HEB 1:5 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) because which of the messengers was told even once by God:[ref]
⇔ ‘You are my son;
⇔ I gave birth to you today.’
§ And again:
⇔ ‘I will be a father to him,
⇔ And he will be a son to me.’

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT For to which of the angels did he ever say,
⇔  “You are my son.
⇔  Today I have fathered you”?
⇔  And again,
⇔  “I will be as a father to him,
⇔  and he will be as a son to me”?

UST You can tell that God’s Son is greater than the spiritual beings because God did not at any time say these words to any spiritual being:
⇔ “On this day, I have declared to everyone that I am your father,
⇔ and you are my son!”
¶  He did not say these words about any spiritual being either:
⇔ “I will be his father,
⇔ and he will be my son.”
¶  However, he did say these words to his own Son.

1:5 Psalm 2:7; literally today I have begotten You

1:5 2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chronicles 17:13

BLB For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are my Son; today I have begotten You"? And again: "I will be to Him for a Father, and He will be to Me for a Son"?

AICNT For to which of the angels did he ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”?[fn]
¶ And again, “I will be a Father to him, and he will be a Son to me”?[fn]

1:5, Psalms 2:7

1:5, 2 Samuel 7:14, 1 Chronicles 17:13

OEB For to which of the angels did God ever say –
⇔ “You are my Son; this day I have become your Father”?
§ or again –
⇔ “I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a Son”?

WEBBE 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?”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For to which of the angels did God ever say, “ You are my son! Today I have fathered you”? And in another place he says, “ I will be his father and he will be my son.”

LSV For to which of the messengers did He ever say, “You are My Son—today I have begotten You?” And again, “I will be to Him for a Father, and He will be to Me for a Son?”

FBV God never said to any angel, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father,” or “I will be a Father to him, and he will be a Son to me.”[fn]

1:5 Hebrews is full of Old Testament quotations and allusions, some of which are not quoted exactly or are given in summary form. It is therefore difficult at times to identify the exact source or sources. Old Testament quotes that are relatively clear will be identified here. The quotations referenced in this verse appear to be: Psalms 2:7, 2 Samuel 7:14, and 1 Chronicles 17:13.

TCNT For to which of the angels did God ever say,
⇔ “Yoʋ are my Son;
⇔ today I have begotten yoʋ”?
§ Or again,
⇔ “I will be his Father,
⇔ and he will be my Son”?

T4T We know that because in the Scriptures no one [RHQ] ever reported that God said to any angel what he said to his Son,
⇔ You (sg) are my Son!
⇔ Today I have declared to all that I am your Father [DOU]!
⇔ And he said in another Scripture passage,
⇔ I will be his Father,
⇔ and he will be my Son [DOU].

LEB ¶ For to which of the angels did he ever say,
• “You are my son,
• today I have begotten you,”[fn]
¶ and again,
• “I will be his father[fn],
• and he will be my son[fn]”?[fn]

1:5 A quotation from Ps 2:7|link-href="None"

1:5 Literally “to him for a father”

1:5 Literally “to me for a son”

1:5 A quotation from 2 Sam 7:14 |link-href="None"(cf.1 Chr 17:13|link-href="None" )

BBE To which of the angels did God say at any time, You are my Son, this day I have given you being? or, I will be his Father, and he will be my Son?

Moff For to what angel did God ever say,
⇔ "Thou art my son,
⇔ to-day have I become thy father"? Or again,
⇔ "I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me"?

Wymth For to which of the angels did God ever say, "My Son art Thou: I have this day become Thy Father;" and again, "I will be a Father to Him, and He shall be My Son"?

ASV For 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?

DRA For to which of the angels hath he said at any time, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

YLT For to which of the messengers said He ever, 'My Son thou art — I to-day have begotten thee?' and again, 'I will be to him for a father, and he shall be to Me for a son?'

Drby For to which of the angels said he ever, Thou art my Son: this day have I begotten thee? and again, I will be to him for father, and he shall be to me for son?

RV For 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?
(For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou/You art my Son, This day have I begotten thee/you? and again, I will be to him a Father, And he shall be to me a Son? )

SLT For to which of the angels once said he, Thou art my Son, I have this day begotten thee? And again, I will be to him for Father, and he shall be to me for Son?

Wbstr For to 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?

KJB-1769 For 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?
(For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou/You art my Son, this day have I begotten thee/you? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? )

KJB-1611 For vnto which of the Angels said he at any time, Thou art my sonne, this day haue I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Sonne.
(For unto which of the Angels said he at any time, Thou/You art my son, this day have I begotten thee/you? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Sonne.)

Bshps For vnto which of the Angels sayde he at any tyme: Thou art my sonne, this day haue I begotten thee?
(For unto which of the Angels said he at any time: Thou/You art my son, this day have I begotten thee/you?)

Gnva For vnto which of the Angels saide he at any time, Thou art my Sonne, this day begate I thee? and againe, I will be his Father, and he shalbe my Sonne?
(For unto which of the Angels said he at any time, Thou/You art my Son, this day begat I thee/you? and again, I will be his Father, and he shall be my Sonne? )

Cvdl For vnto which of the angels sayde he at eny tyme: Thou art my sonne, this daye haue I begotten the? And agayne: I will be his father, & he shalbe my sonne:
(For unto which of the angels said he at any time: Thou/You art my son, this day have I begotten the? And again: I will be his father, and he shall be my son:)

TNT For vnto which of the angels sayde he ateny tyme: Thou arte my sonne this daye be gate I the? And agayne: I will be his father and he shalbe my sonne.
(For unto which of the angels said he ateny time: Thou/You art my son this day be gate I the? And again: I will be his father and he shall be my son. )

Wycl For to whiche of the aungels seide God ony tyme, Thou art my sone, Y haue gendrid thee to dai? And eftsoone, Y schal be to hym in to a fadir, and he schal be to me in to a sone?
(For to which of the angels said God any time, Thou/You art my son, I have born thee/you to day? And soon_afterward, I shall be to him in to a father, and he shall be to me in to a son?)

Luth Denn zu welchem Engel hat er jemals gesagt: Du bist mein Sohn, heute habe ich dich gezeuget? Und abermal: Ich werde sein Vater sein, und er wird mein Sohn sein?
(Because to/for which_one angel has he yemals said: You(sg) are my son, today have I you/yourself conceived? And again: I become be father be, and he becomes my son be?)

ClVg Cui enim dixit aliquando angelorum: Filius meus es tu, ego hodie genui te? Et rursum: Ego ero illi in patrem, et ipse erit mihi in filium?[fn]
(To_whom because he/she_said sometimes of_messengers/angels: Son mine you_are you(sg), I today/at_this_time I_gave_birth/kneeling you(sg)? And again: I I_will_be them in/into/on father, and exactly_that/himself will_be to_me in/into/on son? )

1.5 Hodie. Ne præterita generatio videretur, dixit hodie. Quanquam enim possit etiam ille dies intelligi, quo Christus secundum hominem natus est, tamen quia hodie præsentiam significat, atque in æternitate nec præteritum est quidquam quasi esse desierit, nec futurum quasi nondum sit, sed præsens tantum: quia quidquid æternum est, semper est: divinius accipitur de sempiterna generatione sapientiæ Dei, quam fides sincerissima et catholica prædicat. Ego ero illi. Id est, honorem illius, vel illi homini de virgine nascituro. Potest tamen et secundum carnem hoc accipi dictum, etenim caro communicat altioribus, sicut et divinitas humilibus.

1.5 Hodie. Don't past_tense generation it_would_seem, he/she_said today/at_this_time. Quanquam because can also he/that_one days to_be_understood, where Christ/Messiah after/second man born it_is, nevertheless because today/at_this_time presence means, and_yet in/into/on eternaltate but_not passedum it_is anything as_if to_be desierit, but_not future as_if not_yet be, but present only: because whatever eternal it_is, always it_is: divinius accepted from/about everlasting generation of_wisdom of_God, how faith sincerissima and Catholic/universal preach. I I_will_be them. That it_is, honour of_that, or them to_man from/about virgin is_borno. Can nevertheless and after/second the_flesh this be_accepted said, in_fact flesh/meat communicat altioribus, like and divinity humilibus.

UGNT τίνι γὰρ εἶπέν ποτε τῶν ἀγγέλων, Υἱός μου εἶ σύ, ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε? καὶ πάλιν, ἐγὼ ἔσομαι αὐτῷ εἰς Πατέρα, καὶ αὐτὸς ἔσται μοι εἰς Υἱόν?
(tini gar eipen pote tōn angelōn, Huios mou ei su, egō saʸmeron gegennaʸka se? kai palin, egō esomai autōi eis Patera, kai autos estai moi eis Huion?)

SBL-GNT Τίνι γὰρ εἶπέν ποτε τῶν ἀγγέλων· Υἱός μου εἶ σύ, ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε, καὶ πάλιν· Ἐγὼ ἔσομαι αὐτῷ εἰς πατέρα, καὶ αὐτὸς ἔσται μοι εἰς υἱόν;
(Tini gar eipen pote tōn angelōn; Huios mou ei su, egō saʸmeron gegennaʸka se, kai palin; Egō esomai autōi eis patera, kai autos estai moi eis huion;)

RP-GNT Τίνι γὰρ εἶπέν ποτε τῶν ἀγγέλων, Υἱός μου εἶ σύ, ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε; Καὶ πάλιν, Ἐγὼ ἔσομαι αὐτῷ εἰς πατέρα, καὶ αὐτὸς ἔσται μοι εἰς υἱόν;
(Tini gar eipen pote tōn angelōn, Huios mou ei su, egō saʸmeron gegennaʸka se; Kai palin, Egō esomai autōi eis patera, kai autos estai moi eis huion;)

TC-GNT Τίνι γὰρ εἶπέ ποτε τῶν ἀγγέλων,
⇔ Υἱός μου εἶ σύ,
⇔ ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε;
§ Καὶ πάλιν,
⇔ Ἐγὼ ἔσομαι αὐτῷ εἰς πατέρα,
⇔ καὶ αὐτὸς ἔσται μοι εἰς υἱόν;
(Tini gar eipe pote tōn angelōn,
⇔ Huios mou ei su,
⇔ egō saʸmeron gegennaʸka se;
§ Kai palin,
⇔ Egō esomai autōi eis patera,
⇔ kai autos estai moi eis huion; )

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 1:5–14: Jesus is clearly greater than the angels since God calls him “Son”

In Section 1:5–14 there are seven quotations from the Old Testament, mostly from the Psalms. All the quotations are poetry and contain figurative language.

You will need to decide:

how to translate the figurative language in a clear and meaningful way.
whether to make paragraph breaks between these quotations. English versions differ in this.For example, the RSV begins a new paragraph only at 1:5. The GNT begins new paragraphs at 1:4, 1:7, and 1:14. The Notes begin a new paragraph wherever the author has a quote introduction.
how to format the quotations and whether to include an OT cross reference. English versions differ about this also. If you have made a decision about this for other NT books, you may follow that decision in Hebrews also. The quotations in this section are poetry, so many English versions format them in poetic lines.
how to introduce the quotations. Some English versions use past tense (“God said”) to introduce the quotations, since God spoke the words in the past. Other versions use present tense (“God says”), since the statements are written in the Scripture and the time when he said them is not in focus. Use an appropriate verb form in your language.

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

The angels are servants of God but Jesus is his Son

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

The Greatness of God’s Son (GNT)

Paragraph 1:5–6

In this paragraph the author gives three quotations from the Old Testament. These quotations show that Christ is better than the angels, because God calls Christ his Son and tells the angels to worship him.

1:5a

For to which of the angels did God ever say:

¶ For did God ever say to any of the angels,
¶ God never said to any of the angels what he said to his Son. He said to him,

For: The word For introduces an explanation. In 1:5 the author gave a reason that the Son’s name and role is greater than the name and role that the angels have. Another way to introduce the explanation is:

This is evident/clear because

The explanation in 1:5 comes from Scripture. In some languages there may be a special way to introduce quotations from Scripture. For example:

For there is a written word of God to His son which saysWestern Bukidnon Manobo back translation on TW.

Use a natural way in your language to introduce this evidence from Scripture.

to which of the angels did God ever say: This is a rhetorical question. It emphasizes the fact that God never said to any of the angels what he said to his Son in 1:5b–c. It also implies a contrast. God did say those words to his Son. That proves that his Son is greater than any angel. Some ways to translate this are:

Use a rhetorical question. For example:
Did God ever say to any angel…?
Use a rhetorical question and supply the answer. For example:
To whom did God say….? Did he say it to any angel? No!
Use a statement. For example:
And God never said to any of his angels…. (GW)
For God never said to any angel what he said to Jesus: (NLT)

Translate 1:5a in a way that emphasizes that God’s Son is greater than the angels (1:4).

1:5b

“You are My Son;

“You^(sing) are my Son;
“I am your^(sing) Father,

1:5c

today I have become Your Father”?

and today I declare that I am your^(sing) Father”?
and on this day I give you^(sing) the honor/authority that you deserve as my Son.”

1:5b–c

You are My Son; today I have become Your Father: In this part of the verse the author of Hebrews applied a quotation from Psalm 2:7Psalm 2 is one of the psalms which speak about the Messiah. These psalms were fulfilled when Christ came to earth many years after they were written. to Christ, the Messiah, as God’s Son. In this quotation God declared that Christ is his Son, and God will honor him as his Son.

When God said this, Christ was already fully mature, so the quotation does not refer to the time of his birth. It refers to the time when God gave him glory as his Son. Some other ways to translate this quotation are:

You are my Son. And now it will be known that I am your Father.Otomi back translation on TW.

You are my Child. Today I will show that I am your Father.Kankanaey back translation on TW.

You are My Son: For information on how to translate this reference to Jesus as the Son of God, see the note on “His son” in 1:2a.

today I have become Your Father: In this context the statement today I have become Your Father implies that God is giving Christ the honor and authority that he deserves as God’s Son. In biblical culture fathers often gave their adult sons great authority and honor. God gave Christ his own authority and glory after Christ accomplished the purification for our sins (1:3).

Some other ways to translate today I have become Your Father are:

Today I have fathered you. (NET)

On this day I give you the honor/authority that you deserve as my Son.

I declare/reveal today that you are my Son.

In some cultures the relationship between fathers and sons is different from that relationship in biblical culture. If that is true in your language, you may need to include a footnote to explain what the term implies here. For example:

In that culture fathers gave their sons great authority. A father expected people to honor his son. If they did not honor the son, it was also an insult to the father.

1:5d

Or again: “I will be His Father, and He will be My Son”?

And in another place in Scripture God said, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son.”
God also said, “I will say/declare to people that I am his Father, and that he is my Son.”

Or again: The phrase that the BSB translates as Or again is literally “and again.” It indicates that the author will quote another statement from the OT to support what he said in 1:4b. The statement will show again that God’s Son is superior to the angels. Introduce this next quotation in a natural way in your language. Some other ways to introduce it are:

And in another place in the Scriptures God said

God proved this again when he said

Notice that in 1:5b–c God spoke directly to the Son, so the text uses the words “you” and “your.” Here in 1:5d God spoke to other people about the Son, using words like “he” and “his.” In some languages it may be necessary to make explicit that here God spoke to people about his Son. For example:

In another Scripture, God told people, “I will be his Father…

I will be His Father, and He will be My Son: This second OT quotation is from 2 Samuel 7:14. Here the author used it to emphasize the relationship between God and Christ. It indicates that God will show people that Christ is his Son. That implies that he has the same nature as God, and God honors Christ as his Son.

Some ways to translate this are:

I will declare that I am his Father; yes, he is my Son.

I will show everyone that I am his father and he is my son.

I will be a Father to him, and he will be a Son to me.

His Father: When the Bible refers to God as the Father of Christ, it indicates that the relationship between him and Christ is similar in some ways to the relationship between human fathers and sons. It does not indicate that God procreated Christ. See the note on “you are my Son” earlier in 1:5b–c.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

γὰρ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: τίνι Γάρ εἶπεν ποτέ τῶν ἀγγέλων Υἱός μού εἶ σύ ἐγώ σήμερον γεγέννηκα σέ Καί πάλιν Ἐγώ ἔσομαι αὐτῷ εἰς Πατέρα καί αὐτός ἔσται μοί εἰς Υἱόν)

The word For introduces the support or basis that proves that the Son is “superior to the angels” ([1:4](../01/04.md)). The supporting statements that For introduces can be found in [1:5–14](../01/05.md). If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces support or basis for a claim. Alternate translation: [Here is the proof for that:]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

τίνι γὰρ εἶπέν ποτε τῶν ἀγγέλων, Υἱός μου εἶ σύ, ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε? καὶ πάλιν, ἐγὼ ἔσομαι αὐτῷ εἰς Πατέρα, καὶ αὐτὸς ἔσται μοι εἰς Υἱόν?

˱to˲_which (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τίνι Γάρ εἶπεν ποτέ τῶν ἀγγέλων Υἱός μού εἶ σύ ἐγώ σήμερον γεγέννηκα σέ Καί πάλιν Ἐγώ ἔσομαι αὐτῷ εἰς Πατέρα καί αὐτός ἔσται μοί εἰς Υἱόν)

The author does not ask these questions because he is looking for information. Rather, he asks them to involve the audience in what he is arguing. The questions assume that the answer to both is “none of them,” for God said these words to his own Son. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the ideas with strong negations. Alternate translation: [For God never said to any of the angels “You are my son, and I today I have become your father.” And again, “I will be as a father to him, and he will be as a son to me.]

Note 3 topic: writing-quotations

τίνι γὰρ εἶπέν ποτε τῶν ἀγγέλων & καὶ πάλιν

The author quotes the Old Testament Scriptures. He does not introduce the quotations as quotations, but instead he introduces them as words that God has spoken to his Son, not to angels. However, the audience would have understood that these were quotations from the Old Testament. The first quotation comes from [Psalm 2:7](../../psa/02/07.md), and the second quotation comes from [2 Samuel 7:14](../../2sa/07/14.md). Since the author introduces these quotations as words that God has said to his Son, not to angels, you should introduce these quotations as words that someone has said. If your readers would not know that the quotations are from the Old Testament, you could include footnotes or use some other form to identify the quotations. The phrase And again is a normal form that the author uses to connect a second quotation to a first quotation. Alternate translation: [For to which of the angels did he ever speak … And]

Note 4 topic: translate-kinship

Υἱός μου εἶ σύ, ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε & ἐγὼ ἔσομαι αὐτῷ εἰς Πατέρα, καὶ αὐτὸς ἔσται μοι εἰς Υἱόν

Son (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τίνι Γάρ εἶπεν ποτέ τῶν ἀγγέλων Υἱός μού εἶ σύ ἐγώ σήμερον γεγέννηκα σέ Καί πάλιν Ἐγώ ἔσομαι αὐτῷ εἰς Πατέρα καί αὐτός ἔσται μοί εἰς Υἱόν)

In their original contexts, these two quotations referred to the king of Israel as one who became God’s son when he began to rule. Thus, God was his father. When the author applies these words not to angels but to Jesus, he identifies the father as God the Father and the son as God the Son. He does not mean that Jesus becomes son at some point or begins to exist at some point. Rather, he means that God the Father declares and reveals Jesus to be God the Son. If it would be helpful in your language, you could include some words or a footnote that clarifies the meaning. Alternate translation: [You are my son, today I have proclaimed that I am your father … I proclaim that I am his father and that he is my son]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

Υἱός μου εἶ σύ, ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε

The quotation includes two statements that mean almost the same thing. One statement uses son language, and the other uses “father” language. This was considered good poetry in the author’s culture. If this would not be good poetry in your culture, and if the repetition would be confusing, you could combine the two statements. Alternate translation: [Today I have fathered you, my son]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

σύ & σε

you & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: τίνι Γάρ εἶπεν ποτέ τῶν ἀγγέλων Υἱός μού εἶ σύ ἐγώ σήμερον γεγέννηκα σέ Καί πάλιν Ἐγώ ἔσομαι αὐτῷ εἰς Πατέρα καί αὐτός ἔσται μοί εἰς Υἱόν)

Because the quotation is referring to one son, You and you are singular.

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

ἐγὼ ἔσομαι αὐτῷ εἰς Πατέρα, καὶ αὐτὸς ἔσται μοι εἰς Υἱόν

The quotation includes two statements that mean almost the same thing. One statement uses father language, and the other uses son language. This was considered good poetry in the author’s culture. If this would not be good poetry in your culture, and if the repetition would be confusing, you could combine the two statements. Alternate translation: [I will be as a father to him, who is my son] or [He will be as a son to me, his father]