milk before meat

phrase

Ideas or doctrines that are simpler or easier to accept (should be taught) before more difficult ones.

OriginKoine Greek ἐπότισα γάλα οὐ βρῶμα →
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Meanings

phrase
  1. MormonismIdeas or doctrines that are simpler or easier to accept (should be taught) before more difficult ones.

    Paul said we should give milk before meat; systematic teaching is effective as long as we are careful to give both the milk and the meat honestly and correctly.

    1986, Dennis L. Lythgoe, The Sensitive Leader, page 121
    3 more examples

    Under the pretext of giving the world “milk before meat,” the Utah Mormons have tried to justify themselves in the living of an open lie—they were actually practicing polygamy secretly and denying it publicly.

    1919, William Earl La Rue, The Foundations of Mormonism: A Study of the Fundamental Facts in the History and Doctrines of the Mormons from Original Sources, page 195

    They are not to present lessons in calculus to students who must first learn arithmetic; they are not to reveal the mysteries of the kingdom until people believe the first principles: they are to give milk before meat.

    1980, Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah: From Bethlehem to Calvary, volume 2; republished as Rulon T. Burton, editor, We Believe: Doctrines and Principles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1994, D-667, page 853

    So why is it that some people feel that they must know everything right away concerning religion, and yet in daily life they well understand and accept that it’s milk before meat?

    2006, Jayne P. Bowers, Musings of a Missionary Mom, →ISBN, page 118

Origin

  1. Koine Greekἐπότισα γάλα οὐ βρῶμα“I gave you milk, not meat [or solid food]”
  2. Englishmilk before meat

From 1 Corinthians 3:2, in Koine Greek ἐπότισα γάλα οὐ βρῶμα (epótisa gála ou brôma, “I gave you milk, not meat [or solid food]”), and in a Mormon context Doctrine and Covenants 19:22: “For they cannot bear meat now, but milk they must receive”. In the form milk before meat, first attested in the early 20th century.

More words from Koine Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

milk before meat. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/milk%20before%20meat

MLA

“milk before meat.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/milk%20before%20meat. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “milk before meat,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/milk%20before%20meat.

Source: milk before meat on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.