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id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/hebrews/1-6.htm" title="Hebrews 1:6">◄</a> Hebrews 1:7 <a href="/hebrews/1-8.htm" title="Hebrews 1:8">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comment </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Greek </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/hebrews/1.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/hebrews/1.htm">New International Version</a> In speaking of the angels he says, &#8220He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.&#8221 <a href="/nlt/hebrews/1.htm">New Living Translation</a> Regarding the angels, he says, “He sends his angels like the winds, his servants like flames of fire.” <a href="/esv/hebrews/1.htm">English Standard Version</a> Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” <a href="/bsb/hebrews/1.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Now about the angels He says: “He makes His angels winds, His servants flames of fire.” <a href="/blb/hebrews/1.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And indeed as to the angels He says: "The One making His angels winds, and His ministers a flame of fire." <a href="/kjv/hebrews/1.htm">King James Bible</a> And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. <a href="/nkjv/hebrews/1.htm">New King James Version</a> And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.” <a href="/nasb_/hebrews/1.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> And regarding the angels He says, “HE MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS, AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE.” <a href="/nasb/hebrews/1.htm">NASB 1995</a> And of the angels He says, &#8220WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS, AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE.&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/hebrews/1.htm">NASB 1977 </a> And of the angels He says, “WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS, AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE.” <a href="/lsb/hebrews/1.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> And of the angels He says, “WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS, AND HIS MINISTERS FLAMING FIRE.” <a href="/amp/hebrews/1.htm">Amplified Bible</a> And concerning the angels He says, “WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS, AND HIS MINISTERING SERVANTS FLAMES OF FIRE [to do His bidding].” <a href="/csb/hebrews/1.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> And about the angels he says: He makes his angels winds, and his servants a fiery flame, <a href="/hcsb/hebrews/1.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> And about the angels He says: He makes His angels winds, and His servants a fiery flame, <a href="/asv/hebrews/1.htm">American Standard Version</a> And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels winds, And his ministers a flame of fire: <a href="/cev/hebrews/1.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> And when God speaks about the angels, he says, "I change my angels into wind and my servants into flaming fire." <a href="/erv/hebrews/1.htm">English Revised Version</a> And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels winds, And his ministers a flame of fire: <a href="/gwt/hebrews/1.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> God said about the angels, "He makes his messengers winds. He makes his servants flames of fire." <a href="/gnt/hebrews/1.htm">Good News Translation</a> But about the angels God said, "God makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire." <a href="/isv/hebrews/1.htm">International Standard Version</a> Now about the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire." <a href="/msb/hebrews/1.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Now about the angels He says: “He makes His angels winds, His servants flames of fire.” <a href="/net/hebrews/1.htm">NET Bible</a> And he says of the angels, "He makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire," <a href="/nheb/hebrews/1.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Of the angels he says, "Who makes his angels winds, and his servants a flame of fire." <a href="/wbt/hebrews/1.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. <a href="/wey/hebrews/1.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> Moreover of the angels He says, "He changes His angels into winds, and His ministering servants into a flame of fire." <a href="/web/hebrews/1.htm">World English Bible</a> Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his servants a flame of fire.” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/hebrews/1.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> and to the messengers, indeed, He says, “The [One] who is making His messengers spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire”; <a href="/blb/hebrews/1.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> And indeed as to the angels He says: "The One making His angels winds, and His ministers a flame of fire." <a href="/ylt/hebrews/1.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> and unto the messengers, indeed, He saith, 'Who is making His messengers spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire;' <a href="/slt/hebrews/1.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And truly to the angels of God he says, Who making his angels spirits, and his workmen flames of fire.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/hebrews/1.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And to the angels indeed he saith: He that maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. <a href="/cpdv/hebrews/1.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And about the Angels, certainly, he says: “He makes his Angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.” <a href="/nabre/hebrews/1.htm">New American Bible</a> Of the angels he says: “He makes his angels winds and his ministers a fiery flame”; <a href="/nrsvce/hebrews/1.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire.”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/hebrews/1.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> And of the angels he said thus, Who makes his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/hebrews/1.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> But he spoke in this way about the Angels: “He makes his Angels the wind and his Ministers the burning fire.”<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/hebrews/1.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> And of the angels he says: Who makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire. <a href="/godbey/hebrews/1.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> And to the angels he says, he maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire: but to the Son he says, <a href="/haweis/hebrews/1.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> And concerning the angels indeed he thus speaks: “Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministering servants a flame of fire.”<RX 19.104.4> <a href="/mace/hebrews/1.htm">Mace New Testament</a> and of the angels, he saith, who employs his angels like the winds, and flames of fire as his ministers." <a href="/wey/hebrews/1.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> Moreover of the angels He says, "He changes His angels into winds, and His ministering servants into a flame of fire." <a href="/worrell/hebrews/1.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> And respecting the angels He saith, "Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire"; <a href="/worsley/hebrews/1.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> And as to the angels He saith, "Who maketh his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire:" <a href="/parallel/hebrews/1-7.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x-IAXXp5zcA?start=67" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/hebrews/1.htm">The Supremacy of the Son</a> …6And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all God’s angels worship Him.” 7<a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: Kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">Now</a> <a href="/greek/3303.htm" title="3303: men (Conj) -- A primary particle; properly, indicative of affirmation or concession; usually followed by a contrasted clause with de."></a> <a href="/greek/4314.htm" title="4314: pros (Prep) -- To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.">about</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tous (Art-AMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/32.htm" title="32: angelous (N-AMP) -- From aggello; a messenger; especially an angel; by implication, a pastor.">angels</a> <a href="/greek/3004.htm" title="3004: legei (V-PIA-3S) -- (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. ">He says:</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: Ho (Art-NMS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">“He</a> <a href="/greek/4160.htm" title="4160: poiōn (V-PPA-NMS) -- (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.">makes</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">His</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tous (Art-AMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/32.htm" title="32: angelous (N-AMP) -- From aggello; a messenger; especially an angel; by implication, a pastor.">angels</a> <a href="/greek/4151.htm" title="4151: pneumata (N-ANP) -- Wind, breath, spirit. ">winds,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. "></a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">His</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tous (Art-AMP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/3011.htm" title="3011: leitourgous (N-AMP) -- From a derivative of laos and ergon; a public servant, i.e. A functionary in the Temple or Gospel, or a worshipper or benefactor.">servants</a> <a href="/greek/5395.htm" title="5395: phloga (N-AFS) -- A flame. From a primary phlego; a blaze.">flames</a> <a href="/greek/4442.htm" title="4442: pyros (N-GNS) -- Fire; the heat of the sun, lightning; fig: strife, trials; the eternal fire. A primary word; fire.">of fire.”</a> 8But about the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/psalms/104-4.htm">Psalm 104:4</a> He makes the winds His messengers, flames of fire His servants. <a href="/psalms/103-20.htm">Psalm 103:20</a> Bless the LORD, all His angels mighty in strength who carry out His word, who hearken to the voice of His command. <a href="/2_kings/1-10.htm">2 Kings 1:10-14</a> Elijah answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and consumed the captain and his fifty men. / So the king sent to Elijah another captain with his fifty men. And the captain said to Elijah, “Man of God, the king declares, ‘Come down at once!’” / Again Elijah replied, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed the captain and his fifty men. ... <a href="/daniel/7-10.htm">Daniel 7:10</a> A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened. <a href="/revelation/22-8.htm">Revelation 22:8-9</a> And I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. / But he said to me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!” <a href="/matthew/13-41.htm">Matthew 13:41</a> The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness. <a href="/luke/2-13.htm">Luke 2:13-14</a> And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: / “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!” <a href="/acts/7-53.htm">Acts 7:53</a> you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.” <a href="/galatians/3-19.htm">Galatians 3:19</a> Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator. <a href="/colossians/1-16.htm">Colossians 1:16</a> For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. <a href="/1_peter/3-22.htm">1 Peter 3:22</a> who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him. <a href="/revelation/5-11.htm">Revelation 5:11</a> Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels encircling the throne, and the living creatures and the elders. And their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands. <a href="/job/38-7.htm">Job 38:7</a> while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? <a href="/psalms/148-2.htm">Psalm 148:2</a> Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His heavenly hosts. <a href="/isaiah/6-2.htm">Isaiah 6:2-3</a> Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. / And they were calling out to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory.”</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And of the angels he said, Who makes his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.of.<a href="/hebrews/1-14.htm">Hebrews 1:14</a> Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?<a href="/2_kings/2-11.htm">2 Kings 2:11</a> And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.<a href="/2_kings/6-17.htm">2 Kings 6:17</a> And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/hebrews/1-6.htm">Angels</a> <a href="/acts/6-14.htm">Changes</a> <a href="/titus/2-14.htm">Fire</a> <a href="/acts/7-30.htm">Flame</a> <a href="/2_thessalonians/1-8.htm">Flames</a> <a href="/philemon/1-11.htm">Indeed</a> <a href="/2_timothy/2-21.htm">Makes</a> <a href="/1_timothy/6-13.htm">Maketh</a> <a href="/philemon/1-4.htm">Making</a> <a href="/hebrews/1-6.htm">Messengers</a> <a href="/2_timothy/4-11.htm">Ministering</a> <a href="/1_timothy/3-12.htm">Ministers</a> <a href="/1_timothy/3-7.htm">Moreover</a> <a href="/titus/2-9.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/hebrews/1-6.htm">Speaking</a> <a href="/1_timothy/4-1.htm">Spirits</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/14-9.htm">Winds</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/hebrews/1-13.htm">Angels</a> <a href="/hebrews/7-12.htm">Changes</a> <a href="/hebrews/6-8.htm">Fire</a> <a href="/1_peter/4-12.htm">Flame</a> <a href="/hebrews/11-34.htm">Flames</a> <a href="/hebrews/2-16.htm">Indeed</a> <a href="/hebrews/2-11.htm">Makes</a> <a href="/hebrews/7-28.htm">Maketh</a> <a href="/hebrews/2-8.htm">Making</a> <a href="/hebrews/2-2.htm">Messengers</a> <a href="/hebrews/1-14.htm">Ministering</a> <a href="/hebrews/8-2.htm">Ministers</a> <a href="/hebrews/3-5.htm">Moreover</a> <a href="/hebrews/1-14.htm">Servants</a> <a href="/hebrews/2-5.htm">Speaking</a> <a href="/hebrews/1-14.htm">Spirits</a> <a href="/james/3-4.htm">Winds</a><div class="vheading2">Hebrews 1</div>1. <a href="/hebrews/1-1.htm">Christ in these last times coming to us from the Father,</a> 4. <a href="/hebrews/1-4.htm">is preferred above the angels, both in person and office.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/hebrews/1.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div>Now about the angels This phrase introduces a comparison between Jesus and the angels, emphasizing the superiority of Christ. In the context of Hebrews, angels are seen as powerful and significant beings within the Jewish tradition, often serving as messengers of God. The Greek word for "angels" is "ἄγγελοι" (angeloi), which means "messengers." This highlights their role as servants and messengers of God, distinct from the Son, who is the heir of all things.He says This indicates that the following statement is a direct quotation from God, underscoring the authority and divine origin of the message. The author of Hebrews frequently uses Old Testament quotations to validate the New Testament teachings, showing continuity and fulfillment of the Scriptures.He makes His angels winds The imagery of angels as "winds" suggests their swiftness, invisibility, and the powerful, dynamic nature of their service. The Greek word for "winds" is "πνεύματα" (pneumata), which can also mean "spirits." This dual meaning enriches the understanding of angels as both spiritual beings and forces of nature, executing God's will with the same unseen power and influence as the wind.His servants flames of fire This phrase further describes the angels' role and nature. "Flames of fire" conveys purity, intensity, and the consuming power of their service. The Greek word for "flames" is "φλόγες" (phloges), and "fire" is "πυρός" (pyros). Fire in the biblical context often symbolizes God's presence, judgment, and purification. Thus, angels as "flames of fire" reflect their role in carrying out God's holy and purifying purposes.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/hebrews/1.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(7) Spirits.--Better, winds. It is very difficult to assign any clear meaning to the ordinary rendering,--unless, indeed, we were to adopt the very strange opinion of many of the earlier commentators, that the stress is laid on "maketh" in the sense of "createth." The parallelism in these two lines of Hebrew poetry is complete, "angels" answering to "ministers," "winds" to "a flame of fire." The meaning appears to be that God, employing His messengers for His varied purposes, sends them forth in what manner He may please, clothing them with the appearance of the resistless wind or the devouring fire. (We may contrast <a href="/context/1_kings/19-11.htm" title="And he said, Go forth, and stand on the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:">1Kings 19:11-12</a>.) The force of the passage lies in the vividness with which it presents the thought of the Most High served by angels who "at His bidding speed," untiring as the wind, subtle as the fire. We feel much more distinctly than we can put into words the infinite contrast between such ministers and the Son seated at the right hand of God. The quotation is taken from <a href="/psalms/104-4.htm" title="Who makes his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:">Psalm 104:4</a>, without any variation in the Greek. Whether this translation faithfully represents the original is a question that has been warmly discussed. Not that there is any doubt that such a rendering of the Hebrew is in itself natural; but it is often alleged that the context requires an inversion of the words, Who maketh winds His messengers, flaming fire His ministers. The point cannot be examined here; we will only express a decided opinion that the translation defended above not only expresses the meaning of the Hebrew, but perfectly accords with the context of the Psalm.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/hebrews/1.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 7. - And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. A further intimation of the position assigned in the Old Testament to angels, contrasted by means of μὲν and δὲ, with further quotations with reference to the SON. A difficulty has been felt with regard to this passage (cited, as usual, from the LXX.) on the ground of the original Hebrew being supposed not to bear the meaning assigned to it. Hence the writer of the Epistle is said to have made use of an erroneous rendering for the purpose of his argument. Certainly the context of the psalm, in which God is represented as arraying himself in the glories and operating through the powers of nature, suggests no other meaning than that he uses the winds as his messengers, etc., in the same poetical sense in which he was said in the preceding verse to make the clouds his chariot; cf. <a href="/psalms/148-8.htm">Psalm 148:8</a>, "Fire and hail, snow and vapors, stormy wind fulfilling his word." If so, there is no necessary reference in the original psalm to angels. But it is to be observed, on the other hand, that the structure of ver. 4 is not in the Hebrew identical with that of "he maketh the clouds his chariot" in ver. 3, and hence, in itself, suggests some difference of meaning. For (1) a different verb is used; and (2) the order of the accusatives following the verb is reversed; in both which respects the I,XX. correctly follows the Hebrew. In ver. 3 the verb is שׂום (ὁ τιθεὶς in the LXX.), the primary meaning of which is "to set," "to place," and, when followed by two accusatives as object and predicate, denotes" to constitute or render a person or thing what the predicate expresses." In ver. 4 the verb is עָשָׂה (ὁ ποιῶν in the LXX.), the primary meaning of which, when used actively, is "to form," "to fabricate." It is used of God making the heaven and the earth (<a href="/genesis/1-7.htm">Genesis 1:7, 16</a>; <a href="/genesis/2-2.htm">Genesis 2:2</a>, etc.). When elsewhere, as here, it is followed by two accusatives, one of them (which may come either first or second in order) is found to denote the material out of which anything is formed. Thus <a href="/exodus/38-3.htm">Exodus 38:3</a>, "He made all the vessels (of) brass" (cf. <a href="/exodus/30-25.htm">Exodus 30:25</a>; <a href="/exodus/36-14.htm">Exodus 36:14</a>; <a href="/exodus/37-15.htm">Exodus 37:15, 23</a>). Hence an obvious meaning of ver. 4, so far as the mere language is concerned, would be, "He maketh [or, 'formeth'] his messengers [or, 'angels'] of winds, and his ministers of a flaming fire." (Winds certainly, not spirits, because of the context. But here the Greek πνεύματα is, in itself, as ambiguous as the Hebrew רוּחות and was as probably meant to denote winds.) According to this rendering, the meaning of the verse would seem to be that, out of the natural elements of wind and fire, some special agencies are called into being or operation; not simply that winds and fire generally are used for God's purposes. The change of phraseology between vers. 3 and 4 certainly suggests some change in the idea of the psalmist. What, then, are these agencies? What is meant by the "messengers" and "ministers" connected with the elements of wind and fire? The author of the Epistle (and probably the LXX. too, though the words ἀγγέλοι and λειτουργοὶ are, in themselves, as ambiguous as the Hebrew) saw in these words a reference to the angels, who are denoted by the same two words in <a href="/psalms/103-20.htm">Psalm 103:20, 21</a>, and who are undoubtedly spoken of elsewhere in the Old Testament as operating in the forces of nature (as in the death of the Egyptian firstborn, the pestilence in the time of David, and the destruction of Sennacherib's army), and seem, in some sense, to be identified with the winds themselves in <a href="/psalms/18-10.htm">Psalm 18:10</a>, "He rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind;" and in <a href="/psalms/35-5.htm">Psalm 35:5</a>, "Let them be as chaff before the wind; and let the angel of the LORD chase them." We say that the LXX., as well as the author of the Epistle, probably intended to express this meaning. It is, indeed, more than probable; for, ambiguous as may be the words ἀγγέλοι and λειτουργοὶ ιν τηεμσελ´εσ, the structure of the Greek sentence (in which "his angels" and "his ministers" are the objects, arid "winds" and "flames of fire" the predicates), seems to necessitate this meaning, which is further probable from what we know of Alexandrian angelology. It may thus well be that, whether or net the LXX. (rendering, as it does, the Hebrew word for word) gives the exact force of the original phrase, it hits its essential meaning, as intimating angelic agency in nature. And the learned Jews of Alexandria, followed as they are by the later rabbis generally, and by the writer of this Epistle, were, to say the least, as likely to understand the Hebrew as any modern scholars. The question, however, is not, after all, of great importance. For let us grant that the writer of the Epistle unwittingly adduced an erroneous rendering in the course of his argument. What then? It is not necessary to suppose that the inspiration of the sacred writers was such as to enlighten them in matters of Hebrew criticism. If it guarded them from erroneous teaching, it was sufficient for its purpose. And in this case the passage, as cited, at any rate expresses well the general doctrine of the Old Testament about angels, viz. that, unlike the Son, they are but subordinate agents of the Divine purposes, and connected especially with the operations of nature. It is to be observed, too, that the quotations generally in this Epistle are adduced, not as exhaustive proofs, but rather as suggestive of the general teaching of the Old Testament, with which the readers are supposed to be familiar. <a href="/commentaries/hebrews/1-7.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>Now Καὶ (Kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. about πρὸς (pros) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_4314.htm">Strong's 4314: </a> To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward. the τοὺς (tous) Article - Accusative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. angels ἀγγέλους (angelous) Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_32.htm">Strong's 32: </a> From aggello; a messenger; especially an 'angel'; by implication, a pastor. He says: λέγει (legei) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3004.htm">Strong's 3004: </a> (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. “He Ὁ (Ho) Article - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. makes ποιῶν (poiōn) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4160.htm">Strong's 4160: </a> (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do. His αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. angels ἀγγέλους (angelous) Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_32.htm">Strong's 32: </a> From aggello; a messenger; especially an 'angel'; by implication, a pastor. winds, πνεύματα (pneumata) Noun - Accusative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4151.htm">Strong's 4151: </a> Wind, breath, spirit. His αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. servants λειτουργοὺς (leitourgous) Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3011.htm">Strong's 3011: </a> From a derivative of laos and ergon; a public servant, i.e. A functionary in the Temple or Gospel, or a worshipper or benefactor. flames φλόγα (phloga) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5395.htm">Strong's 5395: </a> A flame. From a primary phlego; a blaze. of fire.” πυρὸς (pyros) Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_4442.htm">Strong's 4442: </a> Fire; the heat of the sun, lightning; fig: strife, trials; the eternal fire. A primary word; 'fire'. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/hebrews/1-7.htm">Hebrews 1:7 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/hebrews/1-7.htm">Hebrews 1:7 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/hebrews/1-7.htm">Hebrews 1:7 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/hebrews/1-7.htm">Hebrews 1:7 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/hebrews/1-7.htm">Hebrews 1:7 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/hebrews/1-7.htm">Hebrews 1:7 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/hebrews/1-7.htm">Hebrews 1:7 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/hebrews/1-7.htm">Hebrews 1:7 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/hebrews/1-7.htm">Hebrews 1:7 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/hebrews/1-7.htm">Hebrews 1:7 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/hebrews/1-7.htm">NT Letters: Hebrews 1:7 Of the angels he says Who makes (Heb. He. 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