Hebrews 5:13 Meaning and Explanation
“For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Anyone who lives only on milk is inexperienced in the word of righteousness, for he is still an infant.
What Does Hebrews 5:13 Mean?
Continuing the picture from verse 12, the writer explains what living on milk means. Those who take only the simplest teaching remain unskilled in the word of righteousness, untrained in handling deeper truth, because they are still spiritual infants.
There is no shame in being a beginner; every disciple starts there. The concern is staying there. To be unskilled in the word of righteousness is to lack the practiced understanding that lets a believer apply God's truth wisely to life. The verse is not a put-down but a summons: God intends His children to grow up into Christ, gaining the maturity that comes only by feeding on more than the first lessons.
Hebrews 5:13 in the Original Language
apeiros (ἄπειρος), 'unskilful' -- inexperienced or untrained, without the practiced skill that comes from use.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hebrews 5:13
What does Hebrews 5:13 mean?
Anyone who lives only on milk is inexperienced in the word of righteousness, for he is still an infant.