This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.
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.
- BSB So He became as far superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is excellent beyond theirs.
- 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.
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, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come.
- Phil 2:9–11Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name;
- 1 Pet 3:22who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.
- Heb 2:9But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone.
- Rev 5:11–12I saw, and I heard something like a voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands;
- 2 Th 1:7and to give relief to you who are afflicted with us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire,
- Ps 2:7–8I will tell of the decree. Yahweh said to me, “You are my son. Today I have become your father.
- Col 2:10and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power;
- Col 1:18He 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.
- Heb 1:9You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.”
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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.