Hebrews 1

1 God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,

2 has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds.

3 His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, who, when he had by himself purified us of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high,

4 having become as much better than the angels as the more excellent name he has inherited is better than theirs.

5 For to which of the angels did he say at any time, “You are my Son. Today I have become your father?” and again, “I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a Son?”

6 When he again brings in the firstborn into the world he says, “Let all the angels of God worship him.”

7 Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his servants a flame of fire.”

8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom.

9 You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.”

10 And, “You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the works of your hands.

11 They will perish, but you continue. They all will grow old like a garment does.

12 You will roll them up like a mantle, and they will be changed; but you are the same. Your years won’t fail.”

13 But which of the angels has he told at any time, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet?”

14 Aren’t they all serving spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

Around Hebrews 1

Context

Context for this book is being written. A note appears here only once it names its sources.

AI explanation

Hebrews 1 · Written by an AI model · Not reviewed by a theological reader

This explanation was written by an AI model to help you get started. It names no sources and can contain mistakes. Scripture comes first, and context with sources is shown separately on this page.

What this chapter says

The letter begins without a greeting and without a name. It begins with God speaking. God spoke to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in many ways, but at the end of these days he has spoken through his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things and through whom he made the worlds. The Son is “the radiance of his glory,” upholds all things by his word, and after purifying us from sins sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

The rest of the chapter argues that he is greater than the angels. The writer strings together lines of Scripture: you are my Son, let all the angels of God worship him, your throne, O God, is forever. Angels are winds and flames of fire, but the Son is addressed as God and Lord, who laid the foundation of the earth and remains when it grows old. The chapter ends by calling the angels serving spirits, sent to help those who will inherit salvation.

Background

Hebrews is an anonymous sermon in the form of a letter. Some churches long held it as Paul’s, but many scholars think its author is unknown. It is usually dated to the first century, and some think before AD 70, since it speaks of temple worship in the present tense. Its readers seem to be Jewish Christians under pressure. The quotations in this chapter come from Psalm 2, 2 Samuel 7, Psalm 45, Psalm 102 and Psalm 110. Christians read verse 8 as calling the Son God.

About this explanation

Written by Claude Sonnet 5.5, an AI model, on 18 October 2026. It draws on the WEB text and general knowledge and was not checked against sources by a person. Every quotation from Scripture is checked automatically against the WEB text.

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World English Bible. Public-domain source and edition notes