Bible Strands
Hebrews 6:4
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The author of Hebrews addresses Jewish Christians facing persecution and spiritual stagnation, closing a warning about regression after experiencing God's work.
The words — The Greek ἀδύνατον (adunaton) literally means "impossible," establishing the absolute nature of the statement that follows. The participle φωτισθεῖντας (phōtisthentas) translates to "having been enlightened," describing a past, definitive exposure to divine truth.
The thread — The text's warning about falling away after spiritual exposure parallels the conditions in Hebrews 10:26 regarding deliberate sin after receiving truth, the escape and return to corruption in 2 Peter 2:20, and the loss of efficacy described in Matthew 5:13.
Why it lands — The passage demands a sober assessment of one's current spiritual condition, warning that prior exposure to divine reality does not guarantee permanent preservation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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,
Cross-references
- Hebrews 10:26 If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains,
- 2 Peter 2:20 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.
- Matthew 5:13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
- John 15:6 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.
- Matthew 7:21 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.
- Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.
- Matthew 12:31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
- Luke 11:24 When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’
- Numbers 24:15 Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying, “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,
- Hebrews 10:32 Remember the early days that you were in the light. In those days, you endured a great conflict in the face of suffering.