Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Parallel translations
- WEB About him we have many words to say, and hard to interpret, seeing you have become dull of hearing.
- BSB We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing.
- NKJV of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
- NASB Concerning him we have much to say, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become poor listeners.
- NLT There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The writer says there is much to explain about Melchizedek and Christ's priesthood, but it is hard to convey because the readers have grown dull of hearing. Their spiritual sluggishness, not the subject itself, is the obstacle.
Overview
Here begins a pastoral warning interrupting the doctrinal argument. The truth about Christ is rich, but the readers' spiritual dullness makes them slow to grasp it. This sets up the exhortation to grow toward maturity rather than drift back.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Matt 13:15For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
- 2 Pet 3:16As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
- Acts 28:27For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
- John 16:12I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
- Isa 6:10Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
- John 6:6And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
- Mark 8:21And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?
- Luke 24:25Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
- Mark 8:17–18And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?
- 1 Kgs 10:1And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Hebrews is sustained worship of Christ: better than angels, Moses, and the priests; the great High Priest after Melchizedek who by one sacrifice perfects forever those he saves.
How Hebrews 5:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.