• Hebrews 5:12
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 12 καὶ and γὰρ for ὀφείλοντες (ones) being owing εἶναι to be διδάσκαλοι teachers διὰ through τὸν the χρόνον, time, πάλιν again χρείαν need ἔχετε YOU are having τοῦ of the διδάσκειν to be teaching ὑμᾶς YOU τινὰ someone τὰ the στοιχεῖα elementary things τῆς of the ἀρχῆς beginning τῶν of the λογίων little words τοῦ of the θεοῦ, God, καὶ and γεγόνατε YOU have become χρείαν need ἔχοντες (ones) having γάλακτος, of milk, οὐ not στερεᾶς of solid τροφῆς. nourishment.

  • Hebrews 5:12
    The Bible in Living English

    • 12* for when you ought to be teachers on account of the time that has elapsed, you are again in need of having someone teach you the primary elements of God’s oracles, and have come to be in need of milk, not of solid food.

  • Hebrews 5:12
    American Standard Version

    • 12 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.

  • Hebrews 5:12
    The Emphasized Bible

    • 12 For even when ye ought to be teachers by reason of the time Again have ye need that one be teaching you What are the first principles of the oracles of God, And have become such as have need of milk not of strong food;

  • Hebrews 5:12
    King James Version

    • 12 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.

  • Hebrews Study Notes—Chapter 5
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 5:12

      by now you should be teachers: When Paul wrote his letter to the Hebrew Christians, almost 30 years had passed since the founding of the congregation in Jerusalem. So “by now [lit., “in view of the time”],” they should have been able to teach their beliefs to others. Doing so was an important part of every Christian’s ministry. (See study note on Mt 28:20.) However, some were finding it difficult to understand and accept deeper truths, let alone teach them to others.​—See study note on Heb 5:11.

      the elementary things: The Greek expression for “the elementary things” generally means “the rudimentary elements of anything.” It was used, for example, of the letters of the Greek alphabet. (Compare study note on Ga 4:3.) Here, “the elementary things” refer to the basic or fundamental teachings of “the sacred pronouncements of God.” “The elementary things” were among the first things that the Hebrew Christians had to learn before they could learn deeper truths. (Heb 6:1 and study note) According to one reference work, the phrase “from the beginning the elementary things of the sacred pronouncements of God” implies that those Christians needed “to start again not even at chapter one, but, as it were, with the elements of the alphabet that precede chapter one.”

      the sacred pronouncements of God: This expression refers to the Hebrew Scriptures and apparently also to the teachings of Jesus Christ and of the inspired Christian writers.​—See study note on Ro 3:2.

      you have gone back to needing milk: As the principal food for infants, milk is an appropriate illustration for the most basic truths that Christians need to learn. But Paul was concerned that the Hebrew Christians had failed to progress past the basics. In fact, they had regressed; it was as if they had gone back to a diet of milk. Therefore, he urges them to take in “solid food.” (See study note on Heb 5:14.) Earlier, Paul gave similar counsel to the Christians in Corinth. (See study note on 1Co 3:2.) In other contexts, however, milk may refer to all the nourishing truths that any Christian, whether newly converted or experienced, needs to take in.​—1Pe 2:2.