Devine Scripture

Hebrews 1:9

What does Hebrews 1:9 mean?

A plain-English look at Hebrews 1:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Hebrews 1:9 means

“Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee With the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” The Son’s kingship is grounded in His moral perfection. He does not merely enforce righteousness; He loves it. He does not merely avoid evil; He hates it. Because of this holy affection and aversion, God “anoints” Him with surpassing gladness, installing Him in joyful supremacy over any companions—whether royal peers in a typological sense or all who share in God’s service. His exaltation is both righteous and joyful, blending holiness and happiness. The verse shows the ethical beauty of the King’s reign and the divine approval resting upon Him.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee With the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee With the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

You have been a lover of righteousness and a hater of evil; and so God, your God, has put the oil of joy on your head more than on the heads of those who are with you.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

thou didst love righteousness, and didst hate lawlessness; because of this did He anoint thee--God, thy God--with oil of gladness above thy partners;'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Thou hast loved justice and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Thou hast loved righteousness and hast hated lawlessness; thereforeGod, thyGod, has anointed thee with oil of gladness above thy companions.

Context

Verse 9 continues the royal declaration about the Son from verse 8, adding the reason and result of His exaltation—His love for righteousness and hatred of iniquity, leading to an anointing of gladness. This completes the picture of His righteous rule. The argument will now extend beyond royal titles to creation itself (vv. 10–12), portraying the Son as the unchanging Maker of heaven and earth. This widens the gap between the Son and angels even further.

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.

v.9This passage

v.10And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of thy hands:

Cross references

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

  • Acts 10:38

    even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

  • Psalms 45:7

    Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated wickedness: Therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee With the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:31

    The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for evermore knoweth that I lie not.

  • Galatians 5:22

    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

  • Psalms 40:8

    I delight to do thy will, O my God; Yea, thy law is within my heart.

  • Revelation 2:6

    But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

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