Hebrews 1:4-5 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hebrews 1:4-14

The apostle, having proved the pre-eminence of the gospel above the law from the pre-eminence of the Lord Jesus Christ above the prophets, now proceeds to show that he is much superior not only to the prophets, but to the angels themselves. In this he obviates an objection that the Jewish zealots would be ready to make, that the law was not only delivered by men, but ordained by angels (Gal. 3:19), who attended at the giving forth of the law, the hosts of heaven being drawn forth to attend the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Hebrews 1:4-14

1:4-14 He was the superior to the angels, in proportion as he had received a more excellent rank than they. For to which of the angels did God ever say: "It is my Son that you are; it is I who this day have begotten you"? And again: "I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a Son." And again, when he brings his honoured one into the world of men, he says: "And let all the angels of God bow down before him." As for the angels, he says: "He who makes his angels winds and his servants a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 1:4

Being made so much better than the angels ,.... Christ is so much better than the angels, as the Creator, than the creature; as an independent being, than a dependent one; as he that blesses, than he that is blessed; as he that is worshipped, than he that worships: as a king, than his subjects; as a master, than his servants; and as he that sends, than he that is sent: and Christ may be said to be "made so", when he was manifested and declared to be so; and he was actually preferred to them,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 1:5

For unto which of the angels said he at any time ,.... That is, he never said to any of the angels what he has said to Christ; namely, what follows, thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee for though angels are called the sons of God, Job 1:6 yet are never said to be begotten by him; or, with this clause annexed to it, "this day have I begotten thee"; nor are they ever so called in a proper sense, or in such sense as Christ is: this is said to Christ, and of him, in Psalm 2:7 ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 1:4

So much better than the angels - Another argument in favor of the Divinity of our Lord. The Jews had the highest opinion of the transcendent excellence of angels, they even associate them with God in the creation of the world, and suppose them to be of the privy council of the Most High; and thus they understand Genesis 1:26 ; : Let us make man in our own image, in our own likeness; "And the Lord said to the ministering angels that stood before him, and who were created the second day, Let... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 1:5

Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee - These words are quoted from Psalm 2:7 , a psalm that seems to refer only to the Messiah; and they are quoted by St. Paul, Acts 13:33 , as referring to the resurrection of Christ. And this application of them is confirmed by the same apostle, Romans 1:4 , as by his resurrection from the dead he was declared - manifestly proved, to be the Son of God with power; God having put forth his miraculous energy in raising that body from the grave... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 1:4

Verse 4 4.Being made so much better, etc. After having raised Christ above Moses and all others, he now amplifies His glory by a comparison with angels. It was a common notion among the Jews, that the Law was given by angels; they attentively considered the honorable things spoken of them everywhere in Scripture; and as the world is strangely inclined to superstition, they obscured the glory of God by extolling angels too much. It was therefore necessary to reduce them to their own rank, that... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 1:5

Verse 5 5. Thou art my Son, etc. It cannot be denied but that this was spoken of David, that is, as he sustained the person of Christ. Then the things found in this Psalm must have been shadowed forth in David, but were fully accomplished in Christ. For that he by subduing many enemies around him, enlarged the borders of his kingdom, it was some foreshadowing of the promise, “I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance.” But how little was this in comparison with the amplitude of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 1:1-4

EXORDIUM intimating in a succession of choice and pregnant phrases, the drift of the Epistle; a condensed summary of the coming argument. It briefly anticipates the views to be set forth in the sequel, of the revelation of God in Christ excelling far, and being destined to supersede, all that had preceded it, as being the ultimate Divine manifestation in the SON , according to the full meaning of the term involved in ancient prophecy;—of the eternal Divinity of him who was thus... read more