Hebrews 1
Expanded Bible
God Spoke Through His Son
1 ·In the past [Long ago] God spoke to our ·ancestors [forefathers; fathers] through the prophets ·many times [or in a fragmentary/partial way; L in many parts] and in many different ways. 2 But now in these last days God has spoken to us through ·his Son [or a son; 1:3]. God has ·chosen [appointed] his Son to ·own [be heir/inheritor of] all things, and through him he made the ·world [universe; ages; C comprising both space and time; John 1:3]. 3 The Son ·reflects [or radiates; shines forth] the glory of God [John 1:14] and ·shows exactly what God is like [L is the exact representation/imprint/stamp of his being/essence/nature]. He ·holds everything together [sustains/upholds all things] with his powerful word. When the Son ·made people clean from their [L provided purification/cleansing for] sins [9:14], he sat down at the right ·side [L hand; C the most honored position beside a king; Ps. 110:1] of ·God, the Great One in heaven [L the Majesty/Preeminence in the highest places; C a Jewish way to avoid saying the divine name of God]. 4 The Son became much ·greater [superior; better] than the angels, ·and [or just as; in the same way that] ·God gave him [L he inherited] a name [C either “Son” (v. 5), or referring to his nature or reputation] that is ·much greater than [far superior to] theirs.
5 This is because God never said to any of the angels,
“You are my Son.
Today I have ·become your Father [T begotten you; Ps. 2:7; see Heb. 5:5; Acts 13:33].”
·Nor did God say of any angel [L And again],
“I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son [2 Sam. 7:14].”
6 And [L again] when God brings ·his firstborn Son [L the firstborn; Rom. 8:29] into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him [Ps. 97:7 (in the Greek version of the OT); C similar words are found in the Greek version of Deut. 32:43 and in a Hebrew copy among the Dead Sea Scrolls].”
7 This is what God said about the angels:
“·God makes his angels become like winds [or God makes winds into his messengers].
He makes ·his servants become like flames of fire [or flames of fire to be his servants; Ps. 104:4].”
8 But God said this about his Son:
“·God, your throne [L Your throne, O God; ] will last forever and ever.
You will rule your kingdom with ·fairness [L a just/righteous scepter; C a scepter symbolizes royal authority].
9 You love ·right [righteousness] and hate ·evil [wickedness; lawlessness],
so ·God [L God, your God,] has ·chosen [L anointed] you ·from among your friends [or above your peers; above anyone else];
he has ·set you apart with much joy [L anointed you with the oil of joy/rejoicing; Ps. 45:6–7].”
10 God also says,
“Lord, in the beginning you ·made [L laid the foundations of] the earth,
and your hands made the ·skies [heavens].
11 They will be destroyed, but you ·will remain [continue; C forever].
They will all wear out like ·clothes [a garment].
12 You will ·fold them [roll them up] like a ·coat [robe].
And, like ·clothes [a garment], you will change them.
But you ·never change [are the same; 13:8],
and your ·life [L years] will never ·end [fail; run out; Ps. 102:25–27].”
13 And God never said this to an angel:
“Sit by me at my right ·side [hand; v. 3]
until I put your enemies ·under your control [L as a footstool under your feet; Ps. 110:1].”
14 ·All the angels are [L Are they not…?] ·spirits who serve God [or ministering spirits] and are sent to ·help [serve] those who will ·receive [L inherit] salvation.
Hebrews 1
Revised Standard Version
God Has Spoken by His Son
1 In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has obtained is more excellent than theirs.
The Son Is Superior to Angels
5 For to what angel did God ever say,
“Thou art my Son,
today I have begotten thee”?
Or again,
“I will be to him a father,
and he shall be to me a son”?
6 And again, when he brings the first-born into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”
7 Of the angels he says,
“Who makes his angels winds,
and his servants flames of fire.”
8 But of the Son he says,
“Thy throne, O God,[a] is for ever and ever,
the righteous scepter is the scepter of thy[b] kingdom.
9 Thou hast loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
therefore God, thy God, has anointed thee
with the oil of gladness beyond thy comrades.”
10 And,
“Thou, Lord, didst found the earth in the beginning,
and the heavens are the work of thy hands;
11 they will perish, but thou remainest;
they will all grow old like a garment,
12 like a mantle thou wilt roll them up,
and they will be changed.[c]
But thou art the same,
and thy years will never end.”
13 But to what angel has he ever said,
“Sit at my right hand
till I make thy enemies
a stool for thy feet”?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?
Footnotes
- Hebrews 1:8 Or God is thy throne
- Hebrews 1:8 Other ancient authorities read his
- Hebrews 1:12 Other ancient authorities add like a garment
Hebrews 1
New King James Version
God’s Supreme Revelation(A)
1 God, who [a]at various times and (B)in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the [b]worlds; 3 (C)who being the brightness of His glory and the express (D)image of His person, and (E)upholding all things by the word of His power, (F)when He had [c]by Himself [d]purged [e]our sins, (G)sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as (H)He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
The Son Exalted Above Angels
5 For to which of the angels did He ever say:
(I)“You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You”?
And again:
(J)“I will be to Him a Father,
And He shall be to Me a Son”?
6 But when He again brings (K)the firstborn into the world, He says:
(L)“Let all the angels of God worship Him.”
7 And of the angels He says:
(M)“Who makes His angels spirits
And His ministers a flame of fire.”
8 But to the Son He says:
(N)“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A [f]scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God, Your God, (O)has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
10 And:
(P)“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
11 (Q)They will perish, but You remain;
And (R)they will all grow old like a garment;
12 Like a cloak You will fold them up,
And they will be changed.
But You are the (S)same,
And Your years will not fail.”
13 But to which of the angels has He ever said:
(T)“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?
14 (U)Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will (V)inherit salvation?
Footnotes
- Hebrews 1:1 Or in many portions
- Hebrews 1:2 Or ages, Gr. aiones, aeons
- Hebrews 1:3 NU omits by Himself
- Hebrews 1:3 cleansed
- Hebrews 1:3 NU omits our
- Hebrews 1:8 A ruler’s staff
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
