Hebrews 1:2
in Hebrews 1But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds;
KJV
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
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This verse in Hebrews 1
Commentary
33 notes on this verseLast days - The Gospel dispensation, called the last days and the last time, because not to be followed by any other dispensation; or the conclusion of the Jewish Church and state now at their termination. By his Son - It is very remarkable that the pronoun αὑτου, his, is not found in the text; nor is it found in any MS. or version. We should not therefore supply the pronoun as our translators have done; but simply read εν Υἱῳ, By a Son, or In a Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things.
This site's exposition
God spoke to our fathers
on Hebrews 1:1-2
On many past occasions, God spoke through the prophets, and in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son. The Son is also named heir of all and maker of the universe, so the one who ends the ages began them.
This site's exposition
in these last days
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown note that the rabbis divided all time into this age and the age to come. The days of the Messiah close the old order and open the final one, which his second coming will complete. The word rendered universe is literally the ages.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
A commentator
Theodore of MopsuestiaFRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 1.2-3 · Written before 428.
proposed
"Through whom also he made the ages." An age is not a nature that is able to exist in substance but is understood to be a certain interval. This interval can be perceived from its having a beginning of existence until its end or until …
A commentator
Theodore of MopsuestiaFRAGMENTS ON THE TREATISE ON THE INCARNATION 12.1 · Written before 428.
proposed
He does not say, "God spoke to us in the Son" but simply "in a Son." By saying this and making no separation, he was able to signify both in a single expression. First of all, he signifies the true Son, and by true Son …
"but in these last days." He comforts those worn out by adverse circumstances, saying: in the last. For, he says, the end is near; and for some, rest from pains, and for others, the beginning of rewards. "He has spoken to us by His Son." …
Who made him heir? Over whom? Over all things. Of all who approach the immortal and divine nature. Indeed, the Son is the heir and participant of the Father's substance [οὐσίας], wealth, and power. Then, when he said that the Son is the heir of …
"through whom also He made the ages." Where are those who say, "when the Son was not"? For the Creator of the ages is not subject to time. But since the Father is the cause of the Son, it is fitting that He is also …
25 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers12 voices
A commentator
Severian of GabalaFRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 1.1-2 · Written before 425.
proposed
"He spoke to us in his Son," instead of "by the Son." For he did not speak in him as an instrument but rather through him as one indwelling the flesh.… For when he had said, "He has spoken to us in his Son whom …
A commentator
Ephrem the SyrianCOMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS · Written before 373.
proposed
Paul says, "through whom he made the worlds," that is, both the spiritual and material worlds.
He spoke of the Son as "creator of the ages" to bring out that he is eternal and to teach us that he was always beyond any temporal interval whatsoever. In these terms the Old Testament speaks of the God and Father as the one …
"Whom he appointed heir of all things." The divine apostle began with human beings, and after speaking first of the lowlier things he thus lays hold of the greater. In other words, Christ the Lord is heir of all things, not as God, but as …
He clearly brought out the difference between Christ the Lord and the prophets, calling him alone "Son." The opening resembles the parable of the Lord: in telling the parable about the vineyard to the Jews, the Lord showed that slaves were first sent to the …
A commentator
JeromeHOMILIES ON THE PSALMS, ALTERNATE SERIES 66 (PSALM 88) · Written before 420.
proposed
He, who first spoke through patriarchs and prophets, afterwards spoke in his own person. As the Song of Songs says, "that he would kiss me with the kisses of his mouth." He is saying, therefore, "Now, in my own person, I speak of him of whom I spoke through the prophets." The world could not hear him in his thundering, but may it hear him, at least, in his crying.
God, having of old time spoken unto the fathers in the prophets by divers portions and in divers manners, hath at the end of these days spoken unto us in His Son, thus distributing the word into portions and manners, into the prophets and His …
A commentator
Lucius Caecilius Firmianus LactantiusThe Divine Institutes Book 4, Chapter II · Written before 325.
proposed
For God had determined, as the last time drew near, to send from heaven a great leader, who should reveal to foreign nations that which was taken away from a perfidious and ungrateful people. And I will endeavour to discuss the subject in this book, if I shall first have shown that wisdom is so closely united with religion, that the one cannot be separated from the other.
For at the end of the ages the Son himself spoke to us through himself. No longer through the mediation of a prophet or the voice of saints but through himself, the only begotten, by being born into our condition, spoke with us. And we say that the Father spoke in the Son, not as through a human being somehow established as a special kind of mediator or as one declaring a message to us which was not his own but another's. Rather, the Son spoke to us in his own voice through his own body. For the flesh belonged to the only begotten and not to anyone else. Though God by nature, he became human while remaining God.
Truly, "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." This at least the blessed Paul intimates here also, in the very beginning of his Epistle to the Hebrews. For since as it was likely that afflicted, worn out by evils, and judging of things thereby, they would think themselves worse off than all other men, he shows that herein they had rather been made partakers of greater, even very exceeding, grace; arousing the hearer at the very opening of his discourse. Wherefore he says, "God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the Prophets, hath at the end of the days spoken unto us by His Son." Why did he [Paul] not oppose "himself" to "the prophets"? Certainly, he was much greater than they, inasmuch as a greater trust was committed to him. Yet he doth not so. Why? First, to avoid speaking great things concerning himself. Secondly, because his hearers were not yet perfect. And thirdly, because he rather wished to exalt them, and to show that their superiority was great. As if he had said, What so great matter is it that He sent prophets to our fathers? For to us [He has sent] His own only-begotten Son Himself. And well did he begin thus, "At sundry times and in divers manners," for he points out that not even the prophets themselves saw God; nevertheless, the Son saw Him. For the expressions, "at sundry times and in divers manners" are the same as "in different ways." "For I" (saith He) "have multiplied visions, and used similitudes by the ministry of the Prophets." Wherefore the excellency consists not in this alone, that to them indeed prophets were sent, but to us the Son; but that none of them saw God, but the Only-begotten Son saw Him. […]
Well also said he, "at the end of the days," for by this he both stirs them up and encourages them desponding of the future. For as he says also in another place, "The Lord is at hand, be careful for nothing," and again, "For now is our salvation nearer than when we believed": so also here. What then is it which he says? That whoever is spent in the conflict, when he hears of the end thereof, recovers his breath a little, knowing that it is the end indeed of his labors, but the beginning of his rest. "Hath in the end of the days spoken unto us in [His] Son." Behold again he uses the saying, "in [His] Son," for "through the Son," against those who assert that this phrase is proper to the Spirit. Dost thou see that the [word] "in" is "through"? And the expression, "In times past," and this, "In the end of the days," shadows forth some other meaning: that when a long time had intervened, when we were on the edge of punishment, when the Gifts had failed, when there was no expectation of deliverance, when we were expecting to have less than all, then we have had more. And see how considerately he hath spoken it. For he said not, "Christ spake" (albeit it was He who did speak), but inasmuch as their souls were weak, and they were not yet able to hear the things concerning Christ, he says, "God hath spoken by Him." What meanest thou? did God speak through the Son? Yes. What then? Is it thus thou showest the superiority? for here thou hast but pointed out that both the New and the Old [Covenants] are of One and the same: and that this superiority is not great. Wherefore he henceforth follows on upon this argument, saying, "He spake unto us by [His] Son." (Note, how Paul makes common cause, and puts himself on a level with the disciples, saying, He spake "to us": and yet He did not speak to him, but to the Apostles, and through them to the many. […]
"Whom He appointed," saith he, "heir of all." What is "whom He appointed heir of all"? He speaks here of the flesh [the human nature]. As He also says in the second Psalm, "Ask of Me, and I will give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance." For no longer is "Jacob the portion of the Lord" nor "Israel His inheritance," but all men: that is to say, He hath made Him Lord of all: which Peter also said in the Acts, "God hath made Him both Lord and Christ." But he has used the name "Heir," declaring two things: His proper sonship and His indefeasible sovereignty. "Heir of all," that is, of all the world. Then again he brings back his discourse to its former point. "By whom also He made the worlds [the ages]." Where are those who say, There was [a time] when He was not?
The Medieval Church6 voices
And by this he further encourages them, saying: the end is near. For one exhausted by struggle finds some rest when he hears of the end of the struggle. He also implies something else by the words "in these last days." When, he says, no …
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 3 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
First, then, the only being able to save would have to be preeminent in power. Hence, in the Epistle to the Hebrews: "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all in …
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 9 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
The Holy Spirit radiated in the hearts of the preachers so that they could preach and write all the truth. God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all in these days …
A commentator
Photios I of ConstantinopleFRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 1.2-3 · Written before 893.
proposed
"Whom he appointed the heir of all." Of what? Of all those who approach the undefiled divine nature. Indeed, the Son is the heir and partaker of the Father's nature, dominion and power. If the Son is the heir of the Father's attributes, it is …
He made the ages who exists before the ages, of whom the divine David says, "From everlasting to everlasting you are" and the divine apostle, "By whom he made the ages."38Now one should note that the term age has several meanings, because it signifies a great many things. The span of life of every person is called an age, and a period of one thousand years is called an age. Moreover, this whole present life is called an age, and so is the age without end to come after the resurrection. Again, that is called an age which is neither time nor any division of time measured by the course and motion of the sun, that is, made up of days and nights; but it is coextensive with eternal things after the fashion of some sort of temporal period and interval. This kind of age is to eternal things exactly what time is to temporal things.
14. – Then (v. 2) he describes the doctrine of the New Testament and mentions five properties. Four of these are differences from those of the Old, and one is the same. For when he had said, in many and various ways, he was indicating …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
The Son is the firstborn, born before all things: the heir is a term relating to the creation which followed, ver. 6. By whom he also made the worlds - Therefore the Son was before all worlds. His glory reaches from everlasting to everlasting, though God spake by him to us only "in these last days."
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Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,....
Between the glory of Christ and that of the highest creatures, the angels; where the pre-eminence is justly given to the Lord Jesus Christ, and clearly demonstrated to belong to him,
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Christ was "appointed" (in God's eternal counsel) to creation as an office; and the universe so created was assigned to Him as a kingdom. He is "heir of all things" by right of creation, and especially by right of redemption. The promise to Abraham that he should be heir of the world had its fulfilment, and will have it still more fully, in Christ (Ro 4:13;
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A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2635: “Depths and Heights” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) · Written before 1892.
proposed
I HAVE nothing to do tonight but to preach Jesus Christ. This was the old subject of the first Christian ministers— "Daily in the Temple and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." When Philip went down to the city of Samaria, he "preached Christ unto them." When he sat with the Ethiopian eunuch in his chariot, he, "preached unto him, Jesus." As soon as Paul was converted, "straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues." For once we count the venerableness of our subject well worthy of mentioning, we shall not be ashamed to preach what the Apostles preached and what martyrs and confessors preached! We hope to proclaim this glorious Gospel of the blessed God as long as we live! And we hope that when this generation of preachers shall have passed away, unless the Lord shall come, there will always be found a succession of men who shall determine to preach nothing "save Jesus Christ and Him crucified." For, after all, this is the subject which men most of all need. They may have cravings after other things, but nothing can satisfy the deep real need of their nature but Jesus Christ and salvation by His precious blood! He is the Bread of Life which came down from Heaven! He is the Water of Life of which, if a man drinks, he shall never thirst again! Hence, it becomes us to be often dwelling upon this theme, for it is most necessary to the sons of men. This is the subject which God the Holy Spirit delights to bless. I am sure that, other things being equal, He honors preaching in proportion to the savor of Christ that is in it! I may preach a great deal about the Church, but the Holy Spirit does not take of the things of Christ to glorify the Church.
A commentator
Charles Spurgeon1834–1892
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2635: “Depths and Heights” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) · Written before 1892.
proposed
I HAVE nothing to do tonight but to preach Jesus Christ. This was the old subject of the first Christian ministers— "Daily in the Temple and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." When Philip went down to the city of Samaria, he "preached Christ unto them." When he sat with the Ethiopian eunuch in his chariot, he, "preached unto him, Jesus." As soon as Paul was converted, "straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues."
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Hath in these last days - In this the final dispensation; or in this dispensation under which the affairs of the world will be wound up. Phrases similar to this occur frequently in the Scriptures. They do not imply that the world was soon coming to an end, but that that was the “last” dispensation, the “last” period of the world. There had been the patriarchal period, the period under the Law, the prophets, etc., and This was the period during which God’s “last” method of communication would be enjoyed, and under which the world would close. It might be a very long period, but it would be the “last” one; and so far as the meaning of the phrase is concerned, it might be the longest period, or longer than all the others put together, but still it would be the “last” one. See Act 2:17 note; Isa 2:2 note. Spoken unto us - The word “us” here does not of necessity imply that the writer of the Epistle had actually heard him, or that they had heard him to whom the Epistle was written. It means that God had now communicated his will to man by his Son. It may be said with entire propriety that God has spoken to us by his Son, though we have not personally heard or seen him. We have what he spoke and caused to be recorded for our direction. By his Son - The title commonly given to the Lord Jesus, as denoting his unique relation to God. It was understood by the Jews to denote equality with God (notes, Joh 5:18; compare Joh 10:33, Joh 10:36), and is used with such a reference here. See notes on Rom 1:4, where the meaning of the phrase “Son of God” is fully considered. It is implied here that the fact that the Son of God has spoken to us imposes the highest obligations to attend to what he has said; that he has an authority superior to all those who have spoken in past times; and that there will be special guilt in refusing to attend to what he has spoken. […]
The words behind it
19 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐπ᾽ | ep᾽ | in | G1909 → | 883 times |
| ἐσχάτου | eschatou | [this] last | G2078 → | |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἡμερῶν | hemeron | days | G2250 → | 389 times |
| τούτων | touton | these | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἐλάλησεν | elalesen | has spoken | G2980 → | 294 times |
| ἡμῖν | hemin | to us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| υἱῷ | huio | [His] Son | G5207 → | 377 times |
| ὃν | hon | whom | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ἔθηκεν | etheken | He appointed | G5087 → | 100 times |
| κληρονόμον | kleronomon | heir | G2818 → | 15 times |
| πάντων, | panton | of all things, | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| δι᾽ | di᾽ | through | G1223 → | 664 times |
| οὗ | hou | whom | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐποίησεν | epoiesen | He made | G4160 → | 569 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| αἰῶνας, | aionas | ages | G165 → | 121 times |
ἐπ᾽in
ep᾽G1909 →883 times
ἐσχάτου[this] last
eschatouG2078 →
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἡμερῶνdays
hemeronG2250 →389 times
τούτωνthese
toutonG3778 →1381 times
ἐλάλησενhas spoken
elalesenG2980 →294 times
ἡμῖνto us
heminG3165 →1936 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
υἱῷ[His] Son
huioG5207 →377 times
ὃνwhom
honG3739 →1405 times
ἔθηκενHe appointed
ethekenG5087 →100 times
κληρονόμονheir
kleronomonG2818 →15 times
πάντων,of all things,
pantonG3956 →1235 times
δι᾽through
di᾽G1223 →664 times
οὗwhom
houG3739 →1405 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐποίησενHe made
epoiesenG4160 →569 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
αἰῶνας,ages
aionasG165 →121 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
John 1:3Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.
it leads to
- Colossians 1:16–17
For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 8:6
yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and…
- Revelation 4:11
“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and came to be.”
- Colossians 1:16–17
Through
John 1:14The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
it leads to
- 1 John 4:9
This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.
- 1 Timothy 3:16
By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world,…
- Galatians 4:4
But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
- John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- Isaiah 40:5
And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all humanity together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
- 1 John 4:9
Where this verse is studied
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About Hebrews

This page draws on 26 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 3; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 9; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2635: “Depths and Heights” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Cosmas Indicopleustes, The Christian Topography, Book 7; Cyril of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON HEBREWS; Ephrem the Syrian, COMMENTARY ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, HOMILIES ON THE PSALMS, ALTERNATE SERIES 66 (PSALM 88); John Chrysostom, Homily on Hebrews 1; John Damascene, ORTHODOX FAITH 2.1; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Book 4, Chapter II; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews; Photios I of Constantinople, FRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 1.2-3; Severian of Gabala, FRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 1.1-2; Theodore of Mopsuestia, FRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 1.2-3; Theodore of Mopsuestia, FRAGMENTS ON THE TREATISE ON THE INCARNATION 12.1; Theodoret of Cyrus, INTERPRETATION OF HEBREWS 1; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Hebrews and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Hebrews.
