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OET (OET-LV) But for_the_mature is the solid food, of_who because_of the practice their senses having_been_trained, having for distinction, of_good both and evil.
OET (OET-RV) but mature people have solid food meaning that their senses have been trained and they can distinguish good from evil.
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
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.
But solid food is for the mature,
Strong food/teaching is for experienced/grown people.
But mature people eat/chew food, just as people who are mature in their faith
But solid food is for the mature: This clause contrasts with 5:13b. Everyone who lives on “milk” is still an infant. In contrast, mature people eat solid food. In the Greek text, the word mature comes first in the sentence. For example:
Mature people eat solid food.
Translate the contrast in a natural way in your language. In some languages a conjunction is not needed. For example:
Solid food is for mature people (CEV)
solid food: The phrase solid food was used in 5:12c. It refers to food which needs to be chewed. It also refers figuratively to teaching that requires a person to think seriously before he can understand it. See how you translated this phrase in 5:12.
mature: The Greek word that the BSB translates as mature means “full-grown, mature, adult.” It contrasts with “infant” in 5:13. Some other ways to translate it are:
adults (GNT)
a mature person
Here the word mature is used in two different ways:
It refers literally to adults in contrast to infants.
It refers figuratively to people who are mature in following Christ and understanding Christian teaching.
The figurative use (b) will become clear in 5:14b–c, where the text speaks of being able to distinguish good from evil.
who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil: This part of the verse describes the mature people in 5:14a. They have the ability to distinguish good and evil because they have been trained by experience to know the difference. Some other ways to translate this meaning are:
whose minds are trained by practice to know the difference between good and evil (GW)
who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong (NLT)
who by constant use have trained their senses
Such people have trained their minds/consciences and become experienced
have trained their moral senses by using them
by constant use have trained: The verb have trained means “have trained themselves” or “have learned.” The phrase by constant use refers to the experience that a person gains when he does something many times. A mature person has made decisions many times about whether various actions or attitudes are good or evil.
Some other ways to translate the phrase by constant use have trained are:
by constant use are trained/able
through training/practice have the skill
has accustomed his mind
their senses: The Greek word that the BSB translates as senses refers to a person’s ability to perceive and discern. His senses make him able to know the difference between good and evil so that he can decide which actions or attitudes are right and which are wrong.
Languages have different ways to refer to a person’s ability to distinguish good and evil. In some languages a specific part of a person is used to describe this ability. In other languages it is more natural to refer to a person himself, rather than to a part of the person. Use a natural way in your language to speak about a person’s ability to discern good and evil.
Some other ways to translate it are:
his mind/conscience
have the skill to (NLT)
their senses (NASB)
to distinguish good from evil.
in knowing/recognizing the difference between what is right and what is sinful.
to discern/know the difference between good and evil.
to distinguish good from evil: The phrase to distinguish good from evil refers to making decisions about what is morally right and what is morally wrong. It describes a person who is able to know the difference between what God considers good and what he considers evil.
Some other ways to translate this phrase are:
tell what is the difference between what is the good way and what is the evil way.Western Bukidnon Manobo back translation on TW.
choosing/deciding what is right and what is wrong
has the ability to know the difference between what is right to do and what is wrong and to choose to do what is right
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / exmetaphor
τελείων & ἐστιν ἡ στερεὰ τροφή
˱for˲_˓the˒_mature & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τελείων Δέ ἐστίν ἡ στερεά τροφή τῶν διά τήν ἕξιν τά αἰσθητήρια γεγυμνασμένα ἐχόντων πρός διάκρισιν καλοῦ τέ καί κακοῦ)
The author further explains the metaphor about solid food that he introduced in [5:12](../05/12.md). He identifies the one who eats solid food as a person who is mature. The point is that the people who fit this description are those who know much about God and about good and evil. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Make sure that your translation fits with how you translated the previous two verses. Alternate translation: [those who run are mature ones] or [complex things are for the mature ones]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
γεγυμνασμένα
˓having_been˒_trained
The word trained is often used for how athletes practice so that their bodies become stronger and better at their sport. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable idiom or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [educated] or [developed]
5:14 Being able to recognize the difference between right and wrong is a defining characteristic of spiritual maturity.
OET (OET-LV) But for_the_mature is the solid food, of_who because_of the practice their senses having_been_trained, having for distinction, of_good both and evil.
OET (OET-RV) but mature people have solid food meaning that their senses have been trained and they can distinguish good from evil.
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.
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