Translation commentary on Hebrews 1:7

This verse begins another contrast: verse 7 refers to the angels, and verses 8-12 to the Son. The “And” with which the verse opens (King James Version) should therefore be omitted, so as to make a clean break. But in Good News Translation suggests a contrast with verse 6, and Good News Bible therefore uses however in verse 8 for variety. However, in the Greek the major contrast is clearly between verses 7 and 8. Earlier editions of Good News Bible left the minor contrast between verses 6 and 7 implicit by beginning verse 7 This is what God said about the angels.

About the angels God said may be expressed as “God spoke about his angels” or “in speaking about his angels, God said.”

God, at the beginning of the quotation, is implied, but Revised Standard Version shows how confusing a translation can be if this is not made explicit. On a first reading, it is not at all clear to whom RSV’s “Who” refers.

The quotation is an example of parallelism, a common device of Hebrew poetry. As in this verse, the two halves of the statement often mean essentially the same. For stylistic reasons it may be necessary to use two different words for angels and servants, but there is no difference in meaning in this context. In English and some other languages, the and can be omitted before his servants to make it clear that the second line of the quotation largely repeats the first.

In order to understand the first line of the quotation, it is necessary to realize that Greek has the same word for wind and “spirit.” (The same play on words is made in John 3.8.) Since the second line of the quotation mentions flames of fire, it is best to translate winds in the first line. However, since the same Greek word is used in verse 14 with the meaning “spirits,” it may be helpful to add a footnote to verse 7; for example, “The same Greek word means ‘wind’ and ‘spirit.’ ”

What is the exact relationship between angels and servants on the one hand, and winds and flames of fire on the other hand? In other words, what is the meaning of the word translated makes? The Hebrew text of Psalm 104.4 may mean either (a) God makes winds and flames into his messengers and servants; or (b) God turns his servants into winds and flames. The Greek text can mean only (b). Moffatt (Moffatt) translates “turns his angels into winds, his servants into flames of fire.”

A strictly literal rendering of God makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire would imply that God was actually changing his angels into wind and changing his servants into flames of fire, as some kind of miraculous change of real substance. Obviously the emphasis here is upon the contrast between the functions and roles of the angels and of the servants of God. It is sometimes said that Hebrews wishes to emphasize the changeable nature of angels, in contrast with the eternal nature of the Son (verse 8). However, there is little or no evidence that “wind” and “fire” suggest weakness or changeableness in the Bible. The contrast between verses 7 and 8-10 is between angels as subordinate, created beings, and the Son as creator and Lord. It may thus be necessary in some languages to employ a simile rather than a metaphor. Hence, one may translate “God makes his angels to be like wind, and he causes his servants to be like flames of fire” or “… fiery flames.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Letter of the Hebrews. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

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