Hebrews 1

¹In many portions and in many ways, God spoke long ago to the fathers through the prophets. ²At the end of these days he has spoken to us through a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also made the ages. ³He is the radiance of God's glory and the imprint of his being, and he carries all things by the word of power. After making purification for sins through himself, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ⁴having become as much better than the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

⁵For to which of the angels did he ever say, “You are my Son; today I have fathered you”? And again, “I will be a Father to him, and he will be a Son to me”? ⁶And when he again brings the firstborn into the inhabited world, he says, “Let all God's angels worship him.” ⁷Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds and his servants a flame of fire.” ⁸But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. ⁹You loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, your God, anointed you with the oil of rejoicing beyond your companions.”

¹⁰And, “You, Lord, laid the earth's foundation in the beginning, and the heavens are the works of your hands. ¹¹They will perish, but you remain. They will all grow old like a garment, ¹²and you will roll them up like a cloak; like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will never end.”

¹³And to which of the angels has he ever said, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? ¹⁴Are they not all spirits in service, sent out to serve for the sake of those who are going to inherit salvation?

Translation notes 4

1:1–3 — God's speaking and the Son. The opening contrasts the many earlier portions and ways of revelation with speech through a Son. “The fathers” means the ancestors. “The ages” can encompass the created universe through its history, rather than time alone; the same expression returns at 11:3. “Imprint” pictures an exact impression. “Radiance” can also be understood as reflected brightness. This Greek base reads “the word of power” and “through himself”; the more familiar text has “his powerful word” without the latter phrase.

1:5–6 — Son and firstborn. The quotations draw on Psalm 2:7, 2 Samuel 7:14, and the Greek scriptural wording associated with Deuteronomy 32:43. “Fathered” preserves the birth language without deciding how “today” relates to the Son's existence or exaltation. “Again” may describe a renewed bringing of the firstborn into the world, as printed, or introduce another quotation: “And again, when he brings …” “Firstborn” expresses the Son's status; the verse does not explain the timing of his origin.

1:7–9 — Winds and the throne. The quotations are from Psalms 104:4 and 45:6–7. The word rendered “winds” can mean “spirits”; winds and flame fit the scriptural imagery. “Your throne, O God” takes “God” as direct address to the Son. “God is your throne” is a grammatical alternative, but the direct address is preferred in this contrast. “Your God” is retained in verse 9 rather than explained away.

1:10–14 — The enduring Lord. Psalm 102:25–27 is applied here in the chain of statements about the Son; its clothing image is preserved. Psalm 110:1 supplies the enthronement and footstool language that recurs throughout Hebrews. Angels are described as serving spirits; the passage's contrast concerns the Son's superior position, not a denial that angels serve God.