HEB 1:1-14

The Supremacy of the Son

1God, having spoken long ago in many portions and in many ways to the fathers through the prophets, [1:2] has in these last days spoken to us through a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also made the ages. [1:3] He is the radiance of his glory and the exact imprint of his substance, sustaining all things by the word of his power. Having made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, [1:4] having become as much greater than the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. [1:5] For 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"? [1:6] And again, when he brings the firstborn into the inhabited world, he says, "And let all the angels of God worship him." [1:7] And concerning the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, and his servants a flame of fire." [1:8] But concerning the Son: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. [1:9] You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions." [1:10] And, "You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands. [1:11] They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, [1:12] and like a robe you will roll them up, and like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will not fail." [1:13] 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"? [1:14] Are they not all ministering spirits sent out for service on behalf of those who are about to inherit salvation?

In the world it was spoken into

The opening of Hebrews addresses a Jewish audience steeped in Second-Temple thought, where divine revelation was understood as mediated through prophets and angels. The author contrasts this fragmented revelation with the definitive revelation in the Son, described as the 'radiance' of God’s glory and the 'exact imprint' of His essence. These terms evoke imagery of divine splendor and precision, resonating with Jewish conceptions of God’s transcendent nature. The Son’s role as heir and creator of the ages positions Him above all created beings, including angels, who were seen as intermediaries of God’s will. The mention of purification of sins and sitting at God’s right hand draws on royal and priestly motifs, emphasizing the Son’s unique authority and redemptive work. For the audience, this would challenge their assumptions about revelation and mediation, elevating the Son as the ultimate expression of God’s presence and purpose.

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How other translations render this

HEB 1:1

KJV: God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
BSB: On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets.
Koinōnos: God, having spoken long ago in many portions and in many ways to the fathers through the prophets,

HEB 1:2

KJV: Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
BSB: But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.
Koinōnos: has in these last days spoken to us through a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also made the ages.

HEB 1:3

KJV: Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
BSB: The Son is the radiance of Godʼs glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Koinōnos: He is the radiance of his glory and the exact imprint of his substance, sustaining all things by the word of his power. Having made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

HEB 1:4

KJV: Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
BSB: So He became as far superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is excellent beyond theirs.
Koinōnos: having become as much greater than the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

HEB 1:5

KJV: For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
BSB: For to which of the angels did God ever say: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father”? Or again: “I will be His Father, and He will be My Son”?
Koinōnos: For 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"?

HEB 1:6

KJV: And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
BSB: And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all Godʼs angels worship Him.”
Koinōnos: And again, when he brings the firstborn into the inhabited world, he says, "And let all the angels of God worship him.

HEB 1:7

KJV: And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
BSB: Now about the angels He says: “He makes His angels winds, His servants flames of fire.”
Koinōnos: And concerning the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, and his servants a flame of fire.

HEB 1:8

KJV: But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
BSB: But about the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.
Koinōnos: But concerning the Son: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.

HEB 1:9

KJV: Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
BSB: You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You above Your companions with the oil of joy.”
Koinōnos: You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.

HEB 1:10

KJV: And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
BSB: And: “In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
Koinōnos: And, "You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands.

HEB 1:11

KJV: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
BSB: They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment.
Koinōnos: They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment,

HEB 1:12

KJV: And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
BSB: You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed; but You remain the same, and Your years will never end.”
Koinōnos: and like a robe you will roll them up, and like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will not fail.

HEB 1:13

KJV: But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
BSB: Yet to which of the angels did God ever say: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet”?
Koinōnos: 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"?

HEB 1:14

KJV: Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
BSB: Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Koinōnos: Are they not all ministering spirits sent out for service on behalf of those who are about to inherit salvation?

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

HEB 1:3

[the] radiance:The word translated 'radiance' refers to light shining forth from a source, not merely reflected light. It emphasizes the Son's direct emanation from God.
[the] exact expression:The term translated 'exact expression' originally referred to the impression made by a stamp or die, like on a coin. It conveys a precise, identical reproduction of the original.
substance:The word translated 'substance' here carries the sense of underlying reality or essential nature. It refers to the fundamental being that supports and defines something.
declaration:The word translated 'declaration' refers to a spoken word or utterance, often with the implication of a divine pronouncement or command, rather than just any statement.