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]?(A)

Or again,

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

And again, when God brings his firstborn(C) into the world,(D) he says,

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

In speaking of the angels he says,

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

But about the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;(G)
    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(H)
    by anointing you with the oil(I) of joy.”[e](J)

10 He also says,

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

13 To which of the angels did God ever say,

“Sit at my right hand(O)
    until I make your enemies
    a footstool(P) for your feet”[g]?(Q)

14 Are not all angels ministering spirits(R) sent to serve those who will inherit(S) salvation?(T)

Warning to Pay Attention

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.(U) For since the message spoken(V) through angels(W) was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment,(X) how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?(Y) This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord,(Z) was confirmed to us by those who heard him.(AA) God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles,(AB) and by gifts of the Holy Spirit(AC) distributed according to his will.(AD)

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

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?

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?