What Does Hebrews 5:13 Mean?
For everyone who shares in milk is untried in the word of alignment, for he is an infant.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.THE KEY
Milk marks an early capacity to receive the word of alignment, not a verdict on the worth of the one receiving it.
THE MEANING
The verse names a present stage of growth: you can receive nourishment while still being inexperienced with the word that describes alignment. “Unskilful” points to unfamiliarity, while “babe” describes the learner’s present measure, not their whole capacity.
THE ROOT
ἄπειρος
apeiros
GROWS FROM
πειρ-
peir-
Experience, trial, or attempt; apeiros means inexperienced or unacquainted.
“untried” in this verse is apeiros. The word translated “unskilful” can name a lack of experience with something, rather than a lack of worth or intelligence. The verse describes someone who has not yet grown familiar with the word of alignment; milk is nourishment suited to that stage.
ALSO GROWS
peira: trial or experience
πεῖρα
It shows the experience implied by the description of someone still unacquainted.
empeiros: experienced
ἔμπειρος
It gives the contrasting sense: familiarity gained through experience.
δικαιοσύνης
dikaiosynēs
GROWS FROM
δικ-
dik-
Rightness or alignment.
The Greek word belongs to the same family as words for a person who is just and for being made right. “The word of righteousness” therefore reaches beyond an abstract topic: it is language about alignment and what it means to be aligned.
ALSO GROWS
dikaios: just, aligned
δίκαιος
The same family names the person whose life is in alignment.
dikaioō: justify, set right
δικαιόω
This branch carries alignment as an action, not merely a quality.
THE PATTERN
The word received as nourishment develops into perception that can distinguish what is aligned.
But firm food is for the complete, for those who through practice have their senses exercised to sift good from evil.I gave you milk to drink, not food, for until now you were not able to carry it, nor even now are you able.The opening of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the open ones.THE THREAD
For in it the alignment of God is unveiled, from trust into trust, as it is written, "The aligned one shall live from trust."“Righteousness” and “just” here come from the same Greek δικ- family that appears in Hebrews’ “word of righteousness.” The shared root opens that phrase as language about alignment and the person who is aligned.
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