Hebrews 1:7, Hebrews 1:14 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:7-9

The Son and the angels. "And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels," etc. Here are two quotations from the Psalms; the first from Psalms 104:4 , the second from Psalms 45:6 , Psalms 45:7 . Whether the latter Psalm applied primarily to Solomon or any other king of ancient Israel or not, it seems to us quite clear that it applies to the ideal King, the Messiah. Our text presents additional illustrations of the great superiority of the Son to the angels. I. THE ANGELS ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 1:7

And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits - He gives to them an inferior name, and assigns to them a more humble office. They are mere ministers, and have not ascribed to them the name of “Son.” They have a name which implies a more humble rank and office - the name “spirit,” and the appellation of a “flame of fire.” They obey his will as the winds and the lightnings do. The “object” of the apostle in this passage is to show that the angels serve God in a ministerial capacity -... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hebrews 1:7-9

Hebrews 1:7-9. Of the angels Speaking of them; he David; saith, Who maketh Or rather, who made; his angels spirits, &c. That is, the greatest thing said of angels is, that they are beings not clogged with flesh, and who are zealous and active in the service of God like flames of fire. The expressions intimate not only their office, but also their nature, which is very excellent; the metaphor being taken from the most swift, subtle, and efficacious things on earth; but,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Hebrews 1:5-14

Christ greater than angels (1:5-14)According to Jewish beliefs, angels were beings of a high order who fulfilled an important role in the giving of God’s law to Israel (Acts 7:53; Galatians 3:19). The writer therefore shows from the Old Testament (which the Jews believed to be the Word of God) that Jesus Christ is greater than angels. His birth into the world as a man does not mean that he is inferior to angels. On the contrary, angels worship him, for he is God, inseparably united with his... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Hebrews 1:7

of = with reference to. Greek. pros . App-104 . spirits . App-101 . ministers . Greek. leitourgos. App-190 .:4. This verse is from the Septuagint of Psalms 104:4 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Hebrews 1:7

And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels winds, And his ministers a flame of fire.The pertinent fact of this quotation from Psalms 14:4 is in its reference to the status of angels as servants, that is, ministers of God. Some have concluded that the function of angels, at least partially, is to cooperate by means of using the winds and fire to bring about God's will; but if such should be true, there is surely no information given in regard to how it is done and under what circumstances... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 1:7

7. of—The Greek is rather, "In reference TO the angels." spirits—or "winds": Who employeth His angels as the winds, His ministers as the lightnings; or, He maketh His angelic ministers the directing powers of winds and flames, when these latter are required to perform His will. "Commissions them to assume the agency or form of flames for His purposes" [ALFORD]. English Version, "maketh His angels spirits," means, He maketh them of a subtle, incorporeal nature, swift as the wind. So Psalms... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 1:5-14

B. The Superiority of God’s SON 1:5-14The writer proceeded to explain the exaltation of Jesus Christ to help his readers appreciate the fact that He fulfilled Old Testament prophecy concerning the Son of David. He did this so they would appreciate Him properly and not overemphasize the importance of angels. Angels were very important in Judaism primarily because multitudes of them assisted God in giving the Mosaic Law at Mount Sinai (cf. Deuteronomy 33:2; Psalms 68:17; Acts 7:53; Galatians... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 1:7

Instead of being sovereign, the angels are servants. The fourth quotation is from Psalms 104:4. By describing the angels as "winds" the psalmist was drawing attention to their spirit nature, invisibility, power, and role as servants of a higher Power. As flames of fire they are God’s agents of judgment and illumination. Wind and fire were also symbols of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. They were appropriate designations of both the Holy Spirit and angels because both served the Father in... read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Hebrews 1:7

1:7 ministers (k-15) Leitourgos . See Note k, to Romans 15:16 . 'Ministering' in ver. 14 is from the same root. fire; (l-19) See Psalms 104:4 . read more