Hebrews 1

Hebrews · Chapter 1

Hebrews 1:3

1God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,2Hath 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;3Who 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;4Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.5For 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?6And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.7And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.8But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.9Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.10And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:11They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;12And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.13But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?14Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
3Who 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;The Son is the radiance of God’s 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.who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Hebrews 1:1-4God has spoken by his Son

About Hebrews 1God, who spoke "in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son," the heir of all things, by whom he made the worlds. The Son is "the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person," and "when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high." Quoting the Psalms and other scriptures, the writer shows the Son is "so much better than the angels": the angels worship him, he is addressed "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever," and the angels are "ministering spirits" for the heirs of salvation. Hebrews 1:1Hebrews 1:2Hebrews 1:3Hebrews 1:4Hebrews 1:6Hebrews 1:8Hebrews 1:14

Why this verse matters hereThe Son is "the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power." Hebrews 1:3

Who, where and when in this chapter

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
whoὃςhosG3739
which

ὅς (hos, hē) ὅς, ἥ, ὅ, the postpositive article (ἄρθρον ὑποτακτικόν). I. As demonstr. pron. = οὗτος, ὅδε, this, that, also for αὐτός, chiefly in nom.: ὅς δέ, but he (cf. ἦ δὲ ὅς, frequently in Plat.), Mrk.15:23, Jhn.5:11; ὃς μὲν . . . ὃς δέ, the one . . . the other, Mat.21:35, 22:5, 25:15, Luk.23:33, Act.27:14, Rom.14:5, 1Co.11:21, 2Co.2:18, Ju 22; neut., ὃ μὲν . . . ὃ δέ, the one . . . the other, some . . . some, Mat.13:8, 23, Rom.9:21; ὃς (ὃ) μὲν . . . (ἄλλος (ἄλλο)) . . . ἕτερος, Mrk.4:4, Luk.8:5, 1Co.12:8-10; οὓς μέν, absol., 1Co.12:28; ὃς μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, Rom.14:2. …

beingὢνōnG1510
you are

εἶ (ei) εἰμί, with various uses and significations, like the English verb to be. I. As substantive verb. 1. Of persons and things, to be, exist: Act.17:28, Jhn.1:1, 8:58, 17:5, al; ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν (for past ptcp.), Rev.1:4, 8, 4:8, 11:17, 16:5 (see Swete, Ap., 5; M, Pr., 228); τὰ (μὴ) ὄντα, Rom.4:17, 1Co.1:28. 2. Of times, events, etc., to be, happen, take place: Mat.24:3, Mrk.14:2, 15:42, Luk.21:23, Jhn.4:6, 23, 5:10, al. …

[the] radianceἀπαύγασμαapaugasmaG0541
radiance

ἀπαύγασμα (apaugasma) ἀπ-αύγασμα, -τος, τό (αὐγή, brightness, whence ἀπαυγάζω, to radiate or reflect) [in LXX: Wis.7:26 * ;] of light beaming from a luminous body, radiance, effulgence: Heb.1:3.† (AS)

of [His] gloryδόξηςdoxēsG1391
glory

δόξα (doxa) δόξα, -ης, ἡ (δοκέω), [in LXX very frequently for כָּבוֹד, also for הוֹד ,פִּפְאֶרֶת, etc., 25 words in all ;] in cl., 1. expectation, judgment, opinion (4Ma.5:18). 2. opinion, estimation in which one is held, repute; in NT, always good opinion, hence reputation, praise, honour, glory: Luk.14:10, Jhn.12:43, Heb.3:3; opposite to αἰσχύνη, Php.3:19; to ἀτιμία, 2Co.6:8; δ. κ. τιμή, Rom.2:7, 10 1Pe.1:7, 2Pe.1:17; ζητεῖν, Jhn.5:44 7:18 8:50, 1Th.2:6; λαμβάνειν, Jhn.5:41, 2Pe.1:17, Rev.5:12; διδόναι δ. τ. θεῷ (cf. נָתַן כָּבוֹד לַיהוָֹה, Jer.13:16, al.), Luk.17:18, Jhn.9:24, Act.12:23, Rom.4:20, …

andκαὶkaiG2532
and

καί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. …

[the] exact expressionχαρακτὴρcharaktērG5481
reproduction

χαρακτήρ (charaktēr) χαρακτήρ, -ῆρος, ὁ (χαράσσω, to engrave), [in LXX: Lev.13:28 (צָרֶבֶת), 2Ma.4:10, 4Ma.15:4 א R * ;] 1. a tool for graving. 2. a stamp or impress: as on a coin or seal; metaphorically, χ. τ. ὑποστάσεως, Heb.1:3.† (AS)

substanceὑποστάσεωςhupostaseōsG5287
confidence/essence

ὑπόστασις (hupostasis) ὑπό-στασις, -εως, ἡ (ὑφίστημι, to set under, stand under, support) [in LXX for מַצָּב (1Ki.13:23 14:4 B), תִּקְוָה (Rut.1:12, Eze.19:5), etc., also in Wis.16:21 ;] 1. a support, base or foundation (in various senses). 2. substance (Arist., al.; opposite to φαντασία, ἔμφασις): Heb.1:3 3. steadiness, firmness (Polyb., al.), hence, assurance, confidence: 2Co.9:4 11:17, Heb.3:14 11:1 (here perhaps title-deed, as that which gives reality or guarantee; see MM, xxv).† (AS)

of Him,αὐτοῦ,autouG0846
it/s/he

αὐτός (autos) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; …

upholdingφέρωνpherōnG5342
to bear/lead

φέρω (pherō) φέρω [in LXX chiefly for בּוֹא. hi., also for נָשָׂא, etc. ;] to bear; 1. to bear, carry: with accusative, Luk.23:26 24:1, Jhn.19:39, Heb.1:3 (see Westc., in l); pass., Act.2:2 27:15, 17 Heb.6:1, 2Pe.1:17-18; of the mind, 2Pe.1:21. 2. to bear, endure: with accusative of thing(s), Heb.12:20 13:13; with accusative of person(s), Rom.9:22. …

thenτεteG5037
and/both

τε (te) τέ, enclitic copulative particle (= Lat. -que as καί = and, ac, atque, not very frequently in NT, more than two-thirds of the occurrences being in Ac. 1. τέ solitarium, and, denoting a closer affinity than καί between words and sentences which it connects (BL, §77, 8): Mat.28:12, Jhn.4:42, Act.2:33, 37 40 10:22 11:21, al. 2. Denoting a closer connection than simple καί, τὲ . . . καί, τὲ καί, τὲ . . . τέ (Act.26:16 Rom.14:8), as well . . . as also, both . . . and: Luk.12:45, Act.1:1 15:9, 21:30, al.; τὲ . . . δέ, and . . . and, Act.19:2; τὲ γάρ . . . ὁμοίως δὲ καί, Rom.1:26, 27. (AS)

all thingsπάνταpantaG3956
all

πᾶς (pas) πᾶς, πᾶσα, πᾶν, genitive, παντός, πάσης, παντός, [in LXX chiefly for כֹּל ;] all, every. I. As adj., 1. with subst. anarth., all, every, of every kind: Mat.3:10 4:23, Mrk.9:49, Luk.4:37, Jhn.2:1o, Act.27:20, Rom.7:8, Rev.18:17, al. mult.; pl., all, Act.22:15, Rom.5:12, Heb.1:6, al.; of the highest degree, π. ἐξουσία (προθυμία, χαρά), Mat.28:18, Act.17:11, Phi 2:29, al.; also the whole (though in this sense more frequently with art.), Mat.2:3, Act.2:36, Rom.11:26. …

declarationῥήματιrhēmatiG4487
declaration

ῥῆμα (rhēma) ῥῆμα, -τος, τό [in LXX chiefly for דָּבָר, also for פֶּה, and Aram. פִּתְגָּם, etc. ;] 1. prop., of that which is said or spoken, (a) a word: Mat.27:14, 2Co.12:4; pl., τὰ ῥ., of speech, discourse, Luk.7:1, Jhn.8:20, Act.2:14, Rom.10:18, 2Pe.3:2, al.; (b) opposite to ὄνομα (a single word), a saying, statement, word of prophecy, instruction or command (in cl., phrase): Mat.26:75, Mrk.9:32, Luk.1:38 2:50, Act.11:16, Rom.10:8, Heb.11:3; ῥ. θεοῦ (κυρίου), Luk.3:2, Act.11:16, Eph.6:17, Heb.6:5 11:3, 1Pe.1:25" (LXX) ; τὰ ῥ. τ. θεοῦ, Jhn.3:34 8:47; ῥ. ἀργόν, Mat.12:36;ῥ. ἄρρητα, 2Co.12:4. …

powerδυνάμεωςdunameōsG1411
power

δύναμις (dunamis) δύναμις, -εως, ἡ (δύναμαι), [in LXX for עֹז ,גּבוּרָה ,צָבָה ,(חֵיל) חַיִל, etc.; 35 words in all ;] power, might, strength; relatively, ability, power to perform: Mat.25:15, Act.3:12, Heb.11:11; κατὰ δ., 2Co.8:3; παρὰ δ., ib.; ὑπὲρ δ., 2Co.1:8; of pecuniary ability, 2Co.8:3, Rev.18:3; absol., power, might: Luk.24:49, Act.1:8; opposite to ἀσθένεια, 1Co.15:43; ἡ δ. τ. ἁμαρτίας, 1Co.15:56; of power in action, Rom.1:16, 20 1Co.1:18, Php.3:10, al.; ἡ δ. τ. θεοῦ, Mat.22:29, Mrk.12:24, Rom.1:20, al.; opposite to μόρφωσις, 2Ti.3:5; in doxologies, Rev.4:11 7:12, al.; ἐν δ., Mrk.9:1, Luk.4:36, Rom.1: …

of HimαὐτοῦautouG0846
it/s/he

αὐτός (autos) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; …

throughδι᾽di᾽G1223
through/because of

διά (dia) διά (before a vowel δ᾽, exc. Rom.8:10, 2Co.5:7, and in (Proper name)s; Tdf., Pr., 94), prep. with genitive, accusative, as in cl.; 1. with genitive, through; (i) of Place, after verbs of motion or action: Mat.2:12 12:43, Mrk.2:23, Luk.4:30, Jhn.4:4, 2Co.11:33, al.; σώζεσθαι (διας-) δ. πυρός, ὕδατος, 1Co.3:15, 1Pe.3:20; βλέπειν δ. ἐσόπτρου, 1Co.13:12; metaphorically, of a state or condition: Rom.14:20, 2Co.2:4 5:7, 10; δ. γράμματος, ἀκροβυστίας (Lft., Notes, 263, 279), Rom.2:27 4:11; δι ̓ὑπομενῆς, Rom.8:25. (ii) Of Time; …

himselfἑαυτοῦ,he'autouG1438
/him/herself

αὑτοῦ (ahutou) αὑτοῦ, -ῆς, -οῦ = ἑαυτοῦ (which see), Mat.6:34, Luk.12:17, al. (MM, see word) (AS)

[the] purificationκαθαρισμὸνkatharismonG2512
cleansing

καθαρισμός (katharismos) καθαρισμός, -oῦ, τό (καθαρίζω). [in LXX for טָהֵר, טׇהֳרָה, etc. ;] cleansing, purification: Jhn.3:25; with genitive subjc., τ. Ἰουδαίων, Jhn.2:6; with genitive obj., of women after childbirth, Luk.2:22; of lepers, Mrk.1:44, Luk.5:14; with genitive of thing(s), τ. ἁμαρτιῶν, Heb.1:3, 2Pe.1:9 (Cremer, 319).† (AS)

of sinsἁμαρτιῶνhamartiōnG0266
sin

ἁμαρτία (hamartia) ἁμαρτία, -ας, ἡ (ἁμαρτάνω, which see), [in LXX chiefly for חַטָּאת and cogn. forms, also for פֶּשַׁע ,עָוֹן, etc. ;] prop. a missing the mark; in cl. (see reff. to CR in MM, VGT, see word); (a) guilt, sin (Plat., Arist., al.); (b) more freq., from Æsch. down, a fault, failure. In NT (as LXX) always in ethical sense; …

having madeποιησάμενοςpoiēsamenosG4160G
to do/make: do

ποιέω (poieō) ποιέω, -ῶ, [in LXX for a great variety of words, but chiefly for עשׂה ;] 1. to make, produce, create, cause: with accusative of thing(s), Mat.17:4, Mrk.9:5, Jhn.9:11, Act.9:39, Rom.9:20, al.; of God as Creator (with accusative of person(s) also), Mat.19:4, Mrk.10:6, Luk.11:40, Act.4:24, Heb.1:2, al.; like Heb. עשׂה, absol. = ἐργάζομαι, to work, Mat.20:12 (cf. Rut.2:19; so AV, but see infr.), Rev.13:5, R, mg. (but see infr.); σκάνδαλα, Rom.16:17; εἰρεήνην, Eph.2:15, Jas.3:18; ἐπίστασιν, Act.24:12; συστροφήν, Act.23:12; with accusative of thing(s) and dative of person(s), Luk.1:68, Act.15:3; w …

of usἡμῶνhēmōnG3165
me

μέ (me) 1. apostrophe for με. 2. rarely for μοι, (Homer) (ML)

sat downἐκάθισενekathisenG2523
to seat

καθίζω (kathizō) καθ-ίζω [in LXX chiefly for יָשַׁב ;] 1. causal, to make to sit down, set, appoint: Act.2:30, 1Co.6:4, Eph.1:20. 2. Intrans., to sit down, be seated, sit: Mat.5:1, Mrk.9:35, Luk.7:15, Jhn.8:2, al.; with inf. tel., 1Co.10:7; before εἰς, 2Th.2:4; ἐπί, with accusative, Mrk.11:2, Jhn.12:14; id. with genitive, Jhn.19:13, Act.12:21; ὧδε, Mrk.14:32; αὐτοῦ, Mat.26:36; ἐν δεξιᾷ, Heb.1:3; ἐκ δεξιῶν, Mat.20:21, 23; ἐν, Rev.3:21; καθίσας pleonastic (M, Pro.14:1-35; Dalman, Words, 22), Mat.13:48, Luk.5:3 14:31 16:6; of settling in a place (ἐς χωρίον, Thuc., iv, 93), before ἐν, Luk.24:49 (cf. ἀνα-, ἐπι-, …

atἐνenG1722
in/on/among

ἐν (en) ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; af …

[the] right handδεξιᾷdexiaG1188
right

δεξιός (dexios) δεξιός, -ά, -όν [in LXX chiefly for יָמִין ;] the right: Mat.5:29, Jhn.18:10, al.; ὅπλα δ., weapons carried in the right hand, i.e. for offence, 2Co.6:7 ; ἡ δ. χείρ, Mat.5:30, Luk.6:6, al.; ἡ δ. (sc. χείρ), Mat.6:3, al.; ἐπὶ τὴν δ., in the right hand (R, txt., on R, mg.), Rev.5:1; διδόναι τὴν δ., in friend­ship (Deiss., BS, 251), Gal.2:9; metaphorically of power, τῇ δ. αὐτοῦ, Act.2:33 5:31; τὰ δ., the right side, Mrk.16:5; ἐκ δεξιῶν, on the right hand, with genitive, Mat.25:33, 34, Mrk.15:27, Luk.1:11, al.; of a place of honour in the Messianic Kingdom (cf. 3Ki.2:19, Psa.44(45):10), καθίσαι …

MajestyμεγαλωσύνηςmegalōsunēsG3172
majesty

μεγαλωσύνη (megalōsunē) μεγαλωσύνη, -ης, ἡ (μέγας) [in LXX chiefly for גְּדוּלָה and cogn. forms, 2Ki.7:23, Psa.145:3, al. ;] greatness, majesty: Heb.1:3 8:1, Ju 25 (elsewhere Eccl. only).† (AS)

onἐνenG1722
in/on/among

ἐν (en) ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; af …

highὑψηλοῖςhupsēloisG5308
high

ὑψηλός (hupsēlos) ὑψηλός, -ή, -όν [in LXX chiefly for בָּמָה, also for בָּמָה, רוּם, etc. ;] high, lofty: ὄρος, Mat.4:8 17:1, Mrk.9:2, Rev.21:10; τεῖχος, Rev.21:12; μετὰ βραχίονος., figuratively, Act.13:17 (cf. Exo.6:6, al); pl., ὑψηλά, of heaven (Psa.93:4, Isa.33:5, al.), Heb.1:3; compar., ὑψηλότερος τ. οὐρανῶν, Heb.7:26. Metaph: Luk.16:15; ὑψηλὰ ψρσνεῖν, Rom.11:20 12:16, 1Ti.6:17 (WH, txt., ὑψηλοφρονείν).† (AS)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.