The Meaning of Hebrews 6:5 Explained

Hebrews 6:5

KJV: And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

YLT: and did taste the good saying of God, the powers also of the coming age,

Darby: and have tasted the good word of God, and the works of power of the age to come,

ASV: and tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  have tasted  the good  word  of God,  and  the powers  of the world  to come, 

What does Hebrews 6:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Every true Christian has tasted the Word of God and found it to be good to some extent. The original readers had also tasted the powers (lit. miracles) of the coming messianic age. They had observed the apostles perform miracles (cf. Hebrews 2:4). The five events listed in Hebrews 6:4-5 view salvation as involving different aspects; they do not present a succession of salvific events. [1]
"Together, the clauses describe vividly the reality of the experience of personal salvation enjoyed by the Christians addressed." [2]
"The warnings are clearly not addressed to nominal Christians, but to those who have shared, as fully as it is possible to share in the present time, in the blessings which accompany and follow entry into the Christian life ( Hebrews 6:4 f.)." [3]

Context Summary

Hebrews 6:1-8 - "press On Unto Full Growth"
The teacher has to suit his pace to his scholars. How much we miss because we are such inapt pupils! Milk is food which has passed through another's digestion. Many cannot get their spiritual nutrition direct from God's Word, but have to live on what others have obtained and have passed on in speech or book. Seek a first-hand acquaintance with the things of God. We grow by feeding and exercise.
We must leave the first principles, as a builder leaves the foundation; he is never so much on it as when farthest above it. The third and fourth principles, Hebrews 5:2, are the Jewish equivalents of the first and second, Hebrews 5:1. Notice the r.v. marginal reading for seeing in Hebrews 5:6 -"the while." So long as men continue to tread the love of God under foot, they cannot repent and be restored. The failure, as with unproductive soil, is not on account of a failure of heaven, but because the soil is hard and obdurate. If we are unproductive, it is due to our own hard-heartedness. [source]

Chapter Summary: Hebrews 6

1  He exhorts not to fall back from the faith;
11  but to be steadfast,
12  diligent, and patient to wait upon God;
13  because God is most sure in his promise

Greek Commentary for Hebrews 6:5

The good word of God [καλὸν θεοῦ ῥῆμα]
The gospel of Christ as preached. Comp. Hebrews 2:3. To the word are attached life (Acts 5:20); spirit and life (John 6:63); salvation (Acts 11:14); cleansing (Ephesians 5:26); especially the impartation of the Spirit (John 3:34; Acts 5:32; Acts 10:44; Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 2:4). [source]
Powers of the world to come [δυνάμεις μέλλοντος αἰῶνος]
Not foretastes of heavenly bliss. The world to come is the world of men under the new order which is to enter with the fulfillment of Christ's work. See on these last days, Hebrews 1:2. These powers are characteristic of that period, and in so far as that dispensation is inaugurated here and now, they assert and manifest themselves. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Hebrews 6:5

Mark 6:2 Mighty works [δυνάμεις]
Lit.,powers. See on Matthew 11:20. Tynd., virtues. Outcomings of God's power: “powers of the world to come” (Hebrews 6:5), at work upon the earth. [source]
Ephesians 6:17 Word of God [ῥῆμα θεοῦ]
See on Luke 1:37. See Luke 3:2; Luke 4:4; Romans 10:17; Hebrews 6:5; Hebrews 11:3. [source]
Hebrews 4:12 The word of God [ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ]
That which God speaks through any medium. The primary reference is to God's declarations concerning his rest. The fathers explained it of the personal Word as in the Fourth Gospel. But in the Epistle there is no approach to any definite use of λόγος with reference to Christ, not even in the description of his relation to God in Hebrews 1:1-14, where, if anywhere, it might have been expected. In Hebrews 6:5and Hebrews 11:3we find ῥῆμα . Everywhere in the Epistle Christ appears as the Son, not as the Word. In this passage, the following predicates, ἐνεργὴς, τομώτερος, κριτικὸς , would hardly be applied to the Logos, and in Hebrews 4:14he is styled Jesus the Son of God. [source]
Hebrews 1:2 In these last times [ἐπ ' ἐσχάτου τῶν ἡμερῶν τούτων]
Lit. at the last of these days. The exact phrase only here; but comp 1 Peter 1:20and Judges 1:18. lxx, ἐπ ' ἐσχάτου τῶν ἡμερῶν atthe last of the days, Numbers 24:14; Deuteronomy 4:30; Jeremiah 23:20; Jeremiah 25:18; Daniel 10:14. The writer conceives the history of the world in its relation to divine revelation as falling into two great periods. The first he calls αἱ ἡμέραι αὗται thesedays (Hebrews 1:2), and ὀ καιρὸς ὁ ἐνεστηκώς thepresent season (Hebrews 9:9). The second he describes as καιρὸς διορθώσεως theseason of reformation (Hebrews 9:10), which is ὀ καιρὸς ὁ μέλλων theseason to come: comp. ἡ οἰκουμένη ἡ μέλλουσα theworld to come (Hebrews 2:5); μέλλων αἰών theage to come (Hebrews 6:5); πόλις ἡ μέλλουσα thecity to come (Hebrews 12:14). The first period is the period of the old covenant; the second that of the new covenant. The second period does not begin with Christ's first appearing. His appearing and public ministry are at the end of the first period but still within it. The dividing-point between the two periods is the συντέλεια τοῦ αἰῶνος theconsummation of the age, mentioned in Hebrews 9:26. This does not mean the same thing as at the last of these days (Hebrews 1:2), which is the end of the first period denoted by these days, but the conclusion of the first and the beginning of the second period, at which Christ appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. This is the end of the καιρὸς ἐνεστηκώς thepresent season: this is the limit of the validity of the old sacrificial offerings: this is the inauguration of the time of reformation. The phrase ἐπ ' ἐσχάτου τῶν ἡμερῶν τούτων therefore signifies, in the last days of the first period, when Christ was speaking on earth, and before his crucifixion, which marked the beginning of the second period, the better age of the new covenant. [source]
Hebrews 6:4 As touching those who were once enlightened [τους απαχ πωτιστεντας]
First aorist passive articular participle (the once for all enlightened) of ποτιζω — photizō old and common verb (from πως — phōs) as in Luke 11:36. The metaphorical sense here (cf. John 1:9; Ephesians 1:18; Hebrews 10:32) occurs in Polybius and Epictetus. The accusative case is due to ανακαινιζειν — anakainizein in Hebrews 6:6. απαχ — Hapax here is “once for all,” not once upon a time Tasted of the heavenly gift First aorist middle participle of γευω — geuō old verb once with accusative (Hebrews 6:5, καλον ρημα δυναμεις — kalon rēma class="normal greek">μετοχους πνευματος αγιου — dunameis), usually with genitive (Hebrews 2:9) as here. Partakers of the Holy Ghost (μετοχοι — metochous pneumatos hagiou). See Hebrews 3:14 for και παραπεσοντας — metochoi These are all given as actual spiritual experiences. And then fell away (παραπιπτω — kai parapesontas). No “then” here, though the second aorist (effective) active participle of της χαριτος εχεπεσατε — parapiptō old verb to fall beside (aside), means that. Only here in N.T. In Galatians 5:4 we have tēs charitos exepesate (ye fell out of grace, to law, Paul means). [source]
Hebrews 6:4 Tasted of the heavenly gift [γευσαμενους της δωρεας της επουρανιου]
First aorist middle participle of γευω — geuō old verb once with accusative (Hebrews 6:5, καλον ρημα δυναμεις — kalon rēma class="normal greek">μετοχους πνευματος αγιου — dunameis), usually with genitive (Hebrews 2:9) as here. Partakers of the Holy Ghost (μετοχοι — metochous pneumatos hagiou). See Hebrews 3:14 for και παραπεσοντας — metochoi These are all given as actual spiritual experiences. And then fell away (παραπιπτω — kai parapesontas). No “then” here, though the second aorist (effective) active participle of της χαριτος εχεπεσατε — parapiptō old verb to fall beside (aside), means that. Only here in N.T. In Galatians 5:4 we have tēs charitos exepesate (ye fell out of grace, to law, Paul means). [source]

What do the individual words in Hebrews 6:5 mean?

and [the] goodness having tasted of God’s word [the] power also [of the] coming age
καὶ καλὸν γευσαμένους Θεοῦ ῥῆμα δυνάμεις τε μέλλοντος αἰῶνος

καλὸν  [the]  goodness 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: καλός  
Sense: beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable.
γευσαμένους  having  tasted 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Middle, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: γεύομαι  
Sense: to taste, to try the flavour of.
Θεοῦ  of  God’s 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
ῥῆμα  word 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ῥῆμα  
Sense: that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, thing spoken, word.
δυνάμεις  [the]  power 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: δύναμις  
Sense: strength power, ability.
τε  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: τέ  
Sense: not only … but also.
μέλλοντος  [of  the]  coming 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: μέλλω  
Sense: to be about.
αἰῶνος  age 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: αἰών  
Sense: for ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity.