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(A)For God never said to any of his angels,

“You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father.”

Nor did God say about any angel,
“I will be his Father,
    and he will be my Son.”

(B)But when God was about to send his first-born Son into the world, he said,

“All of God's angels must worship him.”

(C)But about the angels God said,

“God makes his angels winds,
    and his servants flames of fire.”

(D)About the Son, however, God said:
“Your kingdom, O God, will last[a] forever and ever!
    You rule over your[b] people with justice.
You love what is right and hate what is wrong.
That is why God, your God, has chosen you
    and has given you the joy of an honor far greater
    than he gave to your companions.”

10 (E)He also said,
“You, Lord, in the beginning created the earth,
    and with your own hands you made the heavens.
11 They will disappear, but you will remain;
    they will all wear out like clothes.
12 You will fold them up like a coat,
    and they will be changed like clothes.
But you are always the same,
    and your life never ends.”

13 (F)God never said to any of his angels:
“Sit here at my right side
    until I put your enemies
    as a footstool under your feet.”

14 (G)What are the angels, then? They are spirits who serve God and are sent by him to help those who are to receive salvation.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 1:8 Your kingdom, O God, will last; or God is your kingdom.
  2. Hebrews 1:8 your; some manuscripts have his.

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”?(A)

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.”(B)

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.(C)
You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;[d]
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
    with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”(D)

10 And,

“In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth,
    and the heavens are the work of your hands;(E)
11 they will perish, but you remain;
    they will all wear out like clothing;(F)
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”?(G)

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

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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

For to which of the angels did God ever say,

“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father”?[a]

Also, God never said of any angel,

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

And again, when God brings his Firstborn into the world, he says,

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

Indeed, when speaking of angels, he says,

“. . . who makes his angels winds
and his servants fiery flames”;[d]

but to the Son, he says,

“Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever;
you rule your Kingdom with a scepter of equity;
you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you
with the oil of joy in preference to your companions”;[e]

10 and,

“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth;
heaven is the work of your hands.
11 They will vanish, but you will remain;
like clothing, they will all grow old;
12 and you will fold them up like a coat.
Yes, they will be changed like clothing,
but you remain the same,
your years will never end.”[f]

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

“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?[g]

14 Aren’t they all merely spirits who serve, sent out to help those whom God will deliver?

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 1:5 Psalm 2:7
  2. Hebrews 1:5 2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chronicles 17:13
  3. Hebrews 1:6 Psalm 97:7
  4. Hebrews 1:7 Psalm 104:4
  5. Hebrews 1:9 Psalm 45:7–8(6–7)
  6. Hebrews 1:12 Psalm 102:26–28(25–27)
  7. Hebrews 1:13 Psalm 110:1

1-3 Going through a long line of prophets, God has been addressing our ancestors in different ways for centuries. Recently he spoke to us directly through his Son. By his Son, God created the world in the beginning, and it will all belong to the Son at the end. This Son perfectly mirrors God, and is stamped with God’s nature. He holds everything together by what he says—powerful words!

The Son Is Higher than Angels

3-6 After he finished the sacrifice for sins, the Son took his honored place high in the heavens right alongside God, far higher than any angel in rank and rule. Did God ever say to an angel, “You’re my Son; today I celebrate you” or “I’m his Father, he’s my Son”? When he presents his honored Son to the world, he says, “All angels must worship him.”

Regarding angels he says,

The messengers are winds,
    the servants are tongues of fire.

8-9 But he says to the Son,

You’re God, and on the throne for good;
    your rule makes everything right.
You love it when things are right;
    you hate it when things are wrong.
That is why God, your God,
    poured fragrant oil on your head,
Marking you out as king,
    far above your dear companions.

10-12 And again to the Son,

You, Master, started it all, laid earth’s foundations,
    then crafted the stars in the sky.
Earth and sky will wear out, but not you;
    they become threadbare like an old coat;
You’ll fold them up like a worn-out cloak,
    and lay them away on the shelf.
But you’ll stay the same, year after year;
    you’ll never fade, you’ll never wear out.

13 And did he ever say anything like this to an angel?

Sit alongside me here on my throne
Until I make your enemies a stool for your feet.

14 Isn’t it obvious that all angels are sent to help out with those lined up to receive salvation?

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