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Hebrews 1:7
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The Son Exalted Above Angels

5 For to which of the angels did He ever say:
a“You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You”? And again:
b“I will be to Him a Father,
And He shall be to Me a Son”?  
6 But when He again brings athe firstborn into the world, He says:
b“Let all the angels of God worship Him.”  
7 And of the angels He says:
a“Who makes His angels spirits
And His ministers a flame of fire.”  
8 But to the Son He sa1ys:
a“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. 
9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God, Your God, ahas anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”  
10 And:
a“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 
11 aThey will perish, but You remain;
And bthey will all grow old like a garment; 
Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
<< Hebrews 1:6   Hebrews 1:8 >>


Hebrews 1:7

of—The Greek is rather, "In reference TO the angels."

spirits—or "winds": Who employeth His angels as the winds, His ministers as the lightnings; or, He maketh His angelic ministers the directing powers of winds and flames, when these latter are required to perform His will. "Commissions them to assume the agency or form of flames for His purposes" [ALFORD]. English Version, "maketh His angels spirits," means, He maketh them of a subtle, incorporeal nature, swift as the wind. So Psalms 18:10, "a cherub . . . the wings of the wind." Hebrews 1:14, "ministering spirits," favors English Version here. As "spirits" implies the wind-like velocity and subtle nature of the cherubim, so "flame of fire" expresses the burning devotion and intense all-consuming zeal of the adoring seraphim (meaning "burning), Isaiah 6:1. The translation, "maketh winds His messengers, and a flame of fire His ministers (!)," is plainly wrong. In the Psalms 104:3-4, the subject in each clause comes first, and the attribute predicated of it second; so the Greek article here marks "angels" and "ministers" as the subjects, and "winds" and "flame of fire," predicates, Schemoth Rabba says, "God is called God of Zebaoth (the heavenly hosts), because He does what He pleases with His angels. When He pleases, He makes them to sit (Judges 6:11); at other times to stand (Isaiah 6:2); at times to resemble women (Zechariah 5:9); at other times to resemble men (Genesis 18:2); at times He makes them 'spirits'; at times, fire." "Maketh" implies that, however exalted, they are but creatures, whereas the Son is the Creator (Hebrews 1:10): not begotten from everlasting, nor to be worshipped, as the Son (Revelation 14:7; Revelation 22:8-9).




Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Hebrews 1:7:

Psalms 104:4
Zechariah 6:5
Hebrews 1:1
Hebrews 1:2
Hebrews 1:4
Hebrews 1:14
Hebrews 2:1
Hebrews 11:18
Hebrews 13:21

 

<< Hebrews 1:6   Hebrews 1:8 >>

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