John Bengel Commentary - Hebrews 1:7 - 1:7

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John Bengel Commentary - Hebrews 1:7 - 1:7


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

Heb 1:7. Πρὸς, unto) [Engl. Vers. of, i.e. in reference to] “He saith to the angels,” by an indirect speech; comp πρὸς, to, Heb 11:18, note, [“In reference to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.”] The apostle seems also to have had in his mind Psalm 130:20, which immediately precedes the passage, Psa 104:4.-λέγει, He saith) viz. God, by the prophet.-ὁ ποιῶν-φλόγα) LXX., in exactly as many letters, Psa 104:4. Πνεύματα, spirits, and πυρὸς φλόγα, a flame of fire, signify not only the office of angels, but their very nature, which is no doubt of surpassing excellence, as the metaphor is taken from things the most efficacious and the most subtile, but yet very far inferior to the majesty of the Son. Therefore the expression, ποιῶν, who maketh, intimates that the angels are creatures, made by His command; but the Son is eternal, Heb 1:8, and the Creator, Heb 1:10. The subject, viz. ἄγγελοι, angels, and λειτουργοὶ, ministers, as is proved by their being put with the article,[8] has its antithesis in Heb 1:8-9. Moreover, the antithesis of Who makes, intimating the creation of the angels, is found in Heb 1:10-11. I consider it to be the predicate of the Father; comp. Heb 1:8.

[8] The article always distinguishes the subject from the predicate: therefore we cannot translate, “Who maketh winds His angels, or messengers, and a flame of fire His ministers.”-ED.