Hebrews 1
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
God Has Spoken by His Son
1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son,[a] whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.(A) 3 He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains[b] all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for[c] sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,(B) 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.(C)
The Son Is Superior to Angels
5 For to which of the angels did God[d] ever say,
“You are my Son;
today I have begotten you”?
Or again,
“I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son”?(D)
6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”
7 Of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds
and his servants flames of fire.”(E)
8 But of the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, is[e] forever and ever,
and the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your[f] kingdom.(F)
9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;[g]
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”(G)
10 And,
“In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands;(H)
11 they will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like clothing;(I)
12 like a cloak you will roll them up,
and like clothing[h] they will be changed.
But you are the same,
and your years will never end.”
13 And to which of the angels has he ever said,
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?(J)
14 Are not all angels[i] spirits in the divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?(K)
Hebrews 1
English Standard Version
The Supremacy of God's Son
1 Long ago, at many times and (A)in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but (B)in these last days (C)he has spoken to us by (D)his Son, whom he appointed (E)the heir of all things, (F)through whom also he created (G)the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and (H)the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. (I)After making purification for sins, (J)he sat down (K)at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name (L)he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,
(M)“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”?
Or again,
(N)“I will be to him a father,
and he shall be to me a son”?
6 And again, when he brings (O)the firstborn into the world, he says,
(P)“Let all God's angels worship him.”
7 Of the angels he says,
(Q)“He makes his angels winds,
and his ministers a flame of fire.”
8 But of the Son he says,
(R)“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, (S)has anointed you
with (T)the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”
10 And,
(U)“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,
and the heavens are the work of your hands;
11 they will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment,
12 like a robe you will roll them up,
like a garment they will be changed.[a]
But you are (V)the same,
and your years will have no end.”
13 And to which of the angels has he ever said,
14 Are they not all ministering spirits (Y)sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to (Z)inherit salvation?
Footnotes
- Hebrews 1:12 Some manuscripts omit like a garment
Hebrews 1
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
I. Introduction[a]
Chapter 1
1 In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets; 2 in these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe,(A)
3 who is the refulgence of his glory,
the very imprint of his being,
and who sustains all things by his mighty word.
When he had accomplished purification from sins,
he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high,(B)
4 as far superior to the angels
as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.(C)
II. The Son Higher Than the Angels
Messianic Enthronement.[b] 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say:
“You are my son; this day I have begotten you”?(D)
Or again:
“I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me”?
6 And again, when he leads[c] the first-born into the world, he says:
“Let all the angels of God worship him.”(E)
7 Of the angels he says:
“He makes his angels winds
and his ministers a fiery flame”;(F)
8 but of the Son:
“Your throne, O God,[d] stands forever and ever;
and a righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom.(G)
9 You loved justice and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, anointed you
with the oil of gladness above your companions”;
10 and:
“At the beginning, O Lord, you established the earth,(H)
and the heavens are the works of your hands.
11 They will perish, but you remain;
and they will all grow old like a garment.
12 You will roll them up like a cloak,
and like a garment they will be changed.
But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”
13 But to which of the angels has he ever said:
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies your footstool”?(I)
14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent to serve, for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?(J)
Footnotes
- 1:1–4 The letter opens with an introduction consisting of a reflection on the climax of God’s revelation to the human race in his Son. The divine communication was initiated and maintained during Old Testament times in fragmentary and varied ways through the prophets (Hb 1:1), including Abraham, Moses, and all through whom God spoke. But now in these last days (Hb 1:2) the final age, God’s revelation of his saving purpose is achieved through a son, i.e., one who is Son, whose role is redeemer and mediator of creation. He was made heir of all things through his death and exaltation to glory, yet he existed before he appeared as man; through him God created the universe. Hb 1:3–4, which may be based upon a liturgical hymn, assimilate the Son to the personified Wisdom of the Old Testament as refulgence of God’s glory and imprint of his being (Hb 1:3; cf. Wis 7:26). These same terms are used of the Logos in Philo. The author now turns from the cosmological role of the preexistent Son to the redemptive work of Jesus: he brought about purification from sins and has been exalted to the right hand of God (see Ps 110:1). The once-humiliated and crucified Jesus has been declared God’s Son, and this name shows his superiority to the angels. The reason for the author’s insistence on that superiority is, among other things, that in some Jewish traditions angels were mediators of the old covenant (see Acts 7:53; Gal 3:19). Finally, Jesus’ superiority to the angels emphasizes the superiority of the new covenant to the old because of the heavenly priesthood of Jesus.
- 1:5–14 Jesus’ superiority to the angels is now demonstrated by a series of seven Old Testament texts. Some scholars see in the stages of Jesus’ exaltation an order corresponding to that of enthronement ceremonies in the ancient Near East, especially in Egypt, namely, elevation to divine status (Hb 1:5–6); presentation to the angels and proclamation of everlasting lordship (Hb 1:7–12); enthronement and conferral of royal power (Hb 1:13). The citations from the Psalms in Hb 1:5, 13 were traditionally used of Jesus’ messianic sonship (cf. Acts 13:33) through his resurrection and exaltation (cf. Acts 2:33–35); those in Hb 1:8, 10–12 are concerned with his divine kingship and his creative function. The central quotation in Hb 1:7 serves to contrast the angels with the Son. The author quotes it according to the Septuagint translation, which is quite different in meaning from that of the Hebrew (“You make the winds your messengers, and flaming fire your ministers”). The angels are only sent to serve…those who are to inherit salvation (Hb 1:14).
- 1:6 And again, when he leads: the Greek could also be translated “And when he again leads” in reference to the parousia.
- 1:8–12 O God: the application of the name “God” to the Son derives from the preexistence mentioned in Hb 1:2–3; the psalmist had already used it of the Hebrew king in the court style of the original. See note on Ps 45:7. It is also important for the author’s christology that in Hb 1:10–12 an Old Testament passage addressed to God is redirected to Jesus.
Hebrews 1
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Nature of the Son
1 Long ago God spoke(A) to the fathers by the prophets(B) at different times and in different ways.(C) 2 In these last days,(D) He has spoken to us by His Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe[a](E) through Him. 3 The Son is the radiance[b] of God’s glory and the exact expression[c] of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins,[d] He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.[e](F) 4 So He became higher in rank than the angels, just as the name He inherited is superior to theirs.(G)
The Son Superior to Angels
5 For to which of the angels did He ever say, You are My Son; today I have become Your Father,[f][g] or again, I will be His Father, and He will be My Son?(H)[h] 6 When He again[i] brings His firstborn into the world,(I) He says, And all God’s angels must worship Him.(J)[j] 7 And about the angels He says:
8 but to[n] the Son:
Your throne, God,
is forever and ever,
and the scepter of Your kingdom
is a scepter of justice.(L)
9 You have loved righteousness
and hated lawlessness;
this is why God, Your God,
has anointed You
with the oil of joy(M)
rather than Your companions.[o][p]
10 And:
In the beginning, Lord,
You established the earth,
and the heavens are the works of Your hands;(N)
11 they will perish, but You remain.
They will all wear out like clothing;(O)
12 You will roll them up like a cloak,[q]
and they will be changed like a robe.
But You are the same,
and Your years will never end.(P)[r]
13 Now to which of the angels has He ever said:
14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation?(R)
Footnotes
- Hebrews 1:2 Lit ages
- Hebrews 1:3 Or reflection
- Hebrews 1:3 Or representation, or copy, or reproduction
- Hebrews 1:3 Other mss read for our sins by Himself
- Hebrews 1:3 Or He sat down on high at the right hand of the Majesty
- Hebrews 1:5 Or have begotten You
- Hebrews 1:5 Ps 2:7
- Hebrews 1:5 2Sm 7:14; 1Ch 17:13
- Hebrews 1:6 Or And again, when He
- Hebrews 1:6 Dt 32:43 LXX; Ps 97:7
- Hebrews 1:7 Or spirits
- Hebrews 1:7 Or ministers
- Hebrews 1:7 Ps 104:4
- Hebrews 1:8 Or about
- Hebrews 1:9 Or associates
- Hebrews 1:9 Ps 45:6-7
- Hebrews 1:12 Other mss omit like a cloak
- Hebrews 1:12 Ps 102:25-27
- Hebrews 1:13 Or enemies a footstool for Your feet
- Hebrews 1:13 Ps 110:1
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