Hebrews 1:6 - When he again brings in the firstborn into the world he says, “Let all the angels of God worship him.” Deuteronomy 32:43 LXX
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What does "Hebrews 1:6" mean?
Hebrews 1:6 is a pivotal verse in the book of Hebrews, aiming to demonstrate the superiority of Jesus Christ over angels. To understand its meaning, let's break it down:
Understanding the Context:
Hebrews 1:1-4: The author begins by establishing that God spoke in the past through prophets, but now speaks through His Son, Jesus, who is the heir of all things, the radiance of God's glory, and the exact representation of His being. This sets the stage for Jesus' supremacy.
Hebrews 1:5: The author then begins quoting Old Testament scriptures to support the claim that Jesus is superior to angels. Verse 5 includes quotations from Psalm 2:7 and 2 Samuel 7:14, referring to Jesus as God's Son.
Hebrews 1:6: This is where the verse in question appears, building upon the argument about Jesus' divine status.
Analyzing Hebrews 1:6:
"When he again brings in the firstborn into the world..."
"He": Refers to God the Father.
"Again brings in": This phrase is subject to interpretation. It can refer to:
The Incarnation (Jesus' first coming): The author could be pointing to the moment God sent His Son into the world as a human being. Some translations render this phrase as "when he brings his firstborn into the world."
The Second Coming: Alternatively, it could refer to Jesus' future return in glory and power. In this view, the author is saying that when God brings the resurrected and glorified Jesus back into the world, a universal declaration of worship will be made.
"Firstborn": A title for Jesus, signifying His special status and inheritance as God's Son. It does not necessarily mean He was literally the first being created (see Colossians 1:15 for clarification).
"Into the world": This can refer to either the earthly realm or, in a broader sense, the created universe.
"...he says, 'Let all the angels of God worship him.'"
"He says": This refers to God's command or decree.
"Let all the angels of God worship him": This is the crucial part. The author is stating that God commands all angels to worship Jesus. This implies:
Jesus' inherent worthiness of worship: Only God is worthy of worship. By commanding angels to worship Jesus, God is indicating Jesus' divine nature and status.
Angels are subordinate to Jesus: Angels are servants of God and are commanded to worship Jesus, placing them in a position of submission.
A confirmation of Jesus' unique status: This declaration is a public acknowledgment of Jesus' authority and divinity.
"Deuteronomy 32:43 LXX": The author claims that the second half of the verse, "Let all the angels of God worship him" comes from Deuteronomy 32:43 in the Septuagint (LXX).
The Problem: The Hebrew Masoretic Text of Deuteronomy 32:43 does not contain this phrase. The Septuagint (LXX), a Greek translation of the Old Testament, does include a slightly different form of the phrase, but it is considered a textual variant.
Possible Solutions:
The author of Hebrews may have been using a different version of the LXX. There were variations within the LXX itself.
The author may be paraphrasing or drawing upon a tradition that was associated with Deuteronomy 32:43. He might be capturing the general sense of divine exaltation found in the passage and applying it to Jesus.
The author's primary focus is on the concept, not necessarily the precise wording. The key is the idea that God will be exalted among the nations, and that includes angelic worship.
Some scholars suggest that the phrase might have originally been present in the Hebrew text but was later omitted due to textual transmission issues.
Theological Implications:
Jesus is Divine: The core argument of Hebrews 1 is that Jesus is not merely a great prophet or teacher, but He is God in human flesh. The command for angels to worship Him solidifies this claim.
Jesus is Superior to Angels: Angels are powerful and glorious beings, but they are still created beings and servants of God. Jesus is the Son of God, the heir of all things, and the one through whom God created the universe. Therefore, He is superior to angels.
Worship of Jesus is Appropriate: Christians worship Jesus because He is worthy of worship. This is not idolatry but a recognition of His divine nature and His role in salvation.
In Summary:
Hebrews 1:6 emphasizes the divinity and superiority of Jesus Christ. By stating that God commands all angels to worship Jesus, the author demonstrates that Jesus is not merely a created being, but He is God incarnate. The verse builds upon the Old Testament scriptures to establish Jesus' unique status and to encourage believers to follow Him. The reference to Deuteronomy 32:43, despite textual variations, serves to connect Jesus' exaltation to the broader theme of God's glory among the nations.
Hebrews 1:6 - When he again brings in the firstborn into the world he says, “Let all the angels of God worship him.” Deuteronomy 32:43 LXX
What does "Hebrews 1:6" mean?
Hebrews 1:6 is a pivotal verse in the book of Hebrews, aiming to demonstrate the superiority of Jesus Christ over angels. To understand its meaning, let's break it down:
Understanding the Context:
Hebrews 1:1-4: The author begins by establishing that God spoke in the past through prophets, but now speaks through His Son, Jesus, who is the heir of all things, the radiance of God's glory, and the exact representation of His being. This sets the stage for Jesus' supremacy.
Hebrews 1:5: The author then begins quoting Old Testament scriptures to support the claim that Jesus is superior to angels. Verse 5 includes quotations from Psalm 2:7 and 2 Samuel 7:14, referring to Jesus as God's Son.
Hebrews 1:6: This is where the verse in question appears, building upon the argument about Jesus' divine status.
Analyzing Hebrews 1:6:
"When he again brings in the firstborn into the world..."
"He": Refers to God the Father.
"Again brings in": This phrase is subject to interpretation. It can refer to:
The Incarnation (Jesus' first coming): The author could be pointing to the moment God sent His Son into the world as a human being. Some translations render this phrase as "when he brings his firstborn into the world."
The Second Coming: Alternatively, it could refer to Jesus' future return in glory and power. In this view, the author is saying that when God brings the resurrected and glorified Jesus back into the world, a universal declaration of worship will be made.
"Firstborn": A title for Jesus, signifying His special status and inheritance as God's Son. It does not necessarily mean He was literally the first being created (see Colossians 1:15 for clarification).
"Into the world": This can refer to either the earthly realm or, in a broader sense, the created universe.
"...he says, 'Let all the angels of God worship him.'"
"He says": This refers to God's command or decree.
"Let all the angels of God worship him": This is the crucial part. The author is stating that God commands all angels to worship Jesus. This implies:
Jesus' inherent worthiness of worship: Only God is worthy of worship. By commanding angels to worship Jesus, God is indicating Jesus' divine nature and status.
Angels are subordinate to Jesus: Angels are servants of God and are commanded to worship Jesus, placing them in a position of submission.
A confirmation of Jesus' unique status: This declaration is a public acknowledgment of Jesus' authority and divinity.
"Deuteronomy 32:43 LXX": The author claims that the second half of the verse, "Let all the angels of God worship him" comes from Deuteronomy 32:43 in the Septuagint (LXX).
The Problem: The Hebrew Masoretic Text of Deuteronomy 32:43 does not contain this phrase. The Septuagint (LXX), a Greek translation of the Old Testament, does include a slightly different form of the phrase, but it is considered a textual variant.
Possible Solutions:
The author of Hebrews may have been using a different version of the LXX. There were variations within the LXX itself.
The author may be paraphrasing or drawing upon a tradition that was associated with Deuteronomy 32:43. He might be capturing the general sense of divine exaltation found in the passage and applying it to Jesus.
The author's primary focus is on the concept, not necessarily the precise wording. The key is the idea that God will be exalted among the nations, and that includes angelic worship.
Some scholars suggest that the phrase might have originally been present in the Hebrew text but was later omitted due to textual transmission issues.
Theological Implications:
Jesus is Divine: The core argument of Hebrews 1 is that Jesus is not merely a great prophet or teacher, but He is God in human flesh. The command for angels to worship Him solidifies this claim.
Jesus is Superior to Angels: Angels are powerful and glorious beings, but they are still created beings and servants of God. Jesus is the Son of God, the heir of all things, and the one through whom God created the universe. Therefore, He is superior to angels.
Worship of Jesus is Appropriate: Christians worship Jesus because He is worthy of worship. This is not idolatry but a recognition of His divine nature and His role in salvation.
In Summary:
Hebrews 1:6 emphasizes the divinity and superiority of Jesus Christ. By stating that God commands all angels to worship Jesus, the author demonstrates that Jesus is not merely a created being, but He is God incarnate. The verse builds upon the Old Testament scriptures to establish Jesus' unique status and to encourage believers to follow Him. The reference to Deuteronomy 32:43, despite textual variations, serves to connect Jesus' exaltation to the broader theme of God's glory among the nations.