HEB 5:12 Interlinear View

1. Greek word
2. Greek lemma
3. OET-LV words
4. OET-RV words
5. Strongs
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. καί
2. kai
3. even
4. -
5. 25320
6. D·······
7. even
8. even
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142387
1. Γάρ
2. gar
3. For/Because
4. -
5. 10630
6. C·······
7. for
8. for
9. S
10. Y64
11. 142388
1. ὀφείλοντες
2. ofeilō
3. ought
4. ought
5. 37840
6. VPPA·NMP
7. ought
8. ought
9. -
10. Y64; R141770
11. 142389
1. εἶναι
2. eimi
3. to be
4. -
5. 15100
6. VNPA····
7. to_be
8. to_be
9. -
10. Y64; R141770
11. 142390
1. διδάσκαλοι
2. didaskalos
3. teachers
4. teachers
5. 13200
6. N····NMP
7. teachers
8. teachers
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142391
1. διά
2. dia
3. because of
4. because
5. 12230
6. P·······
7. because_of
8. because_of
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142392
1. τόν
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····AMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142393
1. χρόνον
2. χronos
3. time
4. -
5. 55500
6. N····AMS
7. time
8. time
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142394
1. πάλιν
2. palin
3. again
4. -
5. 38250
6. D·······
7. again
8. again
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142395
1. χρείαν
2. χreia
3. need
4. -
5. 55320
6. N····AFS
7. need
8. need
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142396
1. ἔχετε
2. eχō
3. you all are having
4. -
5. 21920
6. VIPA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ having
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ having
9. -
10. Y64; R141770
11. 142397
1. τοῦ
2. ho
3. of the one
4. -
5. 35880
6. R····GNS
7. ˱of˲ the ‹one›
8. ˱of˲ the ‹one›
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142398
1. διδάσκειν
2. didaskō
3. to be teaching
4. -
5. 13210
6. VNPA····
7. ˓to_be˒ teaching
8. ˓to_be˒ teaching
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142399
1. ὑμᾶς
2. su
3. you all
4. -
5. 47710
6. R···2A·P
7. you_all
8. you_all
9. -
10. Y64; R141770
11. 142400
1. τινά
2. tis
3. someone
4. someone
5. 51000
6. R····AMS
7. someone
8. someone
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142401
1. τά
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····ANP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142402
1. στοιχεῖα
2. stoiχeion
3. principles
4. -
5. 47470
6. N····ANP
7. principles
8. principles
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142403
1. τῆς
2. ho
3. of the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GFS
7. ˱of˲ the
8. ˱of˲ the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142404
1. ἀρχῆς
2. arχē
3. beginning
4. -
5. 7460
6. N····GFS
7. beginning
8. beginning
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142405
1. τῶν
2. ho
3. of the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GNP
7. ˱of˲ the
8. ˱of˲ the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142406
1. λογίων
2. logion
3. oracles
4. -
5. 30510
6. N····GNP
7. oracles
8. oracles
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142407
1. τοῦ
2. ho
3. the
4. -
5. 35880
6. E····GMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142408
1. Θεοῦ
2. theos
3. of god
4. -
5. 23160
6. N····GMS
7. ˱of˲ god
8. ˱of˲ God
9. GN
10. Y64; Person=God
11. 142409
1. καί
2. kai
3. and
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142410
1. γεγόνατε
2. ginomai
3. you all have become
4. become
5. 10960
6. VIEA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓have˒ become
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓have˒ become
9. -
10. Y64; R141770
11. 142411
1. χρείαν
2. χreia
3. need
4. -
5. 55320
6. N····AFS
7. need
8. need
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142412
1. ἔχοντες
2. eχō
3. having
4. -
5. 21920
6. VPPA·NMP
7. having
8. having
9. -
10. Y64; R141770
11. 142413
1. γάλακτος
2. gala
3. of milk
4. milk
5. 10510
6. N····GNS
7. ˱of˲ milk
8. ˱of˲ milk
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142414
1. καί
2. kai
3. -
4. -
5. 25320
6. C·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. -
11. 142415
1. οὒ
2. ou
3. not
4. -
5. 37560
6. D·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142416
1. στερεᾶς
2. stereos
3. of solid
4. solid
5. 47310
6. A····GFS
7. ˱of˲ solid
8. ˱of˲ solid
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142417
1. τροφῆς
2. trofē
3. food
4. -
5. 51600
6. N····GFS
7. food
8. food
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142418

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 5:11–6:12: Grow up in your faith, and do not give up

In Section 5:11–6:12 the author interrupted his teaching about God appointing Christ as the high priest in order to tell his listeners to mature in their faith and to warn them not to stop believing in Christ. After this warning (6:4–12), he will continue to teach them in 6:13–7:28 about the priesthood of Jesus and Melchizedek.

Remember to translate the section before choosing a heading for it. Some other possible headings are:

Warning about abandoning Christ

Do not be lazy but become mature followers of Christ

Paragraph 5:11–14

In verses 11–14 the author told his listeners that they were like babies who do not understand much about God and his Word. He told them that they ought to be like teachers, not like babies.

5:12

In this verse the author rebuked his listeners for not understanding more about God’s word. He implied that they had known about Christ for a long time, so they should be ready to teach others about him. Instead they still needed someone to teach them the most basic truths that God has revealed to people.

5:12a–b

by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you: This statement implies that the listeners still did not understand basic truths about being a Christian. They had been Christians for a long time, so now they should be able to teach people about the Christian faith. However, they still needed other people to teach them.

Some other ways to translate the statement are:

By now you should have been teachers, but you still need a teacher to repeat to you what you learned before.

At a time when you should be teaching others, you need teachers yourselves (JBP)

Notice that the word reteach refers specifically here to teaching about God’s word and the Christian faith. It does not imply that the listeners should have become professional teachers or teachers of other subjects. In some languages it is necessary to refer specifically to Christian teaching. For example:

Now for a long time you have heard about Jesus Christ. If you had not been sluggish in listening, you would now be teaching other people about him.

5:12a

Although by this time you ought to be teachers,

By now you should already be teachers of these things/truths.
Indeed, you should already be teaching them to others,

Although: The common Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as Although introduces an explanation. It supports what the author said about the readers being “dull of hearing” (5:11). The word Although indicates that what the author is about to say in 5:12a is unexpected. Some other ways to translate the connection between these clauses in English are:

There has been enough time for you to be teachers—yet you still need someone to teach you (GNT)

You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you (NLT)

By now you should be teachers, but you need someone to teach you (NCV)

Connect the clauses in a natural way in your language.

by this time: The phrase by this time refers to the time when the author was writing to his listeners. The author implied that as he was writing to them, they had already been Christians for some time. He also implied that since they first trusted in Christ, they had been hearing God’s word, so now they should know enough to teach it to others. Other ways to translate the phrase are:

Actually it is time

By now (NET)

by this time…because you began to trust in Jesus long agoEllis Diebler, SSA of Hebrews, chapter 5, page 8, prepublication copy.

you ought to be teachers: The clause you ought to be teachers indicates that the listeners should be teaching other people about God’s word. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

you ought to be teaching others (NLT)

you should be the ones who are teaching your companionsKankanaey back translation on TW.

You ought to be able to preach/teach nowYakan back translation on TW.

you: The pronoun you is plural and refers to the people who were listening to the book of Hebrews.

teachers: The word teachers refers to people who teach others. It is a general word that can refer to anyone who teaches, either formally or informally. It was often used to describe people who taught about God. For example, it is used of John the Baptist (Luke 3:12) and of Jesus (Mark 4:38).

In some languages it is more natural to use a verb. For example:

you^(plur) should be able to explain these truths to others

By now you^(plur) should be teaching other people these truths.

5:12b

you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word.

Instead, you^(plur) need someone to teach you again the first lessons of God’s word.
but you^(plur) need someone to repeat for you even the basic teachings about God’s message.

you need someone to reteach you: The clause you need someone to reteach you implies that someone already taught the listeners about Christ. When they joined the Christian community, they were taught the basic truths that Christians believe. Now they seem to have forgotten these truths, so they need someone to teach them again.

Some other ways to translate 5:12b are:

you still need to have someone else to teach you againWestern Bukidnon Manobo back translation on TW.

you still have to be taught/preached-to againYakan back translation on TW.

the basic principles of God’s word: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as basic principles is more literally “fundamental principles of the beginning.”The phrase is more literally “fundamental-principles of the beginning.” The phrase “of the beginning” adds emphasis here to the basic meaning of στοιχεῖον, which is ‘fundamental principles” (meaning 1c, BDAG, page 946). It refers to the simple truths and principles on which our trust in God is based.

These principles are usually the first truths that people are taught about God, Christ, and salvation when they become Christians. They are God’s word because God is the one who spoke them and revealed them to his people.

Some other ways to translate the basic principles of God’s word are:

the elementary truths of God’s word (NIV)

the first lessons of God’s message (NCV)

the simplest things about what God has said (CEV)

5:12c

You need milk, not solid food!

You^(plur) still seem to need milk, not solid/proper food!
You^(plur) still need simple teaching, like a child who still needs milk and cannot eat other food.
You are like a young child who can understand only simple teaching. You^(plur) are not mature enough to understand more difficult teaching.

You need milk, not solid food: Here the author used a metaphor. He compared basic teaching to milk. The word milk often refers to “breast milk” that babies and young children take directly from their mothers’ breasts. The author compared the teaching about Jesus being our high priest to solid food. It is a teaching for mature Christians.

In some languages this metaphor may not be clear. Some other ways to translate it are:

Use a simile. For example:
You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. (NLT)
You still need basic/simple teaching that is like milk. You are not yet ready for the advanced teaching that is like solid food.
Use a more general comparison. For example:
You are like a young child who can understand only simple teaching. You are not mature enough to understand more difficult teaching.

solid food: The phrase solid food refers to food that must be chewed, like meat or vegetables. Small babies cannot eat that kind of food because they cannot chew it. Remember that the author used solid food as a metaphor to refer to the complex truths that he wanted to teach them.

In some languages a word like solid is not necessary, because food already contrasts with milk. For example:

You again want to be like babies who are nursing, and yet it is necessary that you eat food.Otomi back translation on TW.

It’s as if you have become a baby who still needs to nurse, because he can’t chew food.Kankanaey back translation on TW.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί Γάρ ὀφείλοντες εἶναι διδάσκαλοι διά τόν χρόνον πάλιν χρείαν ἔχετε τοῦ διδάσκειν ὑμᾶς τινά τά στοιχεῖα τῆς ἀρχῆς τῶν λογίων τοῦ Θεοῦ καί γεγόνατε χρείαν ἔχοντες γάλακτος οὒ στερεᾶς τροφῆς)

The word For introduces an explanation about how the audience has “become dull” in their “hearing” ([5:11](../05/11.md)). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces an explanation, or you could leave For untranslated. Alternate translation: [Indeed,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor

γάλακτος, οὐ στερεᾶς τροφῆς

˱of˲_milk (Some words not found in SR-GNT: καί Γάρ ὀφείλοντες εἶναι διδάσκαλοι διά τόν χρόνον πάλιν χρείαν ἔχετε τοῦ διδάσκειν ὑμᾶς τινά τά στοιχεῖα τῆς ἀρχῆς τῶν λογίων τοῦ Θεοῦ καί γεγόνατε χρείαν ἔχοντες γάλακτος οὒ στερεᾶς τροφῆς)

The author begins speaking about milk and solid food, words he uses again in the next two verses (See: [5:13–14](../05/13.md)). The word milk refers to the simple, basic teaching about God (the elementary principles). The phrase solid food refers to more complex teaching about God that mature Christians learn. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Make sure you use words and phrases that you can use in the next two verses. Alternate translation: [to crawl, not to run] or [of simple things, not of complex things]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

1. OET-LV words
2. OET-RV words
3. Strongs
4. Greek word
5. Greek lemma
6. Role/Morphology
7. OET Gloss
8. VLT Gloss
9. CAPS codes
10. Confidence
11. OET tags
12. OET word #
1. For/Because
2. -
3. 10630
4. S
5. gar
6. C-·······
7. for
8. for
9. S
10. Y64
11. 142388
1. even
2. -
3. 25320
5. kai
6. D-·······
7. even
8. even
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142387
1. ought
2. ought
3. 37840
5. ofeilō
6. V-PPA·NMP
7. ought
8. ought
9. -
10. Y64; R141770
11. 142389
1. to be
2. -
3. 15100
5. eimi
6. V-NPA····
7. to_be
8. to_be
9. -
10. Y64; R141770
11. 142390
1. teachers
2. teachers
3. 13200
5. didaskalos
6. N-····NMP
7. teachers
8. teachers
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142391
1. because of
2. because
3. 12230
5. dia
6. P-·······
7. because_of
8. because_of
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142392
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····AMS
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142393
1. time
2. -
3. 55500
5. χronos
6. N-····AMS
7. time
8. time
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142394
1. again
2. -
3. 38250
5. palin
6. D-·······
7. again
8. again
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142395
1. need
2. -
3. 55320
5. χreia
6. N-····AFS
7. need
8. need
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142396
1. you all are having
2. -
3. 21920
5. eχō
6. V-IPA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ having
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓are˒ having
9. -
10. Y64; R141770
11. 142397
1. of the one
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. R-····GNS
7. ˱of˲ the ‹one›
8. ˱of˲ the ‹one›
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142398
1. to be teaching
2. -
3. 13210
5. didaskō
6. V-NPA····
7. ˓to_be˒ teaching
8. ˓to_be˒ teaching
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142399
1. you all
2. -
3. 47710
5. su
6. R-···2A·P
7. you_all
8. you_all
9. -
10. Y64; R141770
11. 142400
1. someone
2. someone
3. 51000
5. tis
6. R-····AMS
7. someone
8. someone
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142401
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····ANP
7. the
8. the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142402
1. principles
2. -
3. 47470
5. stoiχeion
6. N-····ANP
7. principles
8. principles
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142403
1. of the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····GFS
7. ˱of˲ the
8. ˱of˲ the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142404
1. beginning
2. -
3. 7460
5. arχē
6. N-····GFS
7. beginning
8. beginning
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142405
1. of the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····GNP
7. ˱of˲ the
8. ˱of˲ the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142406
1. oracles
2. -
3. 30510
5. logion
6. N-····GNP
7. oracles
8. oracles
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142407
1. of
2. -
3. 23160
4. GN
5. theos
6. N-····GMS
7. ˱of˲ god
8. ˱of˲ God
9. GN
10. Y64; Person=God
11. 142409
1. the
2. -
3. 35880
5. ho
6. E-····GMS
7. ¬the
8. ¬the
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142408
1. god
2. -
3. 23160
4. GN
5. theos
6. N-····GMS
7. ˱of˲ god
8. ˱of˲ God
9. GN
10. Y64; Person=God
11. 142409
1. and
2. -
3. 25320
5. kai
6. C-·······
7. and
8. and
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142410
1. you all have become
2. become
3. 10960
5. ginomai
6. V-IEA2··P
7. ˱you_all˲ ˓have˒ become
8. ˱you_all˲ ˓have˒ become
9. -
10. Y64; R141770
11. 142411
1. need
2. -
3. 55320
5. χreia
6. N-····AFS
7. need
8. need
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142412
1. having
2. -
3. 21920
5. eχō
6. V-PPA·NMP
7. having
8. having
9. -
10. Y64; R141770
11. 142413
1. of milk
2. milk
3. 10510
5. gala
6. N-····GNS
7. ˱of˲ milk
8. ˱of˲ milk
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142414
1. not
2. -
3. 37560
5. ou
6. D-·······
7. not
8. not
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142416
1. of solid
2. solid
3. 47310
5. stereos
6. A-····GFS
7. ˱of˲ solid
8. ˱of˲ solid
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142417
1. food
2. -
3. 51600
5. trofē
6. N-····GFS
7. food
8. food
9. -
10. Y64
11. 142418

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear HEB 5:12

SR Greek word order (including unused variant words in grey)