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id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/hebrews/6-3.htm" title="Hebrews 6:3">◄</a> Hebrews 6:4 <a href="/hebrews/6-5.htm" title="Hebrews 6:5">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comment </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/hebrews/6.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/hebrews/6.htm">New International Version</a> It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, <a href="/nlt/hebrews/6.htm">New Living Translation</a> For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, <a href="/esv/hebrews/6.htm">English Standard Version</a> For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, <a href="/bsb/hebrews/6.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, <a href="/blb/hebrews/6.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> For it is impossible for those once having been enlightened, and having tasted of the heavenly gift, and having become partakers of the Holy Spirit, <a href="/kjv/hebrews/6.htm">King James Bible</a> For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, <a href="/nkjv/hebrews/6.htm">New King James Version</a> For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, <a href="/nasb_/hebrews/6.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, <a href="/nasb/hebrews/6.htm">NASB 1995</a> For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, <a href="/nasb77/hebrews/6.htm">NASB 1977 </a> For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, <a href="/lsb/hebrews/6.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> For in the case of those once having been enlightened and having tasted of the heavenly gift and having become partakers of the Holy Spirit, <a href="/amp/hebrews/6.htm">Amplified Bible</a> For [it is impossible to restore to repentance] those who have once been enlightened [spiritually] and who have tasted and consciously experienced the heavenly gift and have shared in the Holy Spirit, <a href="/csb/hebrews/6.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, <a href="/hcsb/hebrews/6.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, became companions with the Holy Spirit, <a href="/asv/hebrews/6.htm">American Standard Version</a> For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, <a href="/erv/hebrews/6.htm">English Revised Version</a> For as touching those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, <a href="/gwt/hebrews/6.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Some people once had God's light. They experienced the heavenly gift and shared in the Holy Spirit. <a href="/gnt/hebrews/6.htm">Good News Translation</a> For how can those who abandon their faith be brought back to repent again? They were once in God's light; they tasted heaven's gift and received their share of the Holy Spirit; <a href="/isv/hebrews/6.htm">International Standard Version</a> For it is impossible to keep on restoring to repentance time and again people who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have become partners with the Holy Spirit, <a href="/msb/hebrews/6.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, <a href="/net/hebrews/6.htm">NET Bible</a> For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, become partakers of the Holy Spirit, <a href="/nheb/hebrews/6.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, <a href="/wbt/hebrews/6.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> For it is impossible for those who have been once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit. <a href="/wey/hebrews/6.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once for all been enlightened, and have tasted the sweetness of the heavenly gift, and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, <a href="/web/hebrews/6.htm">World English Bible</a> For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/hebrews/6.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> for [it is] impossible for those once enlightened, having also tasted of the heavenly gift, and having become partakers of the Holy Spirit, <a href="/blb/hebrews/6.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> For it is impossible for those once having been enlightened, and having tasted of the heavenly gift, and having become partakers of the Holy Spirit, <a href="/ylt/hebrews/6.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> for it is impossible for those once enlightened, having tasted also of the heavenly gift, and partakers having became of the Holy Spirit, <a href="/slt/hebrews/6.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> For impossible for them once enlightened, and having tasted of the heavenly gift, and having partaken of the Holy Spirit,<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/hebrews/6.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> For it is impossible for those who were once illuminated, have tasted also the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, <a href="/cpdv/hebrews/6.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> For it is impossible for those who were once illuminated, and have even tasted of the heavenly gift, and have become sharers in the Holy Spirit, <a href="/nabre/hebrews/6.htm">New American Bible</a> For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift and shared in the holy Spirit <a href="/nrsvce/hebrews/6.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/hebrews/6.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> But this is impossible for those who have once been baptised, and have tasted the gift from heaven, and have received the Holy Spirit, <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/hebrews/6.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> But those who have descended once to baptism and tasted the gift from Heaven and received The Spirit of Holiness,<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/hebrews/6.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> For it is impossible to renew again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, <a href="/godbey/hebrews/6.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> For it is impossible that those having been once enlightened, and tasted the heavenly gift, and have been made partakers of the Holy Ghost, <a href="/haweis/hebrews/6.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> For it is not possible to renew again unto repentance those who have been once illuminated, and have tasted the celestial gift, and have been made partakers of the Holy Ghost, <a href="/mace/hebrews/6.htm">Mace New Testament</a> For it is impossible for those who were once enlightned, and have received the heavenly gifts, communicated by the holy spirit, <a href="/wey/hebrews/6.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once for all been enlightened, and have tasted the sweetness of the heavenly gift, and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, <a href="/worrell/hebrews/6.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> For as to those who were once enlightened, and tasted of the heavenly gift, and became partakers of the Holy Spirit, <a href="/worsley/hebrews/6.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the holy Spirit, <a href="/parallel/hebrews/6-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x-IAXXp5zcA?start=815" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/hebrews/6.htm">A Call to Maturity</a> …3And this we will do, if God permits. 4<a href="/greek/1063.htm" title="1063: gar (Conj) -- For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason."></a> <a href="/greek/102.htm" title="102: Adynaton (Adj-NNS) -- Of persons: incapable; of things: impossible; either the inability, or that which is impossible. Passively, impossible.">It is impossible</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tous (Art-AMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">for those who</a> <a href="/greek/530.htm" title="530: hapax (Adv) -- Once, once for all. Probably from hapas; one time."></a> <a href="/greek/5461.htm" title="5461: phōtisthentas (V-APP-AMP) -- From phos; to shed rays, i.e. To shine or to brighten up.">have once been enlightened,</a> <a href="/greek/5037.htm" title="5037: te (Conj) -- And, both. A primary particle of connection or addition; both or also."></a> <a href="/greek/1089.htm" title="1089: geusamenous (V-APM-AMP) -- (a) I taste, (b) I experience. A primary verb; to taste; by implication, to eat; figuratively, to experience.">who have tasted</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēs (Art-GFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēs (Art-GFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2032.htm" title="2032: epouraniou (Adj-GFS) -- From epi and ouranos; above the sky.">heavenly</a> <a href="/greek/1431.htm" title="1431: dōreas (N-GFS) -- A (free) gift, a gift (without repayment). From doron; a gratuity.">gift,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. "></a> <a href="/greek/1096.htm" title="1096: genēthentas (V-APP-AMP) -- A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.">who have shared</a> <a href="/greek/3353.htm" title="3353: metochous (Adj-AMP) -- A sharer, partner, associate. From metecho; participant, i.e. a sharer; by implication, an associate."></a> <a href="/greek/40.htm" title="40: Hagiou (Adj-GNS) -- Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred.">in the Holy</a> <a href="/greek/4151.htm" title="4151: Pneumatos (N-GNS) -- Wind, breath, spirit. ">Spirit,</a> 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age—…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/matthew/12-31.htm">Matthew 12:31-32</a> Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. / Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come. <a href="/2_peter/2-20.htm">2 Peter 2:20-22</a> If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first. / It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them. / Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,” and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.” <a href="/mark/3-28.htm">Mark 3:28-30</a> Truly I tell you, the sons of men will be forgiven all sins and blasphemies, as many as they utter. / But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of eternal sin.” / Jesus made this statement because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” <a href="/luke/12-10.htm">Luke 12:10</a> And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. <a href="/hebrews/10-26.htm">Hebrews 10:26-29</a> If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, / but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries. / Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ... <a href="/1_john/5-16.htm">1 John 5:16</a> If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he should ask God, who will give life to those who commit this kind of sin. There is a sin that leads to death; I am not saying he should ask regarding that sin. <a href="/numbers/15-30.htm">Numbers 15:30-31</a> But the person who sins defiantly, whether a native or foreigner, blasphemes the LORD. That person shall be cut off from among his people. / He shall certainly be cut off, because he has despised the word of the LORD and broken His commandment; his guilt remains on him.” <a href="/deuteronomy/29-18.htm">Deuteronomy 29:18-20</a> Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our God to go and worship the gods of those nations. Make sure there is no root among you that bears such poisonous and bitter fruit, / because when such a person hears the words of this oath, he invokes a blessing on himself, saying, ‘I will have peace, even though I walk in the stubbornness of my own heart.’ This will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry. / The LORD will never be willing to forgive him. Instead, His anger and jealousy will burn against that man, and every curse written in this book will fall upon him. The LORD will blot out his name from under heaven <a href="/1_samuel/15-23.htm">1 Samuel 15:23</a> For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.” <a href="/ezekiel/18-24.htm">Ezekiel 18:24</a> But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed, he will die. <a href="/ezekiel/33-12.htm">Ezekiel 33:12-13</a> Therefore, son of man, say to your people: ‘The righteousness of the righteous man will not deliver him in the day of his transgression; neither will the wickedness of the wicked man cause him to stumble on the day he turns from his wickedness. Nor will the righteous man be able to survive by his righteousness on the day he sins.’ / If I tell the righteous man that he will surely live, but he then trusts in his righteousness and commits iniquity, then none of his righteous works will be remembered; he will die because of the iniquity he has committed. <a href="/matthew/7-21.htm">Matthew 7:21-23</a> Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. / Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ / Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’ <a href="/john/15-6.htm">John 15:6</a> If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned. <a href="/romans/11-21.htm">Romans 11:21-22</a> For if God did not spare the natural branches, He will certainly not spare you either. / Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. <a href="/galatians/5-4.htm">Galatians 5:4</a> You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,it is.<a href="/hebrews/10-26.htm">Hebrews 10:26-29</a> For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, … <a href="/hebrews/12-15.htm">Hebrews 12:15-17</a> Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; … <a href="/matthew/5-13.htm">Matthew 5:13</a> Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.were once.<a href="/hebrews/10-32.htm">Hebrews 10:32</a> But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;<a href="/numbers/24-3.htm">Numbers 24:3,15,16</a> And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: … and have.<a href="/matthew/7-21.htm">Matthew 7:21,22</a> Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven… <a href="/luke/10-19.htm">Luke 10:19,20</a> Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you… <a href="/john/3-27.htm">John 3:27</a> John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.partakers.<a href="/hebrews/2-4.htm">Hebrews 2:4</a> God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?<a href="/acts/15-8.htm">Acts 15:8</a> And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;<a href="/galatians/3-2.htm">Galatians 3:2,5</a> This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? … <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/2_timothy/3-9.htm">Case</a> <a href="/ephesians/1-18.htm">Enlightened</a> <a href="/hebrews/3-7.htm">Ghost</a> <a href="/2_timothy/1-6.htm">Gift</a> <a href="/hebrews/5-14.htm">Good</a> <a href="/hebrews/4-14.htm">Heaven</a> <a href="/hebrews/3-1.htm">Heavenly</a> <a href="/hebrews/3-7.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/ephesians/2-9.htm">Impossible</a> <a href="/titus/2-15.htm">Light</a> <a href="/hebrews/5-9.htm">Once</a> <a href="/hebrews/3-1.htm">Part</a> <a href="/hebrews/3-14.htm">Partakers</a> <a href="/hebrews/6-1.htm">Repentance</a> <a href="/galatians/6-1.htm">Restore</a> <a href="/hebrews/2-14.htm">Shared</a> <a href="/hebrews/4-12.htm">Spirit</a> <a href="/ezekiel/3-3.htm">Sweetness</a> <a href="/acts/20-11.htm">Tasted</a> <a href="/colossians/2-21.htm">Tasting</a> <a href="/hebrews/5-12.htm">Time</a> <a href="/2_thessalonians/3-4.htm">Touching</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/hebrews/6-9.htm">Case</a> <a href="/hebrews/10-32.htm">Enlightened</a> <a href="/hebrews/9-8.htm">Ghost</a> <a href="/james/1-17.htm">Gift</a> <a href="/hebrews/6-5.htm">Good</a> <a href="/hebrews/8-1.htm">Heaven</a> <a href="/hebrews/8-5.htm">Heavenly</a> <a href="/hebrews/7-26.htm">Holy</a> <a href="/hebrews/6-6.htm">Impossible</a> <a href="/hebrews/10-32.htm">Light</a> <a href="/hebrews/7-27.htm">Once</a> <a href="/hebrews/7-2.htm">Part</a> <a href="/hebrews/10-33.htm">Partakers</a> <a href="/hebrews/6-6.htm">Repentance</a> <a href="/james/5-15.htm">Restore</a> <a href="/revelation/18-9.htm">Shared</a> <a href="/hebrews/9-8.htm">Spirit</a> <a href="/judges/9-11.htm">Sweetness</a> <a href="/hebrews/6-5.htm">Tasted</a> <a href="/judges/14-9.htm">Tasting</a> <a href="/hebrews/6-5.htm">Time</a> <a href="/genesis/26-11.htm">Touching</a><div class="vheading2">Hebrews 6</div>1. <a href="/hebrews/6-1.htm">He exhorts not to fall back from the faith;</a> 11. <a href="/hebrews/6-11.htm">but to be steadfast,</a> 12. <a href="/hebrews/6-12.htm">diligent, and patient to wait upon God;</a> 13. <a href="/hebrews/6-13.htm">because God is most sure in his promise.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/hebrews/6.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div>It is impossible The Greek word used here is "ἀδύνατον" (adynaton), which means "impossible" or "incapable of happening." This strong term sets the tone for the seriousness of the message. In the context of Hebrews, it underscores the gravity of falling away after having received the knowledge of the truth. The impossibility here is not due to God's lack of power but rather the hardened state of the human heart that has fully rejected the truth after experiencing it.for those who have once been enlightened The term "enlightened" comes from the Greek "φωτισθέντας" (phōtisthentas), which means to be illuminated or to receive light. This phrase suggests a profound spiritual awakening or understanding, akin to the initial conversion experience where the truth of the Gospel is revealed. Historically, enlightenment was often associated with baptism in the early church, symbolizing the transition from darkness to light.who have tasted the heavenly gift The word "tasted" is translated from the Greek "γευσαμένους" (geusamenous), implying a personal experience or sampling. The "heavenly gift" is often interpreted as the grace of God or salvation through Jesus Christ. This phrase indicates that the individuals have not only been exposed to the truth but have also experienced its benefits, albeit perhaps superficially.who have shared in the Holy Spirit The Greek word "μετόχους" (metochous) means "partakers" or "sharers." This suggests a deep involvement or fellowship with the Holy Spirit, indicating that these individuals have experienced the Spirit's work and presence in their lives. In the historical context of the early church, this sharing would have been understood as participating in the life and power of the Spirit, which was a significant aspect of the Christian community's identity.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/hebrews/6.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(4) For it is impossible for those . . .--The connection of thought has been already explained (<a href="/hebrews/6-3.htm" title="And this will we do, if God permit.">Hebrews 6:3</a>); the general meaning will be examined below (<a href="/hebrews/6-6.htm" title="If they shall fall away, to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.">Hebrews 6:6</a>). It will be seen that the greater part of this long sentence is dependent on the word "renew" in <a href="/hebrews/6-6.htm" title="If they shall fall away, to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.">Hebrews 6:6</a>, "It is impossible to renew again unto repentance those who were once," &c.Those who were once enlightened.--This metaphor is introduced again in <a href="/hebrews/10-32.htm" title="But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great fight of afflictions;">Hebrews 10:32</a>; neither there nor here does the context contain any notice or expansion of the figure. In that passage, however, it is applied generally to all who are addressed, and includes everything that was involved in the reception of the Christian faith. This inclusive application of the term (familiar from prophecy, from our Lord's own words, from Apostolic usage; see <a href="/acts/26-18.htm" title="To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.">Acts 26:18</a>; <a href="/ephesians/1-18.htm" title="The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,">Ephesians 1:18</a>; <a href="/1_peter/2-9.htm" title="But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light;">1Peter 2:9</a>) throws light on the construction of the verse before us. As the words stand in the Authorised version, "enlightened" is but the first term of a series; but it is far more probable that the clauses which follow should be regarded as explanatory of the enlightenment itself: ". . . those who were once enlightened, having both tasted . . . and been made partakers . . . and tasted . . ." . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/hebrews/6.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verses 4-6. - For it is impossible for those who have been once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and have been made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good Word of God, and the powers of the world to come, and have fallen away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. It is not, of course, implied that the Hebrew Christians had fallen into the condition thus described, or were near it; only that such a condition might be, and that, if they went back instead of advancing, they might arrive at it. The process intimated is that of complete apostasy from the faith after real conscious enjoyment of the gifts of grace. In such a case the hopelessness of the fall is in proportion to the privileges once enjoyed. This is the drift of the passage, though other views have been taken of its meaning, which will be noticed below. "Once enlightened" denotes the first apprehension of the light, which could be but once; when those that saw not began to see (<a href="/john/5-39.htm">John 5:39</a>); when the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ shone once for all upon believers (<a href="/2_corinthians/4-4.htm">2 Corinthians 4:4</a>); when (according to the cognate passage, <a href="/hebrews/10-26.htm">Hebrews 10:26</a>; cf. <a href="/hebrews/10-32.htm">Hebrews 10:32</a>) they received the knowledge of the truth. The verb φωτίζω means in the LXX." to enlighten by instruction," and was in common use in the early Church to express the enlightenment that accompanied baptism; whence baptism itself was called φωτισμός. Thus Justin Martyr ('Apol.' 1:62) says, Καλεῖται δὲ τοῦτο τὸ λοῦτρον φωτισμός ὡς φωτιζομένων τὴν διάνοιαν τῶν ταῦτα μανθανόντων Cf. the title of Chrysostom's 'Hem.' 49, Πρός τοὺς μέλλοντας φωτίζεσθαι, Since the expression was thus commonly used as early as Justin Martyr, there may probably be in the text a special reference to baptism as the occasion of the enlightenment. But, if so, more is meant by the phrase than "those who have been once baptized:" an inward spiritual illumination is plainly pointed to; and it would not have been said of Simon Magus that he had been "once enlightened" in the sense intended. And this is indeed the real meaning of φωτισμός as applied to baptism by Justin Martyr, as his explanation, above quoted, shows. So also Chrysostom ('Hem.' 116.), "The heretics have baptism, but not enlightenment (φωτισμα); they are baptized indeed as to the body, but in the soul they are not enlightened; as also Simon was baptized, but was not enlightened." This consideration is important in view of one misapplication of the passage before us, which will be noticed below. But, further, those whom it is impossible to renew unto repentance are supposed not only to have been enlightened, but also to have "tasted of the heavenly gift," the emphatic word here being apparently γενσαμένους: they have had experience as well as knowledge (cf. <a href="/psalms/34-8.htm">Psalm 34:8</a>, "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;" and <a href="/1_peter/2-3.htm">1 Peter 2:3</a>, "If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious"). The word "gift" (δωρεά) is elsewhere used both for that of redemption generally (<a href="/romans/5-15.htm">Romans 5:15-17</a>), and especially, and most frequently, for the gift of the Holy Ghost (cf. <a href="/2_corinthians/9-15.htm">2 Corinthians 9:15</a>, "Thanks be to God for his unspeakable Gift"). They have become also partakers of the Holy Ghost, not merely been within the range of his influence, but actually shared it; and tasted (the same word as before, and with the same meaning, though here followed by an accusative) what is further spoken cf. The expression ῤήματα occurs, <a href="/joshua/21-45.htm">Joshua 21:45</a>; <a href="/joshua/23-15.htm">Joshua 23:15</a>; <a href="/zechariah/1-13.htm">Zechariah 1:13</a>, for gracious Divine utterances. The idea of the Word of God being what is "tasted" may be suggested by <a href="/deuteronomy/8-3.htm">Deuteronomy 8:3</a>, quoted by our Lord in <a href="/matthew/4-4.htm">Matthew 4:4</a>, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proeeedeth out of the month of God." By the powers (δυνάμεις) are to be especially understood (as in <a href="/hebrews/2-4.htm">Hebrews 2:4</a> and elsewhere in the New Testament) the extraordinary ones in which the gift of the Holy Ghost was manifested, the χαρίσματα of the apostolic Church. But why said here to be μέλλοντος αἰῶνος? For the meaning of this expression, see under ἐνσχάτεν τῶν ἠμερῶν τούτων (<a href="/hebrews/1-1.htm">Hebrews 1:1</a>), and οἰκουμένην τὴν μέλλουσαν (<a href="/hebrews/2-5.htm">Hebrews 2:5</a>). It denotes the predicted age of the Messiah's triumph. And if (as has appeared most probable, and as μέλλοντος here seems evidently to imply) that age was regarded as still future, not properly beginning till the second advent, still the "powers" spoken of are of it, being earnests and foretastes of a new order of things (cf. <a href="/ephesians/1-14.htm">Ephesians 1:14</a>, where the "Holy Spirit of promise" is called "the earnest of our inheritance;" also <a href="/2_corinthians/1-22.htm">2 Corinthians 1:22</a>; <a href="/2_corinthians/5-5.htm">2 Corinthians 5:5</a>). There are other passages in which Christians are regarded as already in the dawn of the future daybreak, and irradiated by the coming glory. The falling away (παραεσόντας) after such enlightenment and such experience means (as aforesaid) total apostasy from the faith. This appears from the expressions that follow, and still more from those in the cognate passage, <a href="/hebrews/10-26.htm">Hebrews 10:26-31</a>. "Non relapses mode dicit in pristina, sed nova pernicie praeterlapsos a toto statu illo lautissimo, simulque a fide, spe, et amore" (Bengel). Such an utter apostasy was possible to Hebrews oscillating between Church and synagogue: they might be so drawn at last into the atmosphere of the latter as, with the unbelieving Jews, to reject with contumely, and so to themselves recrucify, the Son of God. The force of "to themselves" is illustrated by <a href="/galatians/6-14.htm">Galatians 6:14</a>, where St. Paul says that he so glories in the cross of Christ that through Christ the world is crucified to him, and he to the world; i.e. all fellowship between him and the world is broken off. So here the ἑαυτοῖς implies the breaking off of all fellowship with what a man is said to crucify. "They crucify again the Son of God, repeating what their fathers had done formerly when they gave him over to the death of the cross; and this, be it observed, still more culpably., since it is after personal experience proving him to be "the Son of God." And they not only make him as one dead to themselves: they also expose him (παραδειγματίζοντας: cf. <a href="/numbers/25-4.htm">Numbers 25:4</a>, LXX.) to the reproach and mockery of the world. "Ostentantes, scil aliis" (Bengel). The above explanation is adopted from Delitzsch. Be it observed next what is said of those who do this - not that no repentance can henceforth avail them, but that even unto repentance it is impossible to renew them. Such falling away after such experience precludes the possibility of repentance. On such persons the powers of grace have been exhausted. It is not in the nature of things that they should return to Christ, or see the things that belong unto their peace any more. The correspondence between the state here described and the consequence of the "blasphemy against the Holy Ghost" (<a href="/matthew/12-31.htm">Matthew 12:31</a>; <a href="/mark/3-28.htm">Mark 3:28</a>; <a href="/luke/12-10.htm">Luke 12:10</a>) suggests itself at once; our Lord's words, in speaking of that unpardonable sin, being rightly supposed to point to obduracy in spite of experience of the Holy Spirit's power. Especially obvious is the correspondence with St. Luke's account of the Savior's warning - one of the not infrequent instances of resemblance between our Epistle and the writings of that evangelist. For St. Luke records the saying as spoken, not to the Jews on the occasion of their attributing Christ's works to Beelzebub, but to the disciples themselves, after a warning to them against "the leaven of the Pharisees," and against being moved by the fear of men, and immediately after the words, "He that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God." Compare also the "sin unto death" spoken of by St. John (<a href="/1_john/5-16.htm">1 John 5:16</a>). Misconceptions of the drift of this passage, once prevalent, or possible, remain to be noticed. (1) It has been from early times a main support of the strict Church discipline according to which deadly sin committed after baptism precludes re-admission to Church communion. It was so cited by Tertullian as early as the second century ('De Pudicitia,' cf. 20), and in the third used to justify the Novatians in their refusal of communion, even after penance, to the lapsi. The passage, as above explained, was really irrelevant, since it refers, not to the treatment by the Church of penitents, but to the impossibility of some persons being brought to penitence at all. (2) The Catholic Fathers, rightly rejecting the Novatian position, generally understood the text as forbidding the iteration of baptism; thus turning it against the Novatians, who rebaptized those who joined their communion. So Ambrose, Theodoret, and others. But, though their position on this subject was in itself sound, the passage, as above explained, is as irrelevant to it as to that of the Novatians. (3) This, and the other texts referred to in connection with it, have led some Christians to despair of salvation, however anxious for it, under the idea that they had themselves committed the unpardonable sin. This desperate view goes beyond that of the Novatians, who only precluded from Church communion, not of necessity from the mercies of God (Socrates, 'Hist. Eccl.,' 4:21). But the very state of mind of those who entertain such fears is a sign that they are not of those to whom this text applies. They cannot have entirely fallen from grace, if they have the grace to repent and long for pardon. (4) Calvin's predestinarian views compelled him and his followers to do violence to the plain meaning of the passage. Holding the doctrine of the indefectibility of grace, which involved (a) that one really regenerate cannot fall away, and (b) that consequently one who falls away cannot have been really regenerate, he had to explain away the clauses descriptive of the grace enjoyed, as meaning only a superficial experience of it. With this view he laid stress on the word γευσαμένους as meaning "summis labris gustare." Only dogmatic prejudice could have suggested such a sense of the word as intended in this place, any more than in <a href="/hebrews/2-9.htm">Hebrews 2:9</a>, where it is plainly inadmissible. Nor can an impartial reader fail to see in the whole accumulation of pregnant clauses an intention of expressing the very reverse of a mere apparent and delusive experience of saving grace. The depth of the experience is, in fact, a measure of the hopelessness of the fall. Art. XVI. of the English Church is a protest against all the erroneous conclusions above specified. Vers, 7, 8 - For land which hath drunk in the oft-coming rain upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them for whom (not, as in A.V., "by whom") it is also tilled, receiveth blessing from God; but if it beareth thorns and thistles (not, as in A.V., "that which beareth"), it is rejected, and nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned (literally, for burning; cf. <a href="/isaiah/44-15.htm">Isaiah 44:15</a>, ἵνα ῇ ἀνθρώποις εἰς καῦσιν). The illustration is apt and close. Observe that the "land which hath drunk," etc., is the subject in ver. 8, as well as of ver. 7, as is shown by the absence of an article before ἐκφέρουσα. Hence the unproductive as well as the fruitful soil is supposed to have received, and not only received but imbibed also, abundant supplies of rain. Its failure is its own fault, and it is regarded as responsible for it, and deserving of its final fate. This exactly illustrates the case of those who "fall away" after not only receiving abundantly, but also taking in so as to be filled with the "gracious rain" of the Holy Spirit. The only difference is that in their case, free-will being a constituent of their productive power, the responsibility figuratively attributed to the land is real (cf. ἐκουσίως ἁμαρτανόντων, <a href="/hebrews/10-26.htm">Hebrews 10:26</a>). For similar illustrations drawn from unproductiveness in nature in spite of culture, cf. <a href="/isaiah/5-4.htm">Isaiah 5:4</a> and <a href="/luke/20-23.htm">Luke 20:23</a>. The "blessing from God" refers to the view, pervading the Old Testament, of fruitfulness being the result and sign of the Divine blessing on the land (cf. <a href="/genesis/27-27.htm">Genesis 27:27</a>, "The smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed"). And it is further implied that incipient fruitfulness is rewarded by more abundant blessing, according to our Lord's words, <a href="/matthew/13-12.htm">Matthew 13:12</a>, "Whosoever hath, to him shall be given," and <a href="/john/15-2.htm">John 15:2</a>, "Every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." The "thorns and thistles," connected with a curse on the ground, seem suggested by <a href="/genesis/3-17.htm">Genesis 3:17, 18</a>, Απικατάρατος ἡ γῆ ἐν τοῖς ἕργοις σου ἀκάνθας καὶ τριβόλους ἀνατελεῖ σοι. LXX. (cf. "Cursed shall be the fruit of thy land," <a href="/deuteronomy/28-18.htm">Deuteronomy 28:18</a>). It is to be observed, further, that the land, though bearing thorns instead of fruit, is not spoken of as yet under the final curse, but only nigh unto it, so as to avoid even a remote suggestion that the Hebrew Christians had actually reached the hopeless state. But, unless fruitfulness should ensue, they are warned of the inevitable end by the fate of thorns and thistles, which is, not to be garnered, but to be burnt (cf. <a href="/2_samuel/23-6.htm">2 Samuel 23:6</a>, "The sons of Belial shall be all of them as thorns thrust away.... and they shall be utterly burned with fire in the same place;" cf. also <a href="/deuteronomy/29-23.htm">Deuteronomy 29:23</a>, "The whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth thereon" - a state of final hopeless barrenness). <a href="/commentaries/hebrews/6-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>[It is] impossible Ἀδύνατον (Adynaton) Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_102.htm">Strong's 102: </a> Of persons: incapable; of things: impossible; either the inability, or that which is impossible. Passively, impossible. for those who τοὺς (tous) Article - Accusative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. have once been enlightened, φωτισθέντας (phōtisthentas) Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Accusative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_5461.htm">Strong's 5461: </a> From phos; to shed rays, i.e. To shine or to brighten up. [who] have tasted γευσαμένους (geusamenous) Verb - Aorist Participle Middle - Accusative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1089.htm">Strong's 1089: </a> (a) I taste, (b) I experience. A primary verb; to taste; by implication, to eat; figuratively, to experience. the τῆς (tēs) Article - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. heavenly ἐπουρανίου (epouraniou) Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_2032.htm">Strong's 2032: </a> From epi and ouranos; above the sky. gift, δωρεᾶς (dōreas) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1431.htm">Strong's 1431: </a> A (free) gift, a gift (without repayment). From doron; a gratuity. [who] have shared γενηθέντας (genēthentas) Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Accusative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_1096.htm">Strong's 1096: </a> A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude. in [the] Holy Ἁγίου (Hagiou) Adjective - Genitive Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_40.htm">Strong's 40: </a> Set apart by (or for) God, holy, sacred. From hagos; sacred. Spirit, Πνεύματος (Pneumatos) Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4151.htm">Strong's 4151: </a> Wind, breath, spirit. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/hebrews/6-4.htm">Hebrews 6:4 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/hebrews/6-4.htm">Hebrews 6:4 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/hebrews/6-4.htm">Hebrews 6:4 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/hebrews/6-4.htm">Hebrews 6:4 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/hebrews/6-4.htm">Hebrews 6:4 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/hebrews/6-4.htm">Hebrews 6:4 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/hebrews/6-4.htm">Hebrews 6:4 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/hebrews/6-4.htm">Hebrews 6:4 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/hebrews/6-4.htm">Hebrews 6:4 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/hebrews/6-4.htm">Hebrews 6:4 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/hebrews/6-4.htm">NT Letters: Hebrews 6:4 For concerning those who were once enlightened (Heb. He. Hb) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/hebrews/6-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Hebrews 6:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Hebrews 6:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/hebrews/6-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Hebrews 6:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Hebrews 6:5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>