Devine Scripture

Hebrews 1:7

What does Hebrews 1:7 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 1:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 1:7 means

Concerning angels, Scripture says, “Who maketh his angels winds, And his ministers a flame of fire.” Angels are portrayed as swift, powerful servants, like winds and flames that carry out God’s commands. They are created, changeable, and instrumental—magnificent, yet fundamentally ministerial. Their glory is derivative and functional, not sovereign. By describing them in terms of elements, the verse emphasizes their role as God’s messengers rather than rulers. This prepares the contrast: while angels are mobilized forces in God’s service, the Son is not described as an element or instrument but as the enthroned King and God Himself, worthy of worship and possessing an eternal scepter.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels winds, And his ministers a flame of fire:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels winds, And his ministers a flame of fire:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And of the angels he says, Who makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and unto the messengers, indeed, He saith, `Who is making His messengers spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire;'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And to the angels indeed he saith: He that maketh his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And as to the angels he says, Who makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire;

Context

Verse 7 presents the angelic role: servants fashioned and commissioned by God. It follows the call for angels to worship the Son (v. 6), and it precedes the declaration of the Son’s eternal throne (vv. 8–9). The structure alternates between statements about angels and about the Son to highlight the vast difference in status. This verse’s emphasis on functional service sets up the next verses’ focus on the Son’s identity, kingship, and moral perfection.

v.6And when he again bringeth in the firstborn into the world he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

v.7This passage

v.8but of the Sonhe saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; And the sceptre of uprightness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Zechariah 6:5

    And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four winds of heaven, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.

  • 2 Kings 6:17

    And Elisha prayed, and said, Jehovah, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And Jehovah 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.

  • Psalms 104:4

    Who maketh winds his messengers; Flames of fire his ministers;

  • Ezekiel 1:13

    As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches: the fire went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.

  • 2 Kings 2:11

    And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, which parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

  • Daniel 7:10

    A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousands of thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

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