Hebrews 1:3
What does Hebrews 1:3 mean?
A plain-English look at Hebrews 1:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Hebrews 1:3 means
The Son perfectly reveals God: He is “the effulgence of his glory” and “the very image of his substance.” This goes beyond similarity; it speaks of shared nature—He truly shows what God is. He also sustains the universe continually “by the word of his power,” so creation depends on His ongoing command. His mission includes cleansing: He “made purification of sins,” addressing our deepest need. Having completed that work, He “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high,” a position of honor and sovereign rule. Sitting signifies a finished, effective atonement and present reign. Here the Son’s deity, priestly work, and kingship converge.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
KJV
King James Version · 1611Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had made purification of sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Who, being the outshining of his glory, the true image of his substance, supporting all things by the word of his power, having given himself as an offering making clean from sins, took his seat at the right hand of God in heaven;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862who being the brightness of the glory, and the impress of His subsistence, bearing up also the all things by the saying of his might--through himself having made a cleansing of our sins, sat down at the right hand of the greatness in the highest,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Who being the brightness of his glory and the figure of his substance and upholding all things by the word of his power, making purgation of sins, sitteth on the right hand of the majesty on high:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890who being [the] effulgence of his glory and [the] expression of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, having made [by himself] the purification of sins, set himself down on the right hand of the greatness on high,
Context
Verse 3 elaborates the Son’s unique identity introduced in verse 2: divine radiance, exact representation, cosmic sustainer, atoning purifier, and exalted King. The movement is from who He is, to what He has done, to where He now is—enthroned. This prepares the direct comparison with angels in verse 4. The logic is clear: if the Son is the definitive revelation of God, creator, sustainer, redeemer, and enthroned Lord, then no angel can rival His status. The coming verses will prove this from Scripture itself.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ephesians 1:20
which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places,
- Luke 20:42
For David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
- 1 Peter 1:21
who through him are believers in God, that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.
- Hebrews 9:12
nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption.
- John 1:4
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
- Hebrews 10:12
but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
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