Hebrews 5:12

10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

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

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

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

14 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.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Although 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!
KJV
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
WEB
For although by this time you should be teachers, you again need to have someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the revelations of God. You have come to need milk, and not solid food.
ASV
For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food.
DARBY
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have again need that [one] should teach you what [are] the elements of the beginning of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk, [and] not of solid food.
BLB
For even by the time you ought to be teachers, you⁺ have need of one to teach you⁺ again what [is] the beginning of the elements of the oracles of God; and you⁺ have become [those] having need of milk, and not of solid food.
ÅB
For skjønt dere etter tiden burde være lærere, trenger dere igjen til at en lærer dere hva som er de første grunner i Guds ord, og dere er blitt sådanne som trenger til melk, ikke fast føde.
OTB
For selv om dere nå burde være lærere, trenger dere noen til å lære dere igjen de grunnleggende prinsippene i Guds ord. Dere trenger melk, ikke fast føde!
B1930
For skjønt I efter tiden burde være lærere, trenger I atter til at en lærer eder hvad som er de første grunner i Guds ord, og I er blitt sådanne som trenger til melk, ikke fast føde.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Hebrews 6:1

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

    Read in context
  • 1 Corinthians 3:1–3

    And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

    Read in context
  • 1 Peter 2:2

    As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

    Read in context
  • Hebrews 5:13

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

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 28:9–10

    Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

    Read in context
  • Colossians 3:16

    Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 28:13

    But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 34:11

    Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

    Read in context