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

2Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? 6And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

Hebrews 1:4 word by word

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

• 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 1:9Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
• Hebrews 2:9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
• Ephesians 1:21Far above all principality, and authority, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
• Colossians 1:18And he is the head of the body, the Assembly: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
• Colossians 2:10And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and authority:
• 2 Thessalonians 1:7And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
• 1 Peter 3:22Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
• Revelation 5:11And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
• Psalms 2:7I will declare the decree: Yhwh hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
• Philippians 2:9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which 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