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God Has Spoken to Us

God, having spoken in former times in fragmentary and varied fashion to our forefathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by a Son whom he appointed to be the heir of everything and through whom he also made the universe. He is the reflection[a] of God’s glory and the exact likeness of his being, and he holds everything together by his powerful word. After he had provided a cleansing from sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Highest Majesty and became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is better than theirs.

God’s Son is Superior to the Angels

For to which of the angels did God[b] ever say, “You are my Son. Today I have become your Father”?[c] Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”?[d] And again, when he brings[e] his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”[f] Now about the angels he says,

“He makes his angels winds,

and his servants flames of fire.”[g]

But about the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God,
    is forever and ever,
and the scepter of your kingdom
    is a righteous scepter.
You have loved righteousness
    and hated wickedness.
That is why God, your God,
    anointed you rather than your companions
        with the oil of gladness.”[h]

10 And,

“In the beginning, Lord,[i]
    you laid the foundation of the earth,
        and the heavens are the work of your hands.
11 They will come to an end,
    but you will remain forever.
        They will all wear out like clothes.
12 You will roll them up like a robe,
    and they will be changed like clothes.
But you remain the same,
    and your life[j] will never end.”[k]

13 But to which of the angels did he ever say,

“Sit at my right hand
    until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?[l]

14 All of them are spirits on a divine mission, sent to serve those who are about to inherit salvation, aren’t they?

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 1:3 Or radiance
  2. Hebrews 1:5 Lit. he
  3. Hebrews 1:5 Cf. Ps 2:7
  4. Hebrews 1:5 Cf. 2 Sam 7:14
  5. Hebrews 1:6 Or And when he again brings
  6. Hebrews 1:6 Deut 32:43 (LXX); Ps 97:7
  7. Hebrews 1:7 Cf. Ps 104:4
  8. Hebrews 1:9 Cf. Ps 45:6-7
  9. Hebrews 1:10 MT source citation reads Lord
  10. Hebrews 1:12 Lit. years
  11. Hebrews 1:12 Cf. Ps 102:25-27
  12. Hebrews 1:13 Cf. 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