HEB 1:4 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:1–4: Introduction: God has spoken through his Son

The first four verses of the book of Hebrews explain what the book is about. In the past God spoke to his people through his prophets. Now during this later time, he has spoken to his people through his own Son. God’s Son shows people who God is.

In 1:1–2a the author used parallelism to show a contrast between how God spoke in the past and how he speaks now. In the past God spoke through the prophets, but now God speaks to us through his Son. In your translation, it is important to emphasize this contrast, especially the fact that God now speaks to us by the Son.

1:1	1:2
in the past	in these last days
to our fathers	to us
through the prophets	by His Son

In Greek, the four verses in 1:1–4 are one long sentence that describes who the Son is and what he has done. It is common in Greek to have long sentences like this. Most English versions divide this section into several sentences. You may do what is natural in your language.

In 1:2b–3e there are seven important facts about God’s Son:

God appointed his Son to be heir of all things (an important theme in 1:5–6).
God created everything through his Son (an important theme in 1:7–14).
The Son reflects God’s glory (an important theme in 2:5–8).
The Son shows us exactly what God is like.
The Son keeps everything working by his powerful word.
The Son made a way to make people clean from their sin (an important theme in 2:10–17, 5:1–10, 7:1–28, and 9:1–10:18).
The Son sat down on the right side of God (see 1:13 and 8:1–2).

It is good to translate the section before you decide on a heading for it. Some other possible headings are:

God has revealed himself to us through his Son.

The greatness of the Son of God

Paragraph 1:1–4

There are several ways to arrange the phrases in 1:1–4. The BSB mostly follows the order of phrases in the Greek text. The NIV uses a different order. Compare the order of the phrases in the BSB and NIV below:

¹On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. ²But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son… (BSB)

¹In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ²but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son… (NIV)

The NIV puts the phrase “at many times and in various ways” at the end of 1:1 instead of at the beginning, as in the BSB. Use an order that is natural in your language.

1:4

In Greek 1:4 is part of the long sentence that began at 1:1. It concludes paragraph 1:1–4 with a statement about the Son’s greatness. This statement is also the theme of 1:5–14, so the GNT and GW begin a new section at 1:4. However, in most English versions 1:4 is the final statement of paragraph 1:1–4. The author of Hebrews often uses statements like this that conclude one section but also introduce the next one.

In some languages it may be more natural to change the order of clauses in this verse. See the General Comment on 1:4a–b at the end of 1:4b for suggestions.

So: In Greek 1:4 continues the sentence that began in 1:1. Some English versions supply a conjunction like So to indicate that 1:4 is a result of 1:2b–3. Some other ways to show this connection are:

Thus (NET)

This shows that (NLT)

He became as far superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is excellent beyond theirs: This statement is a comparison. It indicates that God’s Son is much greater than the angels. The name that God gave to his Son after his Son made purification for sins (1:3d) is also much greater than the angels’ name. Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

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

He received a seat/position that is higher than the seat/position of all the angels, for the name he received from God was more honored than the name given to angels.Uma back translation on TW.

It is true that the angels are great and their names are honorable. But God’s Son surpasses them in greatness, and the name that God has given him also surpasses their name.

Translate the comparison in a natural way in your language.

1:4a

So He became as far superior to the angels

In this way he became much greater than the angels,
This shows that God has given him much greater honor/glory than the angels have.

He became…superior to the angels: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as He became…superior means “became greater than.” The Son had greater honor and authority than the angels before he came to earth. Then he became “a little lower than the angels” to die for our sins (2:9). When he finished providing that purification (1:3d), he sat down at God’s right hand (1:3e). At that time, he again became superior to the angels and received even more honor and authority than he had before.

Another way to translate He became…superior to the angels is:

has been given praiseworthiness/glory which is better than the glory of the angelsTagbanwa back translation on TW.

angels: The Greek word that the BSB translates as angels means “messengers.” It refers here to spirit beings who serve God. Sometimes God sends an angel to tell a message to human beings. He also sends angels to serve him in other ways. Some ways to translate this term are:

Use a descriptive word or phrase. For example:
messengers from God/heaven
good/holy spirit-beings
Use a local term that fits the biblical meaning.
In some areas the churches may already be using a borrowed term or a transliterated word for “angel.” Be sure that this term fits the biblical meaning. If some people do not understand the right meaning from this term, you may need to indicate the meaning in some way. For example:
angelos messengers from God
sacred angelos spirits

Be sure that your term for “angel” is different from your terms for “prophet” and “apostle.” See angel Meaning 1 in KBT for more information. If you translated this word in other books, check to see how you translated it there.

1:4b

as the name He has inherited is excellent beyond theirs.

and he inherited/received a much greater name than they have.
In the same way the title Son which God gave him is more honorable/glorious than their title.

as the name He has inherited is excellent beyond theirs: This clause is the second part of the comparison in 1:4a. Just as the Son himself is greater than the angels, he also inherited a name (title) that is greater than their name (title). In this context the verb inherited implies that he received the name from God. In some languages it is necessary to make that explicit. For example:

and God gave him a name that is much greater than theirs (NCV)

the name He has inherited: The word inherited is a verb form of the noun that the BSB translated as “heir” in 1:2b. The verb is used in a similar way here to mean “gained” or “received.”BDAG, page 547, lists “acquire, obtain, come into possession of” as the second meaning of this word. God’s Son gained this name because God gave it to him. The verb does not imply here that the Son received the name when someone died. Some ways to translate He has inherited in this context are:

he has been given a name (GW)

the name God gave him (GNT)

the name that he received from God

Translate the meaning in a similar way as you translated “heir” in 1:2. In some languages it may be necessary to specify the name that the Son received. If that is true in your language, you may supply “Son” as the quotations in 1:5 indicate.Montefiore (page 39) says, “The name which Jesus has by right must be the name of the Son, as the succeeding verses establish.” Lane (page 17) says, “In verse 4 the superior name is almost certainly the acclamation ‘my son’ of Psalm 2:7 quoted in verse 5….” Ellingworth (page 105) states, “The immediate context suggests that the ‘name’ is that of Son….” An Exegetical Summary of Hebrews (page 31) lists thirteen commentaries that follow this view. For example:

he has been given the name Son of God

the name: The Greek word that the BSB translates as name refers to the authority and role that the Son has. It does not refer here to a name that people called him, such as “Jesus” or “Emmanuel.” It may refer either to his role as God’s Son or to his role in general. Some other ways to translate name in this context are:

authority

position/status

title

excellent beyond: In this context the phrase excellent beyond has almost the same meaning as “superior to” earlier in this verse. It continues the comparison between God’s Son and the angels. As he is much greater than they are, his name is also much greater. You should use an appropriate way in your language to describe an excellent role or rank.

In some languages it may be helpful to use the same word for the comparison in both places. For example:

The Son was made greater than the angels, just as the name that God gave him is greater than theirs. (GNT)

theirs: The pronoun theirs is a short way to refer to “their name,” which the author compares to the Son’s “name.” The word “name” is implied. It refers to the angels’ rank and authority. In some languages it is necessary to translate “name” explicitly here. For example:

their name

their authority/title

General Comment on 1:4a–b

In the Greek text, 1:4 is a long sentence that compares the Son and his name to the angels and their name. In some languages it is more natural to make a comparison by making two separate statements that contrast with each other. For example:

The angels are not great; the Son is great. Likewise, the name that God gave the angels is not great; the name he gave his Son is great.

In this division the author gave evidence to prove that Jesus is greater than the angels. This evidence was important because people honored the angels as the ones who delivered God’s law to Moses.Deuteronomy 33:2; Acts 7:38, 7:53; Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 2:2. See the section on Logical Development of the Theme of Hebrews to see how the author used this division in developing the theme of Hebrews.

The word “angels” in 1:4 is the link to the remaining verses of chapters 1 and 2. The Notes divides Division 1:5–2:18 into three sections that compare Jesus with the angels:Within these sections there are many different contrasts between the angels and the Son. However, these section headings focus on the major contrasts in the section. One of the techniques used to determine the major focus of each of the sections was to observe the ideas which were repeated in later sections of the book due to chiastic patterning of the text.

1:5–14There is some evidence that 1:5–6 and 1:7–14 are different points to the author. See Heath 2011:133, 300–304. Koester asserts the integrity of Heb 1:5–6 as a smaller unit (2001:199–202). However, many English versions and commentaries combine 1:5–6 and 1:7–14 into one section, although most start a new paragraph with verse 7. The REB and NET place verses 6 and 7 within the same paragraph.	The Son is greater than the angels because God calls Jesus his Son
2:1–4	Warning: Do not ignore Jesus’ message.
2:5–18	The Son is greater because he calls us his brothers and understands our weakness.

Notice that a warning occurs in 2:1–4 before the final contrast is given in 2:5–18. Use a natural way in your language for a person to give a warning in the process of explaining a topic.

Consider whether you want to have division headings in your translation. Many versions do not have them, but they can be helpful to show more about the structure of Hebrews. Another possible heading for this division is:

God’s Son is Superior to the Angels (GW)

uW Translation Notes:

γενόμενος

˓having˒_become

The words having become could introduce: (1) an explanation of what “sitting at God’s right” side ([1:3](../01/03.md)) means. Alternate translation: [thus, he has become] (2) a result that comes from “sitting at God’s right hand” ([1:3](../01/03.md)). Alternate translation: [so, he has become] or [therefore, he has become]

τοσούτῳ κρείττων γενόμενος τῶν ἀγγέλων, ὅσῳ διαφορώτερον παρ’ αὐτοὺς, κεκληρονόμηκεν ὄνομα

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Τοσούτῳ κρείττων γενόμενος τῶν ἀγγέλων ὅσῳ διαφορώτερον πάρʼ αὐτούς κεκληρονόμηκεν ὄνομα)

The author uses a comparison that indicates that the difference in “superiority” between the Son and the angels is the same as the difference between the Son’s name and the names of the angels. Consider clear ways to indicate such a comparison in your language. Alternate translation: [having become as much superior to the angels as the name that he has inherited is more excellent than theirs]

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / extrainfo

διαφορώτερον & ὄνομα

more_special & ˓a˒_name

The author does not clarify what name this is. It could be the title “Son,” the title “Lord,” the name “Jesus,” or God’s own special name, “Yahweh.” Since the author did not clarify to what name he is referring, it is best to refer to a name or title without stating what it is. Alternate translation: [a more excellent title]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

κεκληρονόμηκεν

˱he˲_˓has˒_inherited

The author speaks as if Jesus were a child who would receive property that a parent passes on to their heir when the parent dies. He speaks in this way to indicate that Jesus receives a name from God the Father, although this does not mean that God the Father has died. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [he has received] or [God has given him]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

παρ’ αὐτοὺς

The author is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. He omits these words because he stated them in the first half of the comparison (a name). If your language needs these words to make a complete sentence, you could include them here. Alternate translation: [than their names]

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.

OET interlinear HEB 1:4