Hebrews 1:13
in Hebrews 1Yet to which of the angels did God ever say: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet”?
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But of which of the angels hath he said at any time, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet?
KJV
But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
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This verse in Hebrews 1
Commentary
19 notes on this verseAnd that God the Father of all would bring Christ to heaven after He had raised Him from the dead, and would keep Him there until He has subdued His enemies the devils, and until the number of those who are foreknown by Him as good and virtuous is complete, on whose account He has still delayed the consummation-hear what was said by the prophet David. These are his words: "The Lord said unto My Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.
This site's exposition
Sit at My right hand
on Hebrews 1:13-14
The last citation is Psalm 110:1, Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool, taken up again at 10:12 to 13. The angels are ministering spirits sent to serve, and the chapter ends with the Son enthroned.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
Therefore, he offered the first fruits of our nature to the Father. And the Father marveled at the gift, both for the worthiness of the one who presented it and for the purity of what was offered, as if to receive it with His own …
He said that he did not want to show that he would not have dared to sit otherwise unless commanded: certainly not; but do not think that he lacks a beginning. For that this is so is indicated by the place of the chair, designating …
Having thus dealt with divine things, he shifts once more to the human. It is not to him as God that he says, "Sit at my right hand": how could it be, when "his throne is for ever and ever"? So as human he shared …
We have heard a psalm which is amazing in its heavenly arrangement. In this text, it is clear that the humility in his humanity is as great as the power in his divinity. The holy Word took upon himself the nature of our weakness, as …
"In a pillar of cloud he used to speak to them, because they were keeping his testimonies and the commandments which he gave them." The words "in a pillar of cloud" are not empty words, for a pillar is always placed in a house to …
12 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers4 voices
If all created nature worships Christ, for through the friendly speech of the angels He gives signs to nature, so it is said, "For which of the angels has He said anytime; sit at my right hand (Heb. 1:13); and He is over them- and …
This is the way, dear friends, in which we found our salvation, Jesus Christ, the high priest of our offerings, the protector and helper of our weakness. Through him we fix our gaze on the heights of heaven. In him we see mirrored God's pure and transcendent face. Through him the eyes of our hearts have been opened. Through him our foolish and darkened understanding springs up to the light. Through him the Master has willed that we should taste immortal knowledge. For, since "he reflects the glory of God," "he is as much superior to the angels as the name he has obtained is more excellent than theirs." For thus it is written: "He makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire." But of his Son this is what the Master said: "You are my son, today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession." And again he says to him, "Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool." Who are meant by "enemies"? Those who are wicked and resist his will.
"But to which of the Angels said He at any time, Sit thou on My right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool?" Behold, again he encourages them, inasmuch as their enemies were to be worsted, and their enemies are the same also with Christ's. This again belongs to Sovereignty, to Equal Dignity, to Honor and not weakness, that the Father should be angry for the things done to the Son. This belongs to His great Love and honor towards the Son, as of a father towards a son. For He that is angry in His behalf how is He a stranger to Him? Which also he saith in the second Psalm, "He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn, and the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure." And again He Himself saith, "Those that would not that I should reign over them, bring hither before Me, and slay them." For that they are His own words, hear also what He saith in another place, "How often would I have gathered thy children together, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left desolate." And again, "The kingdom shall be taken from you, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." And again, "He that falleth upon that stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever It shall fall, It will grind him to powder." And besides, He who is to be their Judge in that world, much more did He Himself repay them in this. So that the words "Till I make thine enemies thy footstool" are expressive of honor only towards the Son.
A commentator
Severian of GabalaFRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 1.12-14 · Written before 425.
proposed
"But to what angel has he ever said?" Leaving aside all the rest of creation he speaks about that which is higher than the rest of creation, namely, the angels. For if the Son differed from the angels in that they were created but he …
The Medieval Church3 voices
Here he again encourages them; and indeed, will not their enemies be defeated, and their enemies are also enemies of Christ. It is not because the Son is powerless that it is said the Father will subject the enemies, for the Son, Who will judge …
A commentator
Photios I of ConstantinopleFRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 1.13 · Written before 893.
proposed
He lifted up the first offering of our nature to the Father, and the Father marveled at this offering. And because of the high esteem of the one who offered it and because of the purity of the offering, he, as the father of the …
79. – Above, the Apostle proved three things in which Christ excels the angels; here he proves a fourth, namely, that He sits on the right hand of majesty, which pertains to His dignity. In regard to this he does two things: first, he adduces …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But to which of the angels said he at any time,....
(2.) What the angels are as to their office: they are ministering spirits. Christ, as Mediator, is the great minister of God in the great work of redemption. The Holy Spirit is the great minister of God and Christ in the application of this redemption.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
But to which of the angels - The apostle adduces one other proof of the exaltation of the Son of God above the angels. He asks where there is an instance in which God had addressed any one of the angels, and asked him to sit at his right hand until he should subdue his enemies under him? Yet that high honor had been conferred on the Son of God; and he was therefore far exalted above them. “Sit on my right hand;” see notes on Heb 1:
But to which of the angels - We have already seen, from the opinions and concessions of the Jews, that, if Jesus Christ could be proved to be greater than the angels, it would necessarily follow that he was God: and this the apostle does most amply prove by these various quotations from their own Scriptures; for he shows that while he is the supreme and absolute Sovereign, they are no more than his messengers and servants, and servants even to his servants, i.e. to mankind.
Modern Voices1 voice
A commentator
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).
The words behind it
21 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| πρὸς | pros | To | G4314 → | 700 times |
| τίνα | tina | which | G5101 → | 563 times |
| δὲ | de | now | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τῶν | ton | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀγγέλων | angelon | angels | G32 → | 175 times |
| εἴρηκέν | eireken | has He said | G2046 → | 47 times |
| ποτε· | pote | ever: | G4218 → | 54 times |
| κάθου | kathou | do sit | G2521 → | |
| ἐκ | ek | at | G1537 → | 911 times |
| δεξιῶν | dexion | [the] right hand | G1188 → | 53 times |
| μου | mou | of Me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἕως | he'os | until | G2193 → | 146 times |
| ἂν | an | when | G302 → | 165 times |
| θῶ | tho | I may place | G5087 → | 100 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐχθρούς | echthrous | enemies | G2190 → | |
| σου | sou | of You | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ὑποπόδιον | hupopodion | [as] a footstool | G5286 → | |
| τῶν | ton | for the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ποδῶν | podon | feet | G4228 → | 93 times |
| σου; | sou | of You? | G4771 → | 2973 times |
πρὸςTo
prosG4314 →700 times
τίναwhich
tinaG5101 →563 times
δὲnow
deG1161 →2765 times
τῶνof the
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἀγγέλωνangels
angelonG32 →175 times
εἴρηκένhas He said
eirekenG2046 →47 times
ποτε·ever:
poteG4218 →54 times
κάθουdo sit
kathouG2521 →
ἐκat
ekG1537 →911 times
δεξιῶν[the] right hand
dexionG1188 →53 times
μουof Me
mouG3165 →1936 times
ἕωςuntil
he'osG2193 →146 times
ἂνwhen
anG302 →165 times
θῶI may place
thoG5087 →100 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
ἐχθρούςenemies
echthrousG2190 →
σουof You
souG4771 →2973 times
ὑποπόδιον[as] a footstool
hupopodionG5286 →
τῶνfor the
tonG3588 →19766 times
ποδῶνfeet
podonG4228 →93 times
σου;of You?
souG4771 →2973 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
Psalms 110:1The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
it leads to
- Hebrews 10:12–13
But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- 1 Corinthians 15:25
For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Luke 20:42–43
For David himself says in the book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand
- Mark 12:35–37
While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, He asked, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David?
- Hebrews 10:12–13
Through
Matthew 22:44‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.”’
it leads to
- Psalms 110:1
The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 2:34–35
For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand
- Psalms 110:1
Through
Mark 12:36Speaking by the Holy Spirit, David himself declared: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.”’
it leads to
- Matthew 22:43–45
Jesus said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord’? For he says:
- Matthew 22:43–45
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies23
On this chapter
- Angelology
- The Deity of Christ
- The Divine Council
- Hearing God
- The Joy Set Before Him
- Once for All: the Finished Sacrifice
Show the next 6 titles
About Hebrews

This page draws on 19 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); Cassiodorus, EXPOSITION OF THE PSALMS 68.37; Cassiodorus, EXPOSITION OF THE PSALMS 98.7; Clement of Rome, 1 CLEMENT 36.1-6; Didymus the Blind, Commentary (church-history corpus); John Chrysostom, Homily on Hebrews 3; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Justin Martyr, The First Apology, Chapter XLV; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Michael S. Heiser, "Naked Bible Podcast Episode 176: Hebrews 1:5-14" show notes (drmsh.com); Oecumenius, The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews; Photios I of Constantinople, FRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 1.13; Severian of Gabala, FRAGMENTS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS 1.12-14; Sir Robert Anderson, Types in Hebrews; Theodoret of Cyrus, INTERPRETATION OF HEBREWS 1; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Hebrews and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Hebrews.
