The Nature of the Son
1 Long ago God spoke(A) to our ancestors by the prophets(B) at different times and in different ways.(C) 2 In these last days,(D) he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things(E) and made the universe[a](F) through him. 3 The Son is the radiance[b] of God’s glory and the exact expression[c] of his nature,(G) sustaining all things by his powerful word.(H) After making purification for sins,[d] he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.[e](I) 4 So he became superior to the angels, just as the name he inherited is more excellent than theirs.(J)
The Son Superior to Angels
5 For to which of the angels did he ever say,
You are my Son;
today I have become your Father,[f][g]
or again,
I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son?[h](K)
6 Again, when he[i] brings his firstborn into the world,(L) he says,
And let all God’s angels worship him.[j](M)
7 And about the angels he says:
He makes his angels winds,[k]
and his servants[l] a fiery flame,[m](N)
8 but to[n] the Son:
Your throne, God,
is forever and ever,
and the scepter of your kingdom
is a scepter of justice.(O)
9 You have loved righteousness
and hated lawlessness;
this is why God, your God,
has anointed you
with the oil of joy(P)
beyond your companions.[o][p]
10 And:
In the beginning, Lord,
you established the earth,
and the heavens are the works of your hands;(Q)
11 they will perish, but you remain.
They will all wear out like clothing;(R)
12 you will roll them up like a cloak,[q]
and they will be changed like clothing.
But you are the same,
and your years will never end.[r](S)
13 Now to which of the angels has he ever said:
Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies your footstool?[s](T)
14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation?(U)
Footnotes
- 1:2 Lit ages
- 1:3 Or reflection
- 1:3 Or representation, or copy, or reproduction
- 1:3 Other mss read for our sins by himself
- 1:3 Or he sat down on high at the right hand of the Majesty
- 1:5 Or have begotten you
- 1:5 Ps 2:7
- 1:5 2Sm 7:14; 1Ch 17:13
- 1:6 Or When he again
- 1:6 Dt 32:43 LXX; Ps 97:7
- 1:7 Or spirits
- 1:7 Or ministers
- 1:7 Ps 104:4
- 1:8 Or about
- 1:9 Or associates
- 1:8–9 Ps 45:6–7
- 1:12 Other mss omit like a cloak
- 1:10–12 Ps 102:25–27
- 1:13 Ps 110:1
Cross references
- 1:1 : Jn 9:29; Heb 2:2–3
- 1:1 : 2Kg 17:13; 21:10; 24:2; Jr 7:25; 26:5; 29:19; 35:15; 44:4; Ezk 38:17; Dn 9:6; Hs 12:10; Zch 1:6; 8:9; Mt 2:23; Lk 1:70; 24:44; Ac 2:30; 3:21,24
- 1:1 : Nm 12:6,8; Jl 2:28
- 1:2 : Ac 2:17; Gl 4:4; 2Tm 3:1; 2Pt 3:3; Jd 18
- 1:2 : Jr 3:19; 10:16; Zch 8:12
- 1:2 : Ps 2:8; Jn 1:3; Col 1:16; Rv 4:11
- 1:3 : 2Co 4:4
- 1:3 : Ps 33:6
- 1:3 : Mt 22:44; Mk 16:19; Col 1:17
- 1:4 : Eph 1:21; Php 2:9
- 1:5 : 2Sm 7:14; Ps 2:7; Ac 13:33
- 1:6 : Col 1:15,18; Rv 1:5
- 1:6 : Dt 32:43; Ps 97:7
- 1:7 : Ps 104:4
- 1:8 : Ps 45:6–7
- 1:9 : Is 61:1,3; Php 2:9
- 1:10 : Ps 102:25
- 1:11 : Is 50:9; 51:6
- 1:12 : Ps 102:26–27; Heb 13:8
- 1:13 : Jos 10:24; Ps 110:1; Mt 22:44; Mk 12:36; Ac 2:34–35; Heb 10:13
- 1:14 : Ps 103:20; Mt 18:10; Heb 5:9