Hebrews 1:5
For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Psalm 2 functioned in Israel as a royal enthronement psalm, likely used at coronations of Davidic kings. The kings were called God's "sons" in a representative sense as God's anointed rulers (2 Samuel 7:14, Psalm 89:26-27). However, no earthly Davidic king fully embodied the psalm's grand vision of universal dominion and unshakeable kingdom. Jewish interpreters increasingly recognized Psalm 2 as pointing forward to the ultimate Davidic King, the Messiah who would truly reign over all nations.
The Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7) stood at the heart of Jewish Messianic hope. God's unconditional promise to establish David's throne forever required a descendant who would never die and whose kingdom would never end. This necessitated someone more than merely human—someone who was both David's son and David's Lord (Matthew 22:41-45). The New Testament reveals Jesus as this promised heir who fulfills every aspect of the Davidic covenant.
First-century Jewish Christians needed to understand that Jesus' Messianic identity wasn't a departure from their Scriptures but their fulfillment. By quoting these foundational Old Testament texts, the author demonstrates that Christ's supremacy over angels is biblically grounded, not a novel claim. The very Scriptures that described angels also prophesied a Son who would surpass them infinitely.
Questions for Reflection
- How does understanding Christ as the eternal Son of God (not merely a good teacher or prophet) change your confidence in salvation?
- What does it mean practically that you share in Christ's Sonship through adoption, and how should this affect your daily life?
- How can you grow in reading the Old Testament Christologically, seeing how it points to and finds fulfillment in Christ?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? The author now provides scriptural proof of Christ's superior name and status, citing two Old Testament passages. The rhetorical question "unto which of the angels said he at any time" expects the answer "none"—God never addressed any angel as "Son" in the unique, eternal sense applied to Christ.
The first quotation is from Psalm 2:7, a royal Messianic psalm celebrating the enthronement of David's greater Son. "Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee" (Huios mou ei sy, egō sēmeron gegennēka se, Υἱός μου εἶ σύ, ἐγὼ σήμερον γεγέννηκά σε) refers not to Christ's eternal generation within the Trinity (though that truth underlies it) but to the public declaration of His Sonship through resurrection and exaltation (Romans 1:4, Acts 13:33). The "today" marks the decisive moment when Christ's victory over death vindicated His identity as God's Son.
The second quotation comes from 2 Samuel 7:14, part of the Davidic covenant where God promises David an eternal dynasty through his seed. Originally applied to Solomon, it finds ultimate fulfillment in Christ, David's greater descendant. "I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son" establishes the covenant relationship that transcends any angelic service. Angels are created servants; Christ is the eternal Son who relates to the Father in unique, intimate, coequal relationship.
The dual testimony of these texts establishes that Christ's Sonship is not a New Testament innovation but rooted in Old Testament prophecy and promise. The Messianic King prophesied in Israel's Scriptures is none other than God's own Son, whose relationship to the Father infinitely surpasses any angelic connection to God.