# basic principles

Here "principles" means a guideline or standard for making decisions. AT: "basic truths"

# You need milk

Teaching about God that is easy to understand is spoken of as if it were milk, the only food that infants can take. AT: "You have become like babies and can drink only milk" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# milk, not solid food

Teaching about God that is difficult to understand is spoken of as if it were solid food, suitable for adults. AT: "milk instead of solid food that adults can eat" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# takes milk

Here "takes" stands for "drinks." AT: "drinks milk" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

# because he is still a little child

Spiritual maturity is compared with the kind of food that a growing child eats. Solid food is not for a tiny baby, and that is a figure describing a young Christian who only learns simple truths; but later, more solid food is given to the little child, just as when a person matures he can learn about matters that are more difficult. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# who because of their maturity have their understanding trained for distinguishing good from evil

People trained to understand something are spoken of as if their ability to understand had been trained. AT: "who are mature and can distinguish between good and evil" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

# translationWords

* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/teacher]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/law]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/righteous]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/evil]]