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This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.

The Son Is Greater Than the Angels

For God never said to any angel what he said to Jesus:

“You are my Son.
    Today I have become your Father.[a]

God also said,

“I will be his Father,
    and he will be my Son.”[b]

And when he brought his supreme[c] Son into the world, God said,[d]

“Let all of God’s angels worship him.”[e]

Regarding the angels, he says,

“He sends his angels like the winds,
    his servants like flames of fire.”[f]

But to the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever.
    You rule with a scepter of justice.
You love justice and hate evil.
    Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you,
    pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.”[g]

10 He also says to the Son,

“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth
    and made the heavens with your hands.
11 They will perish, but you remain forever.
    They will wear out like old clothing.
12 You will fold them up like a cloak
    and discard them like old clothing.
But you are always the same;
    you will live forever.”[h]

13 And God never said to any of the angels,

“Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
    until I humble your enemies,
    making them a footstool under your feet.”[i]

14 Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:5a Or Today I reveal you as my Son. Ps 2:7.
  2. 1:5b 2 Sam 7:14.
  3. 1:6a Or firstborn.
  4. 1:6b Or when he again brings his supreme Son [or firstborn Son] into the world, God will say.
  5. 1:6c Deut 32:43.
  6. 1:7 Ps 104:4 (Greek version).
  7. 1:8-9 Ps 45:6-7.
  8. 1:10-12 Ps 102:25-27.
  9. 1:13 Ps 110:1.

having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.(A)

The Son Is Superior to Angels

For to which of the angels did God[a] ever say,

“You are my Son;
    today I have begotten you”?

Or again,

“I will be his Father,
    and he will be my Son”?(B)

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

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”

Of the angels he says,

“He makes his angels winds
    and his servants flames of fire.”(C)

But of the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, is[b] forever and ever,
    and the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your[c] kingdom.(D)
You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;[d]
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
    with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”(E)

10 And,

“In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth,
    and the heavens are the work of your hands;(F)
11 they will perish, but you remain;
    they will all wear out like clothing;(G)
12 like a cloak you will roll them up,
    and like clothing[e] they will be changed.
But you are the same,
    and your years will never end.”

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

“Sit at my right hand
    until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?(H)

14 Are not all angels[f] spirits in the divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?(I)

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Footnotes

  1. 1.5 Greek he
  2. 1.8 Or God is your throne
  3. 1.8 Other ancient authorities read his
  4. 1.9 Other ancient authorities read wickedness
  5. 1.12 Other ancient authorities lack like clothing
  6. 1.14 Gk all of them