Hebrews 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

◄ Hebrews 5:14 ►

Parallel Verses

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

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

New American Standard Bible
But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

King James Bible
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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But solid food is for the mature--for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.

International Standard Version
But solid food is for mature people, whose minds are trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.

American Standard Version
But solid food is for fullgrown men, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But strong meat is for the perfect; for them who by custom have their senses exercised to the discerning of good and evil.

Darby Bible Translation
but solid food belongs to full-grown men, who, on account of habit, have their senses exercised for distinguishing both good and evil.

Young's Literal Translation
and of perfect men is the strong food, who because of the use are having the senses exercised, unto the discernment both of good and of evil.

Cross References

1 Kings 3:9
Give therefore your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this your so great a people?

Romans 14:1
Him that is weak in the faith receive you, but not to doubtful disputations.

1 Corinthians 2:6
However, we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nothing:

Ephesians 4:13
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

1 Timothy 4:7
But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself rather to godliness.

Hebrews 6:1
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

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Account Adults Age Babes Belongeth Carefully Constant Discern Distinguish Distinguishing Evil Exercised Faculties Food Full Fullgrown Full-Grown Good Grown Growth Habit Mature Meat Mere Persons Practice Reason Senses Solid Spiritual Strong Themselves Trained Use

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

5:11-14 Dull hearers make the preaching of the gospel difficult, and even those who have some faith may be dull hearers, and slow to believe. Much is looked for from those to whom much is given. To be unskilful, denotes want of experience in the things of the gospel. Christian experience is a spiritual sense, taste, or relish of the goodness, sweetness, and excellence of the truths of the gospel. And no tongue can express the satisfaction which the soul receives, from a sense of Divine goodness, grace, and love to it in Christ.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

14. strong meat—"solid food."

them … of full age—literally, "perfect": akin to "perfection" (Heb 6:1).

by reason of use—Greek, "habit."

senses—organs of sense.

exercised—similarly connected with "righteousness" in Heb 12:11.

to discern both good and evil—as a child no longer an infant (Isa 7:16): so able to distinguish between sound and unsound doctrine. The mere child puts into its mouth things hurtful and things nutritious, without discrimination: but not so the adult. Paul again alludes to their tendency not to discriminate, but to be carried about by strange doctrines, in Heb 13:9.