Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Hebrews 5:14

τελείων. The solid food of more advanced instruction pertains to the mature or “perfect.”

διὰ τὴν ἕξιν, “because of their habit,” i.e. from being habituated to it. This is the only place in the N. T. where this important word ἕξις habitus occurs.

τὰ αἰσθητήρια, “their spiritual faculties.” It does not occur elsewhere in the N. T.

γεγυμνασμένα, trained or disciplined by spiritual practice. The same phrase occurs in Galen De dignit. pulv. 3.

διάκρισιν καλοῦ τε καὶ κακοῦ. Lit., “the discrimination of good and evil.” By “good and evil” is not meant “right and wrong,” because there is no question here of moral distinctions; but excellence and inferiority in matters of instruction. To the natural man the things of the Spirit are foolishness; it is only the spiritual man who can “distinguish between things that differ” and so “discriminate the transcendent” (1 Corinthians 2:14-15; Romans 2:18; Philippians 1:9-10). The phrase “to know good and evil” is borrowed from Hebrew (Genesis 2:17, &c.), and is used to describe the first dawn of intelligence (Isaiah 7:15-16).

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Hebrews 5:14

Old Testament

New Testament