Hebrews 1:7 BSB — MannaFest

Hebrews 1:7

Now about the angels He says: “He makes His angels winds, His servants flames of fire.”

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

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

KJV

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

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Commentary

3 voices

Gregory of Nazianzus

ON THEOLOGY, THEOLOGICAL ORATION 2(28).31 (390)

Since the Word knows the tabernacle of Moses to be a figure of the whole creation—I mean the entire system of things visible and invisible—shall we pass the first veil and, stepping beyond the realm of sense, look into the holy place, the intellectual and celestial creation? But not even this can we see in an incorporeal way, though it is incorporeal, since it is called—or is—fire and spirit. For he is said to make his angels spirits and his ministers flames of fire … though perhaps this "making" means preserving by that Word by which they came into existence.

The record, by era

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits - He gives to them an inferior name, and assigns to them a more humble office. They are mere ministers, and have not ascribed to them the name of “Son.” They have a name which implies a more humble rank and office - the name “spirit,” and the appellation of a “flame of fire.” They obey his will as the winds and the lightnings do.

Modern Voices1 voice

Michael S. Heiser

"Naked Bible Podcast Episode 176: Hebrews 1:5-14" show notes (drmsh.com) (2017)

The writer of Hebrews builds on his assertions that the particular son of God (Jesus) who was the agent of creation, eternal wisdom, and the essence of God, by comparing him to other supernatural sons of God (angels).

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

18 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
καὶ	kai	And	G2532 →
πρὸς	pros	as to	G4314 →
μὲν	men	indeed	G3303 →
τοὺς	tous	the	G3588 →
ἀγγέλους	angelous	angels	G32 →
λέγει·	legei	He says:	G3004 →
ὁ	ho	The [One]	G3588 →
ποιῶν	poiōn	making	G4160 →
τοὺς	tous	the	G3588 →
ἀγγέλους	angelous	angels	G32 →
αὐτοῦ	autou	of Him	G846 →
πνεύματα	pneumata	winds	G4151 →
καὶ	kai	and	G2532 →
τοὺς	tous	the	G3588 →
λειτουργοὺς	leitourgous	ministers	G3011 →
αὐτοῦ	autou	of Him	G846 →
πυρὸς	puros	of fire	G4442 →
φλόγα·	phloga	a flame;	G5395 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
2 Kings 6:17
Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and…
leads to
- Hebrews 1:14
  Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
  Reached by 4 independent paths from here.
- Psalms 68:17
  The chariots of God are tens of thousands— thousands of thousands are they; the Lord is in His sanctuary as He was at Sinai.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- Zechariah 6:1–7
  And again I lifted up my eyes and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze.
Through
Hebrews 1:14
Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
leads to
- Psalms 34:7
  The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and he delivers them.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- Psalms 103:20–21
  Bless the LORD, all His angels mighty in strength who carry out His word, who hearken to the voice of His command.
- Psalms 91:11–12
  For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
- Daniel 6:22
  My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O…
- Matthew 18:10
  See that you do not look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven.

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