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God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds. His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, who, when he had by himself purified us of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels as the more excellent name he has inherited is better than theirs. For to which of the angels did he say at any time,

“You are my Son.
    Today I have become your father?”Psalm 2:7

and again,

“I will be to him a Father,
    and he will be to me a Son?”2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chronicles 17:13

When he again brings in the firstborn into the world he says, “Let all the angels of God worship him.”Deuteronomy 32:43 LXX Of the angels he says,

“He makes his angels winds,
    and his servants a flame of fire.”Psalm 104:4

But of the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
    The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity;
    therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.”Psalm 45:6-7

10 And,

“You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth.
    The heavens are the works of your hands.
11 They will perish, but you continue.
    They all will grow old like a garment does.
12 You will roll them up like a mantle,
    and they will be changed;
    but you are the same.
    Your years won’t fail.”Psalm 102:25-27

13 But which of the angels has he told at any time,

“Sit at my right hand,
    until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet?”Psalm 110:1

14 Aren’t they all serving spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

God’s Full and Final Revelation in the Son

Although[a] God spoke long ago in many parts[b] and in many ways to the fathers by the prophets, in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the world,[c] who is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, sustaining all things by the word of power.[d] When he[e] had made purification for sins through him, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become by so much better than the angels, by as much as he has inherited a more excellent name than theirs.

The Son Superior to the Angels

For to which of the angels did he ever say,

“You are my son,
    today I have begotten you,”[f]

and again,

“I will be his father[g],
    and he will be my son[h]”?[i]

And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,

“And let all the angels of God worship him.”[j]

And concerning the angels he says,

“The one who makes his angels winds,
and his servants a flame of fire,”[k]

but concerning the Son,

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever[l],
and the scepter of righteous is the scepter of your kingdom.
    You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
because of this God, your God, has anointed you
    with the olive oil of joy more than your companions.[m]

10 And,

“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,
and the heavens are the works of your hands;
11 they will perish, but you continue,
    and they will all become old like a garment,
12 and like a robe you will roll them up,
and like a garment they will be changed;
but you are the same, and your years will not run out.”[n]

13 But to which of the angels has he ever said,

“Sit down at my right hand,
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”[o]

14 Are they not all spirits engaged in special service, sent on assignment for the sake of those who are going to inherit salvation?

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 1:1 Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“spoke”) which is understood as concessive
  2. Hebrews 1:1 Or “portions”
  3. Hebrews 1:2 Or “the universe”; literally “the ages”
  4. Hebrews 1:3 Some manuscripts have “by the word of his power. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down”
  5. Hebrews 1:3 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had made”) which is understood as temporal
  6. Hebrews 1:5 A quotation from Ps 2:7
  7. Hebrews 1:5 Literally “to him for a father”
  8. Hebrews 1:5 Literally “to me for a son”
  9. Hebrews 1:5 A quotation from 2 Sam 7:14 (cf. 1 Chr 17:13)
  10. Hebrews 1:6 A quotation from Deut 32:43 and Ps 97:7
  11. Hebrews 1:7 A quotation from Ps 104:4
  12. Hebrews 1:8 Literally “for the age of the age”
  13. Hebrews 1:9 A quotation from Ps 45:6–7
  14. Hebrews 1:12 A quotation from Ps 102:25–27
  15. Hebrews 1:13 A quotation from Ps 110:1