God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, 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 hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

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?

God Speaks to Us By His Son

In the past, God spoke to our forefathers by the prophets at many times and in many ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact imprint of the divine nature. He sustains all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins,[a] he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

The Son Is Superior to the Angels

The Son became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say:

You are my Son. Today I have begotten you?[b]

And again:

I will be his Father, and he will be my Son.[c]

And again, when he brought his firstborn into the world, he said:

Let all God’s angels worship him.[d]

About the angels he says:

He makes his messengers winds and his ministers flaming fire.[e]

But about the Son he says:

God, your throne is forever and ever,
and the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy
    beyond your companions.[f]

10 And he says:

In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth,
and the heavens are the works of your hands.
11 They will perish, but you remain.
They will all become old like a garment.
12 You will roll them up like a robe,
and they will be changed like a garment.[g]
But you are the same,
and your years will never end.[h]

13 To which of the angels has he ever said:

Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool under your feet?[i]

14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent out to serve for the benefit of those who are going to inherit salvation?

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 1:3 Some witnesses to the text add by himself. (“Witnesses to the text” mentioned in footnotes may include Greek manuscripts, lectionaries, translations, and quotations in the church fathers.)
  2. Hebrews 1:5 Psalm 2:7
  3. Hebrews 1:5 2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chronicles 17:13
  4. Hebrews 1:6 Deuteronomy 32:43 (Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint); Psalm 97:7
  5. Hebrews 1:7 Psalm 104:4
  6. Hebrews 1:9 Psalm 45:6-7
  7. Hebrews 1:12 Some witnesses to the text omit like a garment.
  8. Hebrews 1:12 Psalm 102:25-27
  9. Hebrews 1:13 Psalm 110:1