Hebrews 1:7

Hebrews 1:7 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
• New International Version (NIV)In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire."
• New King James Version (NKJV)And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.”

Context of Hebrews 1:7

5For 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”? 6And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all God’s angels worship Him.” Now about the angels He says: “He makes His angels winds, His servants flames of fire.” 8But about the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom. 9You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You above Your companions with the oil of joy.”

Hebrews 1:7 word by word

καὶ πρὸς μὲν τοὺς ἀγγέλους λέγει· ὁ ποιῶν τοὺς ἀγγέλους αὐτοῦ πνεύματα καὶ τοὺς λειτουργοὺς αὐτοῦ πυρὸς φλόγα·Read the interlinear

• Nowκαίkai · andG2532
• Nowμένmen · on the other handG3303
• aboutπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• angelsἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
• He saysλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• makesποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• Hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• windsπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: breathG4151
• servantsλειτουργόςleitourgos · ministerG3011
• flamesφλόξphlox · flameG5395
• of fireπῦρpur · fireG4442

Cross-references for Hebrews 1:7

• Hebrews 1:14Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
• 2 Kings 2:11As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up into heaven in a whirlwind.
• 2 Kings 6:17Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
• Psalms 104:4He makes the winds His messengers, flames of fire His servants.
• Isaiah 6:2Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.
• Ezekiel 1:13In the midst of the living creatures was the appearance of glowing coals of fire, or of torches. Fire moved back and forth between the living creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it.
• Daniel 7:10A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.
• Zechariah 6:5And the angel told me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going forth from their station before the Lord of all the earth.

Commentaries on Hebrews 1:7

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Who maketh his angels spirits - They are so far from being superior to Christ, that they are not called God's sons in any peculiar sense, but his servants, as tempests and lightnings are. In many respects they may have been made inferior even to man as he came out of the hands of his Maker, for he was made in the image and likeness of God; but of the angels, even the highest order of them, this is never spoken. It is very likely that the apostle refers…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits - He gives to them an inferior name, and assigns to them a more humble office. They are mere ministers, and have not ascribed to them the name of “Son.” They have a name which implies a more humble rank and office - the name “spirit,” and the appellation of a “flame of fire.” They obey his will as the winds and the lightnings do. The “object” of the apostle in this passage is to show that the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-14Verses 4-14 Many Jews had a superstitious or idolatrous respect for angels, because they had received the law and other tidings of the Divine will by their ministry. They looked upon them as mediators between God and men, and some went so far as to pay them a kind of religious homage or worship. Thus it was necessary that the apostle should insist, not only on Christ's being the Creator of all things, and therefore of angels themselves, but as being the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7This verse quotes Psalm 104:4 to show that angels are messengers or servants. They have a lower rank than the Son, whom they serve. In the Old Testament, angels are sometimes associated with winds and fire (see Exodus 3:2; Judges 6:21; 13:16, 20; 2 Samuel 22:11; Psalms 18:10; 35:5). This shows the angels’ connection with God’s rule over nature.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. 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…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 1:7

• Angel (a Spirit)
• Quotations and Allusions

In the dictionaries

• Flame of fire
• Angel
• Bitter
• Ministering
• Canon of the New Testament
• Gershom
• Hebrews, Epistle to the
• Inspiration
• Mediation; Mediator
• Of

Commentaries on Hebrews 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings