The Nature of the Son

Long ago God spoke(A) to our ancestors by the prophets(B) at different times and in different ways.(C) In these last days,(D) he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things(E) and made the universe[a](F) through him. The Son is the radiance[b] of God’s glory and the exact expression[c] of his nature,(G) sustaining all things by his powerful word.(H) After making purification for sins,[d] he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.[e](I) So he became superior to the angels, just as the name he inherited is more excellent than theirs.(J)

The Son Superior to Angels

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](K)

Again, when he[i] brings his firstborn into the world,(L) he says,

And let all God’s angels worship him.[j](M)

And about the angels he says:

He makes his angels winds,[k]
and his servants[l] a fiery flame,[m](N)

but to[n] the Son:

Your throne, God,
is forever and ever,
and the scepter of your kingdom
is a scepter of justice.(O)
You have loved righteousness
and hated lawlessness;
this is why God, your God,
has anointed you
with the oil of joy(P)
beyond your companions.[o][p]

10 And:

In the beginning, Lord,
you established the earth,
and the heavens are the works of your hands;(Q)
11 they will perish, but you remain.
They will all wear out like clothing;(R)
12 you will roll them up like a cloak,[q]
and they will be changed like clothing.
But you are the same,
and your years will never end.[r](S)

13 Now to which of the angels has he ever said:

Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies your footstool?[s](T)

14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation?(U)

Warning against Neglect

For this reason, we must pay attention all the more to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away.(V) For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding[t](W) and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment,(X) how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?(Y) This salvation had its beginning when it was spoken of by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us by those who heard him.(Z) At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions of gifts from the Holy Spirit according to his will.(AA)

Jesus and Humanity

For he has not subjected to angels the world to come that we are talking about. But someone somewhere has testified:

What is man that you remember him,
or the son of man that you care for him?
You made him lower than the angels
for a short time;
you crowned him with glory and honor[u]
and subjected everything under his feet.[v]

For in subjecting everything to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. As it is, we do not yet see everything subjected to him.(AB) But we do see Jesus—made lower than the angels for a short time so that by God’s grace he might taste death(AC) for everyone—crowned with glory and honor(AD) because he suffered death.(AE)

10 For in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—for whom and through whom all things exist—should make the pioneer[w] of their salvation perfect through sufferings.(AF) 11 For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father.[x] That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,(AG) 12 saying:

I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters;
I will sing hymns to you in the congregation.[y](AH)

13 Again, I will trust in him.[z] And again, Here I am with the children God gave me.[aa](AI)

14 Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil(AJ) 15 and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.(AK) 16 For it is clear that he does not reach out to help angels, but to help Abraham’s offspring.(AL) 17 Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters[ab] pertaining to God, to make atonement[ac](AM) for the sins of the people.(AN) 18 For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

Footnotes

  1. 1:2 Lit ages
  2. 1:3 Or reflection
  3. 1:3 Or representation, or copy, or reproduction
  4. 1:3 Other mss read for our sins by himself
  5. 1:3 Or he sat down on high at the right hand of the Majesty
  6. 1:5 Or have begotten you
  7. 1:5 Ps 2:7
  8. 1:5 2Sm 7:14; 1Ch 17:13
  9. 1:6 Or When he again
  10. 1:6 Dt 32:43 LXX; Ps 97:7
  11. 1:7 Or spirits
  12. 1:7 Or ministers
  13. 1:7 Ps 104:4
  14. 1:8 Or about
  15. 1:9 Or associates
  16. 1:8–9 Ps 45:6–7
  17. 1:12 Other mss omit like a cloak
  18. 1:10–12 Ps 102:25–27
  19. 1:13 Ps 110:1
  20. 2:2 Or valid, or reliable
  21. 2:7 Other mss add and set him over the works of your hands
  22. 2:6–8 Ps 8:4–6 LXX
  23. 2:10 Or source, or leader
  24. 2:11 Or father, or origin; lit all are of one
  25. 2:12 Ps 22:22
  26. 2:13 2Sm 22:3 LXX; Is 8:17 LXX; 12:2 LXX
  27. 2:13 Is 8:18 LXX
  28. 2:17 Lit things
  29. 2:17 Or propitiation

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)

Warning to Pay Attention

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.(AI) For since the message spoken(AJ) through angels(AK) was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment,(AL) how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?(AM) This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord,(AN) was confirmed to us by those who heard him.(AO) God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles,(AP) and by gifts of the Holy Spirit(AQ) distributed according to his will.(AR)

Jesus Made Fully Human

It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone(AS) has testified:

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    a son of man that you care for him?(AT)
You made them a little[h] lower than the angels;
    you crowned them with glory and honor
    and put everything under their feet.”[i][j](AU)

In putting everything under them,[k] God left nothing that is not subject to them.[l] Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.[m] But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor(AV) because he suffered death,(AW) so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.(AX)

10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists,(AY) should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.(AZ) 11 Both the one who makes people holy(BA) and those who are made holy(BB) are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.[n](BC) 12 He says,

“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
    in the assembly I will sing your praises.”[o](BD)

13 And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”[p](BE)

And again he says,

“Here am I, and the children God has given me.”[q](BF)

14 Since the children have flesh and blood,(BG) he too shared in their humanity(BH) so that by his death he might break the power(BI) of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil(BJ) 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear(BK) of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.(BL) 17 For this reason he had to be made like them,[r](BM) fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful(BN) and faithful high priest(BO) in service to God,(BP) and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.(BQ) 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.(BR)

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
  8. Hebrews 2:7 Or them for a little while
  9. Hebrews 2:8 Psalm 8:4-6
  10. Hebrews 2:8 Or You made him a little lower than the angels;/ you crowned him with glory and honor/ and put everything under his feet.”
  11. Hebrews 2:8 Or him
  12. Hebrews 2:8 Or him
  13. Hebrews 2:8 Or him
  14. Hebrews 2:11 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 12; and in 3:1, 12; 10:19; 13:22.
  15. Hebrews 2:12 Psalm 22:22
  16. Hebrews 2:13 Isaiah 8:17
  17. Hebrews 2:13 Isaiah 8:18
  18. Hebrews 2:17 Or like his brothers