Hebrews by Heart · Track 1 of 13
Heir of Everything
Hebrews 1 — The Son on the throne, above the angels
Paul Whitehorn
Study the Word
The words as they are sung, and Hebrews 1 itself: Paul Whitehorn's translation beside the Greek.
Verse 1
In many pieces, in many ways
God spoke to our fathers long ago
a word through this prophet, a word through that one
a little at a time
But in these last days
He has spoken to us in a Son
the One He named heir of everything
the One through whom He made the ages
Pre-Chorus
He is the shining of His glory
the stamp of who He is
He holds everything that exists
by the strength of His word
He made us clean from our sins
and then He sat down
at the right hand of the Majesty
high in the heights
Chorus
So far above the angels
so much higher is the name
the name He was given for His own
the name above them all
Refrain
Which angel ever heard Him say
You are My Son
today I became Your Father
and again
I will be a Father to Him
and He will be My Son
When He brings His Firstborn into the world
He says
Every angel of God
Every angel of God
bow low before Him
Of the angels He says
He makes His messengers into winds
His servants into flames
But to the Son
Your throne, God, stands through every age
straightness is the scepter of Your reign
You loved what is right
You hated what is lawless
so God, Your God, has poured joy over You
more than all who stand beside You
Bridge
At the start, Lord, You set the earth on its base
the skies are the work of Your hands
they will fall apart, but You remain
they'll all wear thin like an old coat
You'll fold them up like a cloak
and they'll be changed like clothes
but You are who You always are
and Your years will never run out
Final Refrain
Which angel ever heard Him say
Sit here at My right hand
until I lay Your enemies beneath Your feet
Outro
Aren't they all spirits who serve
sent out on His errands
for the sake of the ones
whose inheritance is rescue
Left out of this song
As far as we know, nothing in this chapter was left out of the song, though many verses are shortened.
Lyrics by Paul Whitehorn: a singable summary of Hebrews 1, as sung on this recording.
Long ago, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets, many times and in many ways.
Πολυμερῶςin many parts καὶand, also πολυτρόπωςin many ways πάλαιof old, long ago ὁthe θεὸςGod λαλήσαςto speak τοῖςthe πατράσινfather, Father, ancestor ἐνin, by τοῖςthe προφήταιςa prophet, poet
But in these last days he has spoken to us in a Son, whom he appointed heir of everything, and through whom he also created the universe.
ἐπ’upon, concerning ἐσχάτουlast, at the last, finally τῶνthe ἡμερῶνa day τούτωνthis ἐλάλησενto speak ἡμῖνI ἐνin, by υἱῷ,a son, descendent ὃνwho, which ἔθηκενI put, place κληρονόμονan heir, inheritor πάντων,all, the whole, every kind of δι’through οὗwho, which καὶand, also ἐποίησενI do, make τοὺςthe αἰῶνας·age; the ages, the universe
The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact imprint of his very being. He carries everything along by his powerful word. And after he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
ὃςwho, which ὢνto be ἀπαύγασμαa light flashing forth, radiation, gleam τῆςthe δόξηςhonor, renown, glory splendor καὶand, also χαρακτὴρan exact reproduction τῆςthe ὑποστάσεωςsolid ground, substance, assurance αὐτοῦ,he, his, it φέρωνI carry, bear, bring, lead τεand, both τὰthe πάνταall, the whole, every kind of τῷthe ῥήματιspoken word τῆςthe δυνάμεως,might, power, marvelous works δι’through αὑτοῦhimself, herself, itself καθαρισμὸνcleansing, purifying, purification τῶνthe ἁμαρτιῶνa sin ποιησάμενοςI do, make ἐκάθισενI set, make to sit ἐνin, by δεξιᾷon the right hand, right hand, right τῆςthe μεγαλωσύνηςmajesty ἐνin, by ὑψηλοῖς,high, lofty
He became as much greater than the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
τοσούτῳso great κρείττωνstronger, more excellent γενόμενοςto come to be, be made τῶνthe ἀγγέλωνan angel, messenger ὅσῳhow much, how great, how many διαφορώτερονdiffering, different, excellent παρ’than, beside αὐτοὺςhe, his, it κεκληρονόμηκενI inherit, obtain ὄνομα.name, character, reputation
For to which of the angels did God ever say, 'You are my Son; today I have become your Father'? Or again, 'I will be his Father, and he will be my Son'?
Τίνιany one, some one γὰρfor εἶπένI say, speak ποτεat one time or other τῶνthe ἀγγέλων·an angel, messenger Υἱόςa son, descendent μουI εἶto be σύ,you ἐγὼI σήμερονtoday, now γεγέννηκάI beget, bring forth, give birth to σε,you καὶand, also πάλιν·again, further, on the other hand ἘγὼI ἔσομαιto be αὐτῷhe, his, it εἰςinto, so that πατέρα,father, Father, ancestor καὶand, also αὐτὸςhe, his, it ἔσταιto be μοιI εἰςinto, so that υἱόν;a son, descendent
And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, 'Let all God's angels worship him.'
ὅτανwhen, whensoever δὲnow, but πάλινagain, further, on the other hand εἰσαγάγῃI lead in, bring in τὸνthe πρωτότοκονfirst-born εἰςinto, so that τὴνthe οἰκουμένην,the inhabited (Roman) world λέγει·I say, speak Καὶand, also προσκυνησάτωσανI worship αὐτῷhe, his, it πάντεςall, the whole, every kind of ἄγγελοιan angel, messenger θεοῦ.God
Of the angels he says, 'He makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire.'
καὶand, also πρὸςto, towards, with μὲνtruly, indeed τοὺςthe ἀγγέλουςan angel, messenger λέγει·I say, speak Ὁthe ποιῶνI do, make τοὺςthe ἀγγέλουςan angel, messenger αὐτοῦhe, his, it πνεύματα,wind, breath, spirit καὶand, also τοὺςthe λειτουργοὺςa minister, servant αὐτοῦhe, his, it πυρὸςfire, trials φλόγα·a flame
But of the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of justice.'
πρὸςto, towards, with δὲnow, but τὸνthe υἱόν·a son, descendent Ὁthe θρόνοςa throne, seat σουyou ὁthe θεὸςGod εἰςinto, so that τὸνthe αἰῶναage; the ages, the universe τοῦthe αἰῶνος,age; the ages, the universe καὶand, also ἡthe ῥάβδοςa rod, staff τῆςthe εὐθύτητοςstraightness, uprightness ῥάβδοςa rod, staff τῆςthe βασιλείαςkingship, sovereignty, authority, rule, kingdom σου.you
You have loved what is right and hated what is wrong. That is why God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy above your companions.'
ἠγάπησαςI love δικαιοσύνηνjustice, justness, righteousness καὶand, also ἐμίσησαςI hate, detest ἀνομίαν·lawlessness, iniquity διὰthrough τοῦτοthis ἔχρισένI anoint σεyou ὁthe θεός,God ὁthe θεόςGod σου,you ἔλαιονolive oil ἀγαλλιάσεωςexultation, exhilaration παρὰthan, beside τοὺςthe μετόχουςa sharer, partner σου·you
And, 'In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
καί·and, also Σὺyou κατ’down from, against, according to, throughout, during ἀρχάς,ruler, beginning κύριε,lord, Lord, master, sir τὴνthe γῆνthe earth, soil, land ἐθεμελίωσας,I found, lay the foundation καὶand, also ἔργαwork, labor, action, deed τῶνthe χειρῶνa hand σούyou εἰσινto be οἱthe οὐρανοί·the sky, the heaven
They will perish, but you remain. They will all wear out like clothing;
αὐτοὶhe, his, it ἀπολοῦνται,I destroy, lose, am perishing σὺyou δὲnow, but διαμένεις·I remain, continue καὶand, also πάντεςall, the whole, every kind of ὡςas, like as, how, while, so that ἱμάτιονouter garment παλαιωθήσονται,I make old, declare obsolete
you will roll them up like a cloak, and like clothing they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will never run out.'
καὶand, also ὡσεὶas if, as it were, like, about περιβόλαιονa wrapper, mantle, veil ἑλίξειςI roll, roll up αὐτούς,he, his, it ὡςas, like as, how, while, so that ἱμάτιονouter garment καὶand, also ἀλλαγήσονται·I change, alter σὺyou δὲnow, but ὁthe αὐτὸςhe, his, it εἶ,to be καὶand, also τὰthe ἔτηa year σουyou οὐκnot ἐκλείψουσιν.I fail utterly, cease, die
And to which of the angels has he ever said, 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet'?
πρὸςto, towards, with τίναany one, some one δὲnow, but τῶνthe ἀγγέλωνan angel, messenger εἴρηκένI say, speak ποτε·at one time or other ΚάθουI sit, am seated ἐκout of, from δεξιῶνon the right hand, right hand, right μουI ἕωςuntil, as far as ἂνan untranslatable word that makes a statement contingent θῶI put, place τοὺςthe ἐχθρούςhated, hostile, an enemy σουyou ὑποπόδιονa footstool τῶνthe ποδῶνthe foot σου;you
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to serve those who are about to inherit salvation?
οὐχὶby no means, not at all πάντεςall, the whole, every kind of εἰσὶνto be λειτουργικὰministering πνεύματαwind, breath, spirit εἰςinto, so that διακονίανwaiting at table, service, ministration ἀποστελλόμεναI send forth, send, send away, dismiss διὰthrough τοὺςthe μέλλονταςI am about to κληρονομεῖνI inherit, obtain σωτηρίαν;deliverance, salvation
English: Paul Whitehorn's own translation of Hebrews from the Greek. Greek: SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. Word meanings: Dodson Greek Lexicon (public domain), via MorphGNT.
Hebrews by Heart sings through the Letter to the Hebrews, one song for every chapter. Hear all thirteen free.