1In the past, God spoke to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways. 2At the end of these days, he has spoken to us in his Son whom he has appointed heir of all things and through whom he [had] made the ages. 3His Son is the radiance of his glory, the exact counterpart2112 of his person,2113 upholding all things by the word of his power.2114 When he had by himself2115 made purification for our sins,2116 he sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4having become much better2117 than the angels as the Name he has inherited2118 is superior to theirs. 5For to which of the angels did God2119 ever say:
You are my Son.
Today I have begotten you.2120
and again:
I will be a Father to him,
and he will be a Son to me?2121
6Also, when he brings the firstborn into the world, God says:
“Let all the angels of God express adoration to2122 him.”2123
7Of the angels, God2124 says:
Who makes his angels spirits,
and his servants a flame of fire;2125
The Son as the enthroned Messiah-King
8but of the Son he says:
Your throne, O God,2126 is unto ages of ages!
The scepter of justice is the scepter of your Kingdom.
9You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your companions.2127
The Son as eternal creator
10And:
You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth.
The heavens are the works of your hands.
11They will perish, but you continue.
They all will grow old as a garment,2128
12As a mantle, you will roll them up,
and they will be changed;
but you are the same.
Your years will not fail.2129
13Indeed, to which of the angels did he ever say,
Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet?2130
14Are the angels2131 not all ministering spirits, sent out to serve for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
Warning not to neglect salvation
- The Greek carakth.r conveys the idea of the imprint of seal in wax.
- Hypostasis conveys the idea of “person,” not “substance” (an alternative rendering) in Orthodox theology.
- Compare this entire passage with Wisdom 7:25-26. Both use the rare Greek word avpau,gasma
- CT omits “by himself”
- A reference to the ritual of the day of atonement performed by the high priest
- Or “superior/greater”
- Compare Philippians 2:9-10
- Greek “he,” here and in verse 6
- Psalm 2:7. Or “begotten you”
- 2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chronicles 17:13
- proskuneo can also be translated “worship (in the broad sense),” “venerate,” “fall down in reverence,” “do obeisance” (see NT introduction regarding proskuneo)
- Deuteronomy 32:43. NT agrees with LXX against MT.
- Greek “he”
- Psalm 104:4/103 LXX
- There are instances where ho theos means “O God” (Heb. 10:7), which is why this verse can properly be translated as indicated. St. John Chrysostom does argue that the Son is called ho theos in this verse (PNF Vol. 14, p. 376). However, it should be noted that the most statistically and linguistically probable reading is “Your throne is God to ages of ages.”
- Psalm 45:6-7/44 LXX
- NT agrees with LXX against MT.
- Psalm 102:25-27/101 LXX (these verses are applied to YHWH in the OT)
- Psalm 110:1/109 LXX
- Greek “they”
Text: The Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible, New Testament (EOB). Used with permission.
