Add parallel Print Page Options

Long ago in many ways and at many times God's prophets spoke his message to our ancestors. (A) But now at last, God sent his Son to bring his message to us. God created the universe by his Son, and everything will someday belong to the Son. (B) God's Son has all the brightness of God's own glory and is like him in every way. By his own mighty word, he holds the universe together.

After the Son had washed away our sins, he sat down at the right side[a] of the glorious God in heaven. He had become much greater than the angels, and the name he was given is far greater than any of theirs.

God's Son Is Greater than Angels

(C) God has never said
    to any of the angels,
“You are my Son, because today
    I have become your Father!”
Neither has God said
    to any of them,
“I will be his Father,
    and he will be my Son!”

(D) When God brings his first-born Son[b] into the world, he commands all of his angels to worship him.

(E) And when God speaks about the angels, he says,

“I change my angels into wind
and my servants
    into flaming fire.”

(F) But God says about his Son,

“You are God,
and you will rule
    as King forever!
Your[c] royal power
    brings about justice.
You loved justice
    and hated evil,
and so I, your God,
    have chosen you.
I appointed you
and made you happier
    than any of your friends.”

10 (G) The Scriptures also say,

“In the beginning, Lord,
    you were the one
who laid the foundation
of the earth
    and created the heavens.
11 They will all disappear
and wear out like clothes,
    but you will last forever.
12 You will roll them up
    like a robe
and change them
    like a garment.
But you are always the same,
    and you will live forever.”

13 (H) God never said to any
    of the angels,
“Sit at my right side
until I make your enemies
    into a footstool for you!”

14 (I) Angels are merely spirits sent to serve people who are going to be saved.

Footnotes

  1. 1.3 right side: The place of honor and power.
  2. 1.6 first-born Son: The first son born into a family had certain privileges that the other children did not have. In 12.23 (see note) “first-born” refers to God's special people.
  3. 1.8 Your: Some manuscripts have “His.”

¶ God, having spoken many times and in many ways in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

has in these last times spoken unto us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the ages;

who being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his substance 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 has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

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

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

And of the angels he said, Who makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire.

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

Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore, God, even thy God, has 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 dost remain; 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 never fail.

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

14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth in service for the love of those who are the heirs of saving health?

God's Word through His Son

In the past God spoke to our ancestors many times and in many ways through the prophets, (A)but in these last days he has spoken to us through his Son. He is the one through whom God created the universe, the one whom God has chosen to possess all things at the end. (B)He reflects the brightness of God's glory and is the exact likeness of God's own being, sustaining the universe with his powerful word. After achieving forgiveness for the sins of all human beings, he sat down in heaven at the right side of God, the Supreme Power.

The Greatness of God's Son

The Son was made greater than the angels, just as the name that God gave him is greater than theirs. (C)For God never said to any of his angels,

“You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father.”

Nor did God say about any angel,
“I will be his Father,
    and he will be my Son.”

(D)But when God was about to send his first-born Son into the world, he said,

“All of God's angels must worship him.”

(E)But about the angels God said,

“God makes his angels winds,
    and his servants flames of fire.”

(F)About the Son, however, God said:
“Your kingdom, O God, will last[a] forever and ever!
    You rule over your[b] people with justice.
You love what is right and hate what is wrong.
That is why God, your God, has chosen you
    and has given you the joy of an honor far greater
    than he gave to your companions.”

10 (G)He also said,
“You, Lord, in the beginning created the earth,
    and with your own hands you made the heavens.
11 They will disappear, but you will remain;
    they will all wear out like clothes.
12 You will fold them up like a coat,
    and they will be changed like clothes.
But you are always the same,
    and your life never ends.”

13 (H)God never said to any of his angels:
“Sit here at my right side
    until I put your enemies
    as a footstool under your feet.”

14 (I)What are the angels, then? They are spirits who serve God and are sent by him to help those who are to receive salvation.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 1:8 Your kingdom, O God, will last; or God is your kingdom.
  2. Hebrews 1:8 your; some manuscripts have his.

God Speaks Through His Son

Long ago God spoke to our early fathers in many different ways. He spoke through the early preachers. But in these last days He has spoken to us through His Son. God gave His Son everything. It was by His Son that God made the world. The Son shines with the shining-greatness of the Father. The Son is as God is in every way. It is the Son Who holds up the whole world by the power of His Word. The Son gave His own life so we could be clean from all sin. After He had done that, He sat down on the right side of God in heaven.

The Son Was Greater Than the Angels

The Son of God was made greater and better than the angels. God gave Him a greater name than theirs. God did not say to any of His angels, “You are My Son. Today I have become Your Father.” (A) And He did not say to any angel, “I will be a Father to Him. He will be a Son to Me.” (B) But when God brought His first-born Son, Jesus, into the world, He said, “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” He said this about the angels, “He makes His angels to be winds. He makes His servants a burning fire.” (C) But about His Son, He says, “O God, Your throne will last forever. Whatever You say in Your nation is right and good. You have loved what is right. You have hated what is wrong. That is why God, Your God, has chosen You. He has poured over You the oil of joy more than over anyone else.” (D) 10 He said also, “Lord, You made the earth in the beginning. You made the heavens with Your hands. 11 They will be destroyed but You will always be here. They will all become old just as clothes become old. 12 You will roll up the heavens like a coat. They will be changed. But You are always the same. You will never grow old.” (E) 13 God never said to any angel, “Sit at My right side, until I make those who hate You a place to rest Your feet.” (F) 14 Are not all the angels spirits who work for God? They are sent out to help those who are to be saved from the punishment of sin.