So He became as far superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is excellent beyond theirs.
Parallel translations
- WEB having become so much better than the angels, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they have.
- KJV Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
- NKJV having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
- NASB having become so much better than the angels, to the extent that He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
- NLT This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The exalted Son is far superior to the angels, having inherited a name greater than theirs. This begins a sustained argument for Christ's supremacy over angelic beings.
Overview
Having described the Son's deity and exaltation, the author now argues His superiority to angels, who were highly revered and associated with the giving of the law. The 'more excellent name' likely refers to His identity as 'Son.' Establishing this superiority matters because the author will warn against drifting from a salvation greater than the angel-mediated law.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Eph 1:21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
- Phil 2:9–11Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names,
- 1 Pet 3:22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.
- Heb 2:9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
- Rev 5:11–12Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels and living creatures and elders encircling the throne, and their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands.
- 2 Th 1:7and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels
- Ps 2:7–8I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.
- Col 2:10And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
- Col 1:18And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.
- Heb 1:9You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You above Your companions with the oil of joy.”
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Christ at the center
Hebrews is sustained worship of Christ: better than angels, Moses, and the priests; the great High Priest after Melchizedek who by one sacrifice perfects forever those he saves.
How Hebrews 1:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.