Hebrews 1:6

New Testament Epistle (General) ASV (1901)

What does Hebrews 1:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And when he again bringeth in the firstborn into the world he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And when he again bringeth in the firstborn into the world he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
Hebrews 1:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Hebrews 1

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
6And when he again bringeth in the firstborn into the world he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And again, when he bringeth the first begotten into the world; etc..] By “the first begotten” is meant Christ. This is a name given him in the Old Testament, and is what the Hebrews were acquainted with, and therefore the apostle uses it; it is in (<198927>Psalm 89:27) from whence it seems to be taken here, and which the ancient Jews f20 acknowledge is to be understood of the Messiah; who, as the Son of God, is the only begotten of the Father, and was begotten from eternity, as before declared, and before any creature had a being, and therefore called the firstborn of every creature, (<510115>Colossians 1:15) and is sometimes styled the first begotten from the dead; he rose the first 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
“And--Greek, "But." Not only this proves His superiority, BUT a more decisive proof is Psa 97:7, which shows that not only at His resurrection, but also in prospect of His being brought into the world (compare Heb 9:11; Heb 10:5) as man, in His incarnation, nativity (Luk 2:9-14), temptation (Mat 4:10-11), resurrection (Mat 28:2), and future second advent in glory, angels were designed by God to be subject to Him. Compare Ti1 3:16, "seen of angels"; God manifesting Messiah as one to be gazed at with adoring love by heavenly intelligences (Eph 3:10; Th2 1:9-10; Pe1 3:22). The fullest realization of His Lordship shall be at His second coming (Psa 97:7; Co1 15:24-25; Phi 2:9). "Worship Him all ye…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And again - Margin, “When he bringeth in again.” The proper construction of this sentence probably is, “But when, moreover, he brings in,” etc. The word “again” refers not to the fact that the Son of God is brought “again” into the world, implying that he had been introduced before; but it refers to the course of the apostle’s argument, or to the declaration which is made about the Messiah in another place. “The name Son is not only given to him as above, but also in another place, or on another occasion when he brings in the first-begotten into the world.” “When he bringeth in.” When he introduces. So far as the “language” here is concerned this might refer to the birth of the Messiah, but…”
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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
“And again - That is, in another scripture. He - God. Saith, when he bringeth in his first - begotten - This appellation includes that of Son, together with the rights of primogeniture, which the first - begotten Son of God enjoys, in a manner not communicable to any creature. Into the world - Namely, at his incarnation. He saith, Let all the angels of God worship him - So much higher was he, when in his lowest estate, than the highest angel. Psa 97:7. Hebrews 1:7”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“1:6 The supreme (or firstborn) Son shared the authority of the father, inherited most of his property, and was especially favored. In the New Testament, “firstborn” most frequently refers to Christ’s supremacy both in the church and in the created order; his resurrection is often given as the evidence for this status (Acts 13:33; Rom 1:4; 8:29; Col 1:15, 18; Rev 1:5; cp. Heb 12:23, where believers are called firstborn children). • “Let all of God’s angels worship him”: This quotation from Deut 32:43 demonstrates the lower status of the angels in that they worship the Son (see also Ps 97:7).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“And again: etc. or, When he bringeth again, the first- begotten, Heb 1:5; Pro 8:24, Pro 8:25; Joh 1:14, Joh 1:18, Joh 3:16; Rom 8:29; Col 1:15, Col 1:18; Jo1 4:9; Rev 1:5 And let: Deu 32:43 \*Sept: Psa 97:7; Luk 2:9-14; Pe1 3:22; Rev 5:9-12 Hebrews 1:7”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification