Clarke's Bible Commentary - Hebrew 5:11
Verse 11. Of whom we have many things to say] The words peri ou, which we translate of whom, are variously applied: 1. To Melchisedec; 2. To Christ; 3. To the endless priesthood. Those who understand the place of Melchisedec, suppose that it is in reference to this that the apostle resumes the subject in the seventh chapter, where much more is said on this subject, though not very difficult of comprehension; and indeed it is not to be supposed that the Hebrews could be more capable of understanding the subject when the apostle wrote the seventh chapter than they were when, a few hours before, he had written the fifth. It is more likely, therefore, that the words are to be understood as meaning Jesus, or that endless priesthood, of which he was a little before speaking, and which is a subject that carnal Christians cannot easily comprehend.
Hard to be uttered] dusermhneutov? Difficult to be interpreted, because Melchisedec was a typical person. Or if it refer to the priesthood of Christ, that is still more difficult to be explained, as it implies, not only his being constituted a priest after this typical order, but his paying down the ransom for the sins of the whole world; and his satisfying the Divine justice by this sacrifice, but also thereby opening the kingdom of heaven to all believers, and giving the whole world an entrance to the holy of holies by his blood.
Dull of hearing.] nwqroi taiv akoaiv? Your souls do not keep pace with the doctrines and exhortations delivered to you. As nwqrov signifies a person who walks heavily and makes little speed, it is here elegantly applied to those who are called to the Christian race, have the road laid down plain before them, how to proceed specified, and the blessings to be obtained enumerated, and yet make no exertions to get on, but are always learning, and never able to come to the full knowledge of the truth.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 11. Of whom we have many things to say , etc..] Either of Melchizedek, or of Christ, or of his priesthood or of all of these; since the apostle does largely treat of them in the following chapters: he says many things concerning Melchizedek in the seventh chapter, and many things of Christ, and his priesthood, in those that follow; Christ is a large and inexhaustible subject in the Gospel ministry, and what a Gospel minister delights to dwell on; and it is a fund and stock from whence he is furnished with things of the greatest usefulness, and of the utmost importance: and hard to be uttered ; as were many things respecting Melchizedek, mentioned in ( Hebrews 7:3) and also concerning Christ, and his priesthood: abstruse and difficult things are to be looked into, considered, searched after, and insisted on: the whole Scripture is profitable, and the whole counsel of God is to be declared, and things hard to be explained should be attempted; this is the way to an increase of light and knowledge; though it becomes ministers to consult their own abilities, and the capacity of their hearers, that they do not go beyond them: seeing ye are dull of hearing ; this dulness of hearing is thought by some to arise from their afflictions; or from their attachment to the law of Moses; or rather from their sluggishness, indocility, and want of industry; and often times this arises from pride and prejudice, and irreverence of the word of God; and frequently from the deceitfulness of riches, and the cares of this life.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 11-14 - Dull hearers make the preaching of the gospel difficult, and even thos who have some faith may be dull hearers, and slow to believe. Much i looked for from those to whom much is given. To be unskilful, denote want of experience in the things of the gospel. Christian experience in a spiritual sense, taste, or relish of the goodness, sweetness, an excellence of the truths of the gospel. And no tongue can express the satisfaction which the soul receives, from a sense of Divine goodness grace, and love to it in Christ __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
περι 4012 ου 3739 πολυς 4183 ημιν 2254 ο 3588 λογος 3056 και 2532 δυσερμηνευτος 1421 λεγειν 3004 5721 επει 1893 νωθροι 3576 γεγονατε 1096 5754 ταις 3588 ακοαις 189
Vincent's NT Word Studies
11. From this point the comparison of Christ with Melchisedec would naturally be developed; but the author digresses into a complaint of the imperfect spiritual attainment of his readers, and a remonstrance and admonition extending to the end of ch. 6.
Of whom (peri ou). Rend. concerning which. Not Melchisedec, but the topic that Christ is a priest after the order of Melchisedec, a topic to which great importance is attached. Can it be imagined that the discussion of such a topic would appeal to a Gentile audience as a reason for not relapsing into paganism?
We have many things to say (poluv hmin o logov). Lit. the discourse is abundant unto us. We refers to the writer himself.
Hard to be uttered (dusermhneutov legein). Lit. hard of interpretation to speak. The A.V. entirely misses the idea of interpretation. Rev. better, hard of interpretation. Dusermhneutov N.T.o . o LXX. o Class.
Ye are dull of hearing (nwqroi gegonate taiv akoaiv). Rend. ye have grown dull in your hearing. For ajkoh hearing see on 2 Tim. iv. 3. The verb implies a deterioration on the hearers' part. Nwqroi only here and ch. vi. 12. From nh not and wjqein to push. Hence slow, sluggish. 189 Mostly in later Greek, although Plato uses it much in the same sense as here. "When they have to face study they are stupid (nwqroi) and cannot remember." Theaet. 144 B. In LXX, Prov. xxii. 29; Sir. iv. 29; xi. 12. Sometimes = low, mean, obscure. So in Proverbs, but in Sirach slack, slow.
