3576: Blunt, dull, hence spiritually; sluggish, remiss, slack. From a derivative of nothos; sluggish, i.e. lazy, or stupid.

of
ταῖς (tais)
Article - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

hearing.
ἀκοαῖς (akoais)
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 189: Hearing, faculty of hearing, ear; report, rumor. From akouo; hearing.


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NT Letters: Hebrews 5:11 About him we have many words (Heb. He. Hb)
Hebrews 5:10
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