of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become 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.
- KJV Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
- BSB We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are 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 has grown callous, their ears are dull of hearing, they have closed their eyes; or else perhaps they might perceive with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and would turn again; and I would heal them.’
- 2 Pet 3:16as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those, there are some things that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
- Acts 28:27For this people’s heart has grown callous. Their ears are dull of hearing. Their eyes they have closed. Lest they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and would turn again, and I would heal them.’
- John 16:12“I have yet many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now.
- Isa 6:10Make the heart of this people fat. 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 turn again, and be healed.”
- John 6:6This he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.
- Mark 8:21He asked them, “Don’t you understand, yet?”
- Luke 24:25He said to them, “Foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
- Mark 8:17–18Jesus, perceiving it, said to them, “Why do you reason that it’s because you have no bread? Don’t you perceive yet, neither understand? Is your heart still hardened?
- 1 Kgs 10:1When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning Yahweh’s name, she came to test him with hard questions.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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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.