God’s Full and Final Revelation in the Son

Although[a] God spoke long ago in many parts[b] and in many ways to the fathers by the prophets, in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the world,[c] who is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, sustaining all things by the word of power.[d] When he[e] had made purification for sins through him, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become by so much better than the angels, by as much as he has inherited a more excellent name than theirs.

The Son Superior to the Angels

For to which of the angels did he ever say,

“You are my son,
    today I have begotten you,”[f]

and again,

“I will be his father[g],
    and he will be my son[h]”?[i]

And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,

“And let all the angels of God worship him.”[j]

And concerning the angels he says,

“The one who makes his angels winds,
and his servants a flame of fire,”[k]

but concerning the Son,

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever[l],
and the scepter of righteous is the scepter of your kingdom.
    You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
because of this God, your God, has anointed you
    with the olive oil of joy more than your companions.[m]

10 And,

“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,
and the heavens are the works of your hands;
11 they will perish, but you continue,
    and they will all become old like a garment,
12 and like a robe you will roll them up,
and like a garment they will be changed;
but you are the same, and your years will not run out.”[n]

13 But to which of the angels has he ever said,

“Sit down at my right hand,
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”[o]

14 Are they not all spirits engaged in special service, sent on assignment for the sake of those who are going to inherit salvation?

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 1:1 Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“spoke”) which is understood as concessive
  2. Hebrews 1:1 Or “portions”
  3. Hebrews 1:2 Or “the universe”; literally “the ages”
  4. Hebrews 1:3 Some manuscripts have “by the word of his power. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down”
  5. Hebrews 1:3 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had made”) which is understood as temporal
  6. Hebrews 1:5 A quotation from Ps 2:7
  7. Hebrews 1:5 Literally “to him for a father”
  8. Hebrews 1:5 Literally “to me for a son”
  9. Hebrews 1:5 A quotation from 2 Sam 7:14 (cf. 1 Chr 17:13)
  10. Hebrews 1:6 A quotation from Deut 32:43 and Ps 97:7
  11. Hebrews 1:7 A quotation from Ps 104:4
  12. Hebrews 1:8 Literally “for the age of the age”
  13. Hebrews 1:9 A quotation from Ps 45:6–7
  14. Hebrews 1:12 A quotation from Ps 102:25–27
  15. Hebrews 1:13 A quotation from Ps 110:1

God’s Final Word: His Son

In the past God spoke(A) to our ancestors through the prophets(B) at many times and in various ways,(C) but in these last days(D) he has spoken to us by his Son,(E) whom he appointed heir(F) of all things, and through whom(G) also he made the universe.(H) The Son is the radiance of God’s glory(I) and the exact representation of his being,(J) sustaining all things(K) by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins,(L) he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.(M) So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.(N)

The Son Superior to Angels

For to which of the angels did God ever say,

“You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father”[a]?(O)

Or again,

“I will be his Father,
    and he will be my Son”[b]?(P)

And again, when God brings his firstborn(Q) into the world,(R) he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”[c](S)

In speaking of the angels he says,

“He makes his angels spirits,
    and his servants flames of fire.”[d](T)

But about the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;(U)
    a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
    therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions(V)
    by anointing you with the oil(W) of joy.”[e](X)

10 He also says,

“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
    and the heavens are the work of your hands.(Y)
11 They will perish, but you remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment.(Z)
12 You will roll them up like a robe;
    like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,(AA)
    and your years will never end.”[f](AB)

13 To which of the angels did God ever say,

“Sit at my right hand(AC)
    until I make your enemies
    a footstool(AD) for your feet”[g]?(AE)

14 Are not all angels ministering spirits(AF) sent to serve those who will inherit(AG) salvation?(AH)

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 1:5 Psalm 2:7
  2. Hebrews 1:5 2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chron. 17:13
  3. Hebrews 1:6 Deut. 32:43 (see Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint)
  4. Hebrews 1:7 Psalm 104:4
  5. Hebrews 1:9 Psalm 45:6,7
  6. Hebrews 1:12 Psalm 102:25-27
  7. Hebrews 1:13 Psalm 110:1

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?