Hebrews 1:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.

NIV: But about the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

NASB: But regarding the Son He says, 'YOUR THRONE, God, IS FOREVER AND EVER, AND THE SCEPTER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE SCEPTER OF HIS KINGDOM.

CSB: but to the Son:Your throne, God,is forever and ever,and the scepter of your kingdomis a scepter of justice.

NLT: But to the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice.

KJV: But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

NKJV: But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.

Verses 8 and 9 contrast with verse 7. Verse 7 indicated that angels are servants, arranged and molded by God for His purposes. Here, the writer of Hebrews contrasts this servanthood with the rulership bestowed on Jesus. This follows the theme of this passage of the Bible: proving from the Jewish Scriptures that Jesus is superior to any angel or created being.

Here, the author quotes from Psalm 45:6–7, in a reference running through verse 9. This Old Testament passage heralds the ultimate victory of the Messiah. Like other Old Testament references used in Hebrews, there are multiple layers of meaning implied in these verses. Psalm 45 is most directly about an earthly king's wedding. The symbolism and meaning are also echoes of the relationship between Jesus, who is King and Messiah, and His spiritual bride, the church.

Psalm 45:6–7 specifically praises the moral strength of this king, as well as the nature of his throne: "forever and ever." This stands in contrast to the idea of the flexible, servant-oriented angels referenced in Hebrews 1:7. Psalm 45:6 describes this kingly figure as one with a scepter—a clear symbol of power and authority.

Hebrews 1:5–14 uses a collection of Old Testament quotations. These are used to support the claims made in verses 1 through 4. In particular, the writer is explaining that Jesus Christ is not merely some angelic being or a created spiritual power. He is the exact nature of God and above all other authorities. Since this letter is written to a Jewish audience, this use of Old Testament material is crucial and would have been especially effective. This explanation continues through the entire second chapter of Hebrews.

Chapter 1 starts off with an immediate appeal to God's communication with mankind. It also establishes the divinity of Jesus Christ. Hebrews describes Jesus as superior to all other beings and all other claims. The first area where Jesus is elevated is with respect to angels. Using direct quotations from the Old Testament, this chapter clearly demonstrates that Jesus is above, beyond, and far more than every angel. This theme will continue through chapter 2.

The first chapter of Hebrews establishes two primary ideas used to support the rest of the book. First, that God has spoken to mankind, most recently through Jesus, so we ought to be listening to Him. Secondly, chapter 1 introduces the fact that Jesus is superior to other spiritual beings, such as angels. These concepts are used to support the superiority of faith in Christ, over the Old Testament Law, expressed in the book's later chapters.

The book of Hebrews is meant to challenge, encourage, and empower Christian believers. According to this letter, Jesus Christ is superior to all other prophets and all other claims to truth. Since God has given us Christ, we ought to listen to what He says and not move backwards. The consequences of ignoring God are dire. Hebrews is important for drawing on many portions of the Old Testament in making a case that Christ is the ultimate and perfect expression of God's plan for mankind. This book presents some tough ideas about the Christian faith, a fact the author makes specific note of.