Lexical Summary hexis: Habit, practice, condition Original Word: ἕξις Strong's Exhaustive Concordance habit, practice, useFrom echo; habit, i.e. (by implication) practice -- use. see GREEK echo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom echó Definition habit, practice NASB Translation practice (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1838: ἕξιςἕξις, ἕξεως, ἡ (ἔχω, future ἕξω), a habit, whether of body or of mind (Xenophon, Plato, Aristotle, others); a power acquired by custom, practice, use ("firma quaedam facilitas, quae apud Graecos ἕξις nominatur," Quintilian 10, 1 at the beginning); so Hebrews 5:14 (ἐν τούτοις ἱκανήν ἕξιν περιποιησάμενος, Sir. prol. 7; ἕξιν ἔχειν γραμματικης, Polybius 10, 47, 7; ἐν τοῖς πολεμικοῖς, 21, 7, 3; ἐν ἀστρολογία μεγίστην, Diodorus 2, 31; λογικήν ἕξιν περιποιουμενος, Philo, aleg. legg. 1, 4). Topical Lexicon Biblical ContextHebrews 5:14 presents the term as the settled, trained condition of the senses that characterizes the “mature.” The writer contrasts this seasoned capacity with the infant-like immaturity of those still dependent on “milk” (Hebrews 5:13). The verse reads, “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil” (Berean Standard Bible). The word points to a cultivated, stable readiness to respond to divine truth. Moral and Spiritual Formation 1. Progressive growth. Hebrews ties habitual training to discernment, showing that repeated obedience develops an instinctive grasp of righteousness (compare Proverbs 2:9; Philippians 1:9–10). Theological Significance • Sanctification as partnership. God supplies grace, yet believers cooperate through repeated choices that hard-wire holiness (Philippians 2:12–13). Historical Reception Early church writers (e.g., Clement of Alexandria, Origen) employed the Greek philosophical background of the term—Aristotle’s ἕξις as a stable moral disposition—to commend disciplined virtue. Medieval theologians, borrowing the Latin habitus, framed the theological virtues (faith, hope, love) as graciously infused yet cultivated habits. The Reformers retained the concept, stressing that saving faith issues in a life increasingly habituated to obedience. Pastoral and Ministry Implications • Discipleship strategies should emphasize repetition: Scripture memorization, regular prayer, and consistent fellowship create the spiritual reflexes Hebrews commends. Practical Applications 1. Establish rhythms of intake (daily reading), output (service), and reflection (examination of conscience). Related Concepts • “Training” (γυμνάζω, 1 Timothy 4:7) emphasizes rigorous exercise. Reflection Questions • Which spiritual disciplines in my life need greater consistency to sharpen discernment? Strong’s Greek 1838 thus directs attention to the God-ordained place of habitual obedience in moving believers from infancy to maturity, equipping them to recognize and choose the good in every arena of life. Forms and Transliterations έξει έξεως εξιν έξιν ἕξιν έξις εξισούμενον exin hexin héxinLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
    |