Hebrews 5:11 · Bible study
Hebrews 5:11 Commentary: The Struggle to Speak Truth to Dull Ears
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Analysis of Hebrews 5:11: why the author found it hard to explain Christ's priesthood, and the readers' spiritual dullness.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The writer has more to teach about Christ's Melchizedek priesthood, but it is hard to explain because the readers have grown spiritually sluggish.
- Key words: δυσερμήνευτος (hard to interpret); νωθροί (sluggish, dull); γεγόνατε (you have become, perfect tense, implying a change).
- Main debate: The referent of 'whom' (Melchizedek, Christ, or the topic of Christ's priesthood).
- Theological theme: The necessity of spiritual growth and readiness to receive deeper truth; pastoral frustration when the audience is not prepared.
- Best use: A diagnostic passage for personal and corporate spiritual health, it calls listeners to examine their own hearing and appetite for solid teaching.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing.
WEB World English Bible 2000
About him we have many words to say, and hard to interpret, seeing you have become dull of hearing.
KJV King James Version 1769
Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Of whom we have many things to say, and hard of interpretation, seeing ye are become dull of hearing.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
concerning whom we have much discourse and of hard explanation to say, since ye have become dull of hearing,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Concerning whom we have much to say, and hard to be interpreted in speaking [of it], since ye are become dull in hearing.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Of whom we have much to say and hard to be intelligibly uttered: because you are become weak to hear.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Del cual tenemos mucho que decir, y dificultoso de declarar, por cuanto sois flacos para oir.
Nosso comentário a respeito disso é extenso e difícil de explicar, porque vos tornastes negligentes para ouvir.
Nous avons beaucoup à dire là-dessus, et des choses difficiles à expliquer, parce que vous êtes devenus lents à comprendre.
Davon hätten wir wohl viel zu reden; aber es ist schwer, weil ihr so unverständig seid.
Van Denwelken wij hebben vele dingen, en zwaar om te verklaren, te zeggen, dewijl gij traag om te horen geworden zijt.
Del quale abbiamo a dir cose assai, e malagevoli a spiegare, perché siete diventati duri d’orecchi.
O którym wiele by się miało mówić i trudnych rzeczy do wyłożenia; aleście się wy stali leniwi ku słuchaniu.
О сем надлежало бы нам говорить много; но трудно истолковать, потому что вы сделались неспособны слушать.
論到 麥基洗德，我們 有好些 話，並且 難以 解明，因為 你們 聽 不進去。
Of whom we have much to say which it is hard to make clear, because you are slow of hearing.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Hebrews 5:11
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Hebrews 5:11 opens a pastoral digression that lasts through chapter 6. The author has much to say about Christ as high priest after the order of Melchizedek, but he pauses because the readers have become dull of hearing. Calvin argues the difficulty lies not in the subject but in themselves: the Lord speaks clearly, but our darkness dims the light. Barnes agrees the fault is in the hearers' slow apprehension. Clarke notes that νωθροὶ (nōthroi) pictures someone walking heavily, making little speed in the Christian race. The Greek perfect tense γεγόνατε (gegonate, 'you have become') implies a change: they were not always this way, but have slipped from an earlier zeal. The consensus is that the subject is genuinely deep, but the primary barrier to understanding is the readers' spiritual sluggishness, not the difficulty of the topic itself.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Referent = Melchizedek: The immediate context (5:10) ends with 'high priest after the order of Melchizedek', and chapter 7 expands on Melchizedek directly.
- Referent = Christ: Christ is the main subject of the entire epistle; 'him' naturally points to Christ as the one being discussed.
- Referent = the topic of Christ's priesthood: The surrounding argument is about the nature of Christ's priesthood; 'concerning which' (Vincent) avoids choosing between Melchizedek and Christ.
What is clear: The writer has much to teach about Christ's priesthood, but he pauses because the readers have become spiritually sluggish — their dullness is the immediate barrier to deeper understanding.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Referent of 'whom' | The surrounding context concerns Christ's priesthood after Melchizedek. | Some interpreters (e.g., Cambridge Bible, Lange) argue 'whom' refers to Melchizedek himself; others (Clarke, Calvin) take it as Christ; still others (Vincent) say it refers to the topic of Christ's priesthood. All agree the passage introduces the Melchizedek comparison. |
| Source of difficulty | The readers' spiritual dullness is a major factor that makes explanation hard. | Some commentators (e.g., Calvin, Wesley) emphasize that the difficulty is almost entirely from the hearers; others (e.g., Gill) acknowledge the subject is inherently deep but still blame dullness. The division is one of emphasis, not contradiction. |
| Nature of the readers' dullness | It is a developed condition, not their original state. | Does the dullness stem from willful negligence, affliction, or attraction to the law? Barnes says the specific cause is unknown; Clarke and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown tie it to neglect and legalism. Interpreters differ on the exact root, but all agree it is spiritual decline. |
| Purpose of the digression | The author delays the Melchizedek discussion to warn and exhort his readers. | Some see this as primarily a rebuke; others as a pastoral encouragement to press on. The tone shifts between warning (6:4, 8) and comfort (6:9, 20), reflecting both concerns. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The letter to the Hebrews addresses Jewish Christians who were tempted to retreat into Judaism under persecution. By the time of writing, these believers had been Christians long enough to be teachers (5:12), but they had stagnated. They were 'dull of hearing', a phrase that echoes the Old Testament warnings of Isaiah 6:10 and Jesus' quotation of it in Matthew 13:15, where dull ears and a calloused heart prevent people from turning to be healed.
The author mentions 'hard to interpret' using the rare Greek word δυσερμήνευτος (dusermēneutos), which appears only here in the New Testament. It literally means 'difficult to explain' or 'requiring interpretation.' This connects to the ancient practice of hermeneutics, the art of explanation. The writer is not saying the topic is impossible, but that it demands a listener who is sharp, not sluggish.
The readers' Jewish background would have made them familiar with Melchizedek from Genesis 14, but the notion of a priest-king who prefigures Christ was a fresh and challenging interpretation. Their spiritual drowsiness meant they were in no position to receive this deeper teaching. This is a recurring pattern in Hebrews: the author wants to move forward but is held back by his audience's condition (6:1, 3). The historical situation is one of stalled growth, not initial ignorance.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Hebrews 5:11. The Greek text is stable across major manuscripts. The rare word δυσερμήνευτος (dusermēneutos) appears only here in the New Testament and is securely attested.
Reception History
Throughout church history, Hebrews 5:11 has been used both as a warning against spiritual lethargy and as a pastoral model for teaching. The early church fathers often cited it in homilies urging believers to move beyond milk to solid food. Medieval commentators like Thomas Aquinas drew on it to discuss the need for active intellect and purity of heart in receiving divine mysteries. Reformers such as Calvin and Luther used the verse to stress that the problem of understanding Scripture lies not in God's word but in human sin and sloth. In modern evangelical and holiness traditions, the phrase 'dull of hearing' has become a diagnostic term for spiritual backsliding. The image of sluggishness in the Christian race (Clarke's reading) has been a theme in revival preaching. The verse continues to challenge preachers: they may have much to say, but the congregation's readiness determines what can be said effectively.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The preacher's dilemma, The author has much to say about Christ's priesthood, but his words are 'hard of interpretation' (δυσερμήνευτος). The problem is not a lack of content but the condition of the hearers.
- The hearers' decline, The perfect tense 'you have become' (γεγόνατε) shows a change over time. These believers were once alert and growing; now they are νωθροί, sluggish, slow-moving in spiritual matters.
- The gap between truth and readiness, The deepest truths about Christ cannot be grasped by passive or indifferent listeners. Spiritual growth requires active engagement, not just passive attendance.
Five-point outline
- The subject: Christ's eternal priesthood after Melchizedek (Heb 5:6, 10). This is the theme the author longs to unfold.
- The backlog: 'Many things to say', the writer has a wealth of teaching, but it must wait.
- The obstacle: 'Hard of interpretation', the subject itself is deep, but the real barrier is the hearers' dullness.
- The symptom: 'You have become dull of hearing.' This is not their original state; it is a developed condition.
- The consequence: The explanation is postponed until chapter 7, after a stern warning and encouragement (ch. 6).
Illustration hooks
- A teacher who has to simplify a lesson because the class didn't do the homework. The material isn't too hard, the students aren't prepared.
- A doctor who can't explain a treatment plan because the patient won't stop multitasking long enough to listen. The information is clear, but the ears are not ready.
- A musician trying to teach advanced theory to someone who has stopped practicing scales. The student once knew the basics, but lack of use has dulled their ear.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why are some parts of the Bible so hard to understand? Is it my fault as the reader?
- I used to be excited about growing in faith, but now I feel stuck. What happened?
- How can I tell if my spiritual dullness is from laziness, distraction, or just a hard season?
Leading a Discussion
This verse catches the writer mid-thought. He wants to explain Christ's priesthood as the fulfillment of Melchizedek, but he stops to address his readers directly. The problem is not that the truth is too complex, but that the listeners have grown sluggish in their hearing. This passage invites us to check our own spiritual hearing aids, are we tuned in, or have we drifted?
Discussion questions
- What does the word 'dull' (νωθροί) suggest about the readers' condition? How does the translation 'sluggish' or 'slow-moving' change how you see the problem?
- The writer says 'you have become dull of hearing', not 'you are dull.' Why does the perfect tense matter? What does it imply about spiritual decline?
- How would you describe the relationship between the difficulty of the subject and the dullness of the hearers? Which one does the writer emphasize?
- Read Matthew 13:15 and Isaiah 6:10. How do these cross-references deepen your understanding of spiritual dullness?
- In what ways can a Christian 'become' dull of hearing without realizing it? What are some warning signs from your own life?
- What would it look like to actively 'exercise your senses' to discern good and evil, as the next verse (5:14) describes?
- How can a small group help each other stay sharp in hearing and applying God's word?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Kings 10:1 | When the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning Yahweh’s name, she came to test him with hard questions. |
| Isaiah 6:10 | Make the heart of this people fat. Make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and turn again, and be healed.” |
| Matthew 13:15 | for this people’s heart has grown callous, their ears are dull of hearing, and 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.’ |
| Mark 8:17 | Jesus, perceiving it, said to them, “Why do you reason that it’s because you have no bread? Don’t you perceive yet or understand? Is your heart still hardened? |
| Mark 8:18 | Having eyes, don’t you see? Having ears, don’t you hear? Don’t you remember? |
| Mark 8:21 | He asked them, “Don’t you understand yet?” |
| Luke 24:25 | He said to them, “Foolish people, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! |
| John 6:6 | He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke interprets the hard sayings as referring to Christ's priesthood, a deep subject that carnal Christians find difficult to grasp. He sees "dull of hearing" as an elegant metaphor for those who make no progress in the Christian race despite having the way plainly set before them.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes points out that Paul's difficulty explaining Melchizedek was about interpretation, not just speaking, and required mature faith. He notes that even today, new converts often find Melchizedek one of the most perplexing figures in the Bible, and Paul's charge of dull hearing likely referred to some specific failing in his readers.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible Schools stress that the writer's difficulty is not with a general matter but specifically with explaining how Melchizedek's history applies to Christ. The readers were not always sluggish; they became dull through neglect, losing the spiritual sharpness they once had.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Of whome we haue many things to say, which are hard to be vttered, because ye are dull of hearing.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill argues that the apostle had deep truths about Christ’s priesthood to share, truths hard to explain not because the subject is unclear but because the hearers were spiritually sluggish. He traces their dullness to multiple causes: attachment to the law, pride, prejudice, worldly cares, or simple lack of industry. Ministers should still attempt difficult subjects, weighing their hearers’ capacity.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB points out that the dullness of the Hebrew Christians was a decline from an earlier earnestness, with the Greek
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange stresses that the readers' dullness is not their natural condition but a spiritual decline, captured by the Greek word for "have become" rather than simply "are." They have fallen backward from a better state, and this retrogradation makes it difficult for the writer to explain the deep truths about Christ's Melchizedek priesthood.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry points out that the apostle had deep truths to share about Christ as high priest after Melchisedec but held back. The obstacle was not the subject's difficulty or the preacher's weakness; the hearers themselves were dull of hearing. The fault lay in their spiritual sluggishness, not in the message.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent insists that the "of whom" in this passage refers not to Melchizedek himself but to the whole topic of Christ as a priest in Melchizedek's order. He also notes that "hard to be uttered" actually means difficult to interpret, and the readers have become dull in hearing, implying a deterioration from an earlier state.