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

HEBREWS 6:5KJV
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Hebrews 6:5 (KJV)

What does Hebrews 6:5 mean?

Hebrews 6:5 describes people who have experienced the goodness of God’s message and have witnessed or shared in the powerful works that belong to the coming age. The verse highlights a deep, firsthand encounter with both God’s word and the spiritual realities that are part of God’s future kingdom.

The writer of Hebrews is addressing believers who have been part of the Christian community and have seen clear evidence of God’s truth and power. This verse is part of a warning about turning away after having such real experiences, emphasizing just how much these people have already received. It shows that their exposure to God’s word and the “powers of the world to come” is not just theoretical, but something they have truly “tasted” and known.

The Greek behind Hebrews 6:5

  • “tasted” (γεύομαι, geuomai): This word means more than just sampling; it often implies a real experience or participation. Here, it stresses that these people have genuinely experienced the goodness of God’s word, not just heard about it.
  • “word” (ῥῆμα, rhēma): This Greek term refers to a spoken message or utterance, often highlighting a specific, living word from God rather than general teaching. It points to a direct, personal encounter with God’s communication.
  • “powers” (δυνάμεις, dynameis): This word refers to mighty works or miracles, often associated with God’s supernatural activity. The verse connects these powers to the “world to come,” meaning the age of God’s fulfilled promises, suggesting that these people have seen signs of God’s future breaking into the present.
  • “world” (αἰών, aiōn): This term means an age or era. The “world to come” refers to the future time of God’s kingdom, so the verse is talking about experiencing aspects of that future reality now.

Why Hebrews 6:5 matters

  • Hebrews 6:5 clarifies that the people being described have had real, not just surface-level, experiences with God’s truth and power, which makes the warning in this passage especially serious.
  • The verse connects present Christian experience with the future promises of God, showing that believers can already taste some of what is to come in God’s kingdom.
  • Understanding the depth of experience described here helps explain why the following verses warn so strongly about falling away—it is not about casual or uninformed people, but those who have truly known God’s goodness and power.

Where else these words appear

“tasted” Greek G1089 · used in 15 verses

  • Matthew 16:28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
  • Luke 14:24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
  • Acts 23:14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul.

“word” Greek G4487 · used in 67 verses

  • Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
  • Luke 18:34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
  • Acts 10:37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

“good” Greek G2570 · used in 91 verses

  • Matthew 3:10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
  • Mark 14:21 The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.
  • 1 Timothy 1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

“world” Greek G165 · used in 102 verses

  • Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
  • Acts 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
  • Hebrews 5:6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.