Hebrews 1:4

Hebrews 1:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
• New International Version (NIV)So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
• English Standard Version (ESV)having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
• New King James Version (NKJV)having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Context of Hebrews 1:4

2In these last days he has spoken to us through his Son. God made his Son responsible for everything. His Son is the one through whom God made the universe. 3His Son is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact likeness of God’s being. He holds everything together through his powerful words. After he had cleansed people from their sins, he now holds the honored position—the one next to the majestic God [the Father] on the heavenly throne. The Son has become greater than the angels since he has been given a name that is superior to theirs. 5God never said to any of his angels, “You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.” And God never said to any of his angels, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son.” 6When God was about to send his firstborn Son into the world, he said, “All of God’s angels must worship him.”

Hebrews 1:4 word by word

τοσούτῳ κρείττων γενόμενος τῶν ἀγγέλων, ὅσῳ διαφορώτερον παρ᾽ αὐτοὺς κεκληρονόμηκεν ὄνομα.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Being madeγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• so muchτοσοῦτοςtosoutos · so greatG5118
• betterκρείττωνkreittōn · strongerG2909
• than the angelsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• than the angelsἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
• asὅσοςhosos · just as/how muchG3745
• he hath by inheritance obtainedκληρονομέωklēronomeō · to inheritG2816
• a more excellentδιάφοροςdiaphoros · differentG1313
• nameὄνομαonoma · nameG3686
• thanπαράpara · from/with/besideG3844
• theyαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846

Cross-references for Hebrews 1:4

• Hebrews 1:9You have loved what is right and hated what is wrong. That is why God, your God, anointed you, rather than your companions, with the oil of joy.”
• Hebrews 2:9Jesus was made a little lower than the angels, but we see him crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death. Through God’s kindness he died on behalf of everyone.
• Ephesians 1:21He is far above all rulers, authorities, powers, lords, and all other names that can be named, not only in this present world but also in the world to come.
• Colossians 1:18He is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, the first to come back to life so that he would have first place in everything.
• Colossians 2:10and God has made you complete in Christ. Christ is in charge of every ruler and authority.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:7It is also right for God to give all of us relief from our suffering. He will do this when the Lord Jesus is revealed, ⌞coming⌟ from heaven with his mighty angels in a blazing fire.
• 1 Peter 3:22Now Christ has gone to heaven where he holds the honored position—the one next to God the Father on the throne. Angels, rulers, and powers have been placed under his authority.
• Revelation 5:11Then I heard the voices of many angels, the four living creatures, and the leaders surrounding the throne. They numbered ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands times thousands.
• Psalms 2:7I will announce the Lord’s decree. He said to me: “You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.
• Philippians 2:9This is why God has given him an exceptional honor— the name honored above all other names—

Commentaries on Hebrews 1:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4So much better than the angels - Another argument in favor of the Divinity of our Lord. The Jews had the highest opinion of the transcendent excellence of angels, they even associate them with God in the creation of the world, and suppose them to be of the privy council of the Most High; and thus they understand Genesis 1:26; : Let us make man in our own image, in our own likeness; "And the Lord said to the ministering angels that stood before him, and…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Being made so much better - Being exalted so much above the angels. The word “better” here does not refer to moral character, but to exaltation of rank. As Mediator; as the Son of God in our nature, he is exalted far above the angels. Than the angels - Than all angels of every rank; see notes on Ephesians 1:21; compare 1 Peter 3:22. “Angels, and authorities, and powers being made subject unto him.” He is exalted to his mediatorial throne, and all things…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. 4The Son's high position shows that the Son is much greater than the angels in status or rank. First-century Jews admired angels and respected them greatly. By comparing him to the angels, the author of Hebrews emphasizes the Son's superiority over them. as the name He has inherited is excellent beyond theirs: Compare 2 Samuel 7:8–14. Some commentators believe that the title "Son" is the name implied here. Others think the name is Yahweh, the covenant name…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. Being made ... better--by His exaltation by the Father (He 1:3, 13): in contrast to His being "made lower than the angels" (He 2:9). "Better," that is, superior to. As "being" (He 1:3) expresses His essential being so "being made" (He 7:26) marks what He became in His assumed manhood (Php 2:6-9). Paul shows that His humbled form (at which the Jews might stumble) is no objection to His divine Messiahship. As the law was given by the ministration of…Read the comment

Topics related to Hebrews 1:4

• Angel (a Spirit)

In the dictionaries

• Angel
• Birthright
• Bitter
• Ministering
• Canon of the New Testament
• Excellent
• Gershom
• Hebrews, Epistle to the
• Inheritance
• Mediation; Mediator

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