Hebrews 1
EasyEnglish Bible
In Jesus, God has shown us who he is
1 Many years ago, God spoke to our ancestors by his prophets.[a] He spoke many times and in many different ways. 2 But in these last days, he has spoken to us in his Son.[b] In the beginning, God worked through his Son to make the whole universe. He decided that everything should belong to his Son. 3 The Son shows us completely what God is like. He shines with God's great glory. His nature is the same as God's nature. The Son's powerful word causes everything to continue. He himself made it possible for us to be clean from our sins. After he had done that, he returned to heaven. He went and he sat at the right side of God, who rules with all authority.[c]
God's Son is greater than the angels
4 That shows us that God's Son is much greater than the angels. God has given him a name that shows he is more important than they are. 5 God never said this to any angel:
‘You are my Son.
Today I have become your Father.’[d]
In another place in the Bible, God says,
‘I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son.’[e]
6 Also, when God was ready to bring his greatest Son into the world, he said:
‘All God's angels must worship him.’
7 God speaks about the angels like this:
‘God makes his angels like winds.
They serve him like fires that burn brightly.’
8 But this is what God says to his Son:
‘You are God and you will rule as King for ever!
You will rule your kingdom in a completely good way.
9 You love everything that is right.
And you hate everything that is wrong.
Because of that, you will be completely happy.
I am your God and I have blessed you.
I have chosen you to be greater than others who are with you.’
10 The Bible also says this:
‘Lord, in the beginning you made the earth.
With your own power, you also made everything above the earth.
11 All these things will come to an end.
But as for you, you will continue for ever.
Like clothes, those things will all become old.
12 Then you will put them away like an old coat.
You will change them, like people change clothes.
But you will always continue to be the same.
Your life will never come to an end.’
13 Also, God has never said this to any of the angels:
‘Sit at my right side until I win against your enemies completely.
Then you will be able to put your feet on them.’
14 So we see that all the angels are spirits who serve God. God sends them as his servants to help the people that he will save.
Footnotes
- 1:1 Before Jesus came, God sent his prophets to speak his messages to his people, the Israelites.
- 1:2 Jesus was much greater than any of the prophets. He did not just bring a message from God. He clearly showed God himself. He could do this because he is God's Son, not just a servant.
- 1:3 After Jesus died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins, he rose up and went to sit ‘at the right side of God’. The right side is the most important place. This means that Jesus rules with the same power and authority as God himself.
- 1:5 See Psalms 2:7.
- 1:5 See 2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chronicles 17:13.
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 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
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
