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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.

Context of Hebrews 1:4

2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. 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.”

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 righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
• Hebrews 2:9But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
• Ephesians 1:21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
• Colossians 1:18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
• Colossians 2:10and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:7and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.
• 1 Peter 3:22who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
• Revelation 5:11Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.
• Psalms 2:7I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father.
• Philippians 2:9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,

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