Hebrews 1:2

New Testament Epistle (General) ASV (1901)

What does Hebrews 1:2 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “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;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

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;
Hebrews 1:2 — American Standard Version

Context — Hebrews 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2hath 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;

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, etc..] This is the Gospel revelation, or the revelation in the Gospel dispensation; which though it comes from the same author the other does, yet in many things differs from it, and is preferable to it; and indeed the general design of this epistle is to show the superior excellency of the one to the other; the former was delivered out in time past, but this “in these last days”; the Alexandrian copy, the Complutensian edition, and several other copies, read, “in the last of these days”: perfectly agreeable to the phrase µymyh tyrjab, used in (<014901>Genesis 49:1 <042414>Numbers 24:14 <230202>Isaiah 2:2) to which the apostle refers, and in…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“in these last days--In the oldest manuscripts the Greek is. "At the last part of these days." The Rabbins divided the whole of time into "this age," or "world," and "the age to come" (Heb 2:5; Heb 6:5). The days of Messiah were the transition period or "last part of these days" (in contrast to "in times past"), the close of the existing dispensation, and beginning of the final dispensation of which Christ's second coming shall be the crowning consummation. by his Son--Greek, "IN (His) Son" (Joh 14:10). The true "Prophet" of God. "His majesty is set forth: (1) Absolutely by the very name "Son," and by three glorious predicates, "whom He hath appointed," "by whom He made the worlds," "who sat…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“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…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Whom he hath appointed heir of all things - After the name of Son, his inheritance is mentioned. God appointed him the heir long before he made the worlds, Eph 3:11; Pro 8:22, &c. The Son is the firstborn, born before all things: the heir is a term relating to the creation which followed, Heb 1:6. 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." Hebrews 1:3”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“1:2 These final days refers to the historical era inaugurated at Christ’s coming (see Isa 2:2; Acts 2:17). Whereas the revelation of the Old Testament era came in a wide variety of forms over time, God’s ultimate revelation was given through his Son, Jesus (see Heb 2:3-4). • as an inheritance: Christ is God’s royal heir; the author probably had Ps 2:8 in mind.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“these: Gen 49:1; Num 24:14; Deu 4:30, Deu 18:15, Deu 31:29; Isa 2:2; Jer 30:24, Jer 48:47; Eze 38:16; Dan 2:28, Dan 10:14; Hos 3:5; Mic 4:1; Act 2:17; Gal 4:4; Eph 1:10; Pe2 3:3; Jde 1:18 spoken: Heb 1:5, Heb 1:8, Heb 2:3, Heb 5:8, Heb 7:3; Mat 3:17, Mat 17:5, Mat 26:63; Mar 1:1, Mar 12:6; Joh 1:14, Joh 1:17, Joh 1:18; Joh 3:16, Joh 15:15; Rom 1:4 appointed: Heb 2:8, Heb 2:9; Psa 2:6-9; Isa 9:6, Isa 9:7, Isa 53:10-12; Mat 21:38, Mat 28:18; Joh 3:25, Joh 13:3; Joh 16:15, Joh 17:2; Act 10:36; Rom 8:17; Co1 8:6, Co1 15:25-27; Eph 1:20-23; Phi 2:9-11; Col 1:17, Col 1:18 by whom: Pro 8:22-31; Isa 44:24, Isa 45:12, Isa 45:18; Joh 1:3; Co1 8:6; Eph 3:9; Col 1:16, Col 1:17 Hebrews 1:3”
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Sources and verification