Hebrews 1:5
For vnto which of the Angels said he at any time, Thou art my sonne, this day haue I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Sonne. Hebrews 1:5 (KJV)
Hebrews is a letter addressed to Jewish Christians who were enduring persecution and wrestling with doubts about their faith. The author writes to strengthen their confidence in Jesus Christ as the ultimate revelation of God’s salvific plan and as the fulfillment of Old‑Testament prophecy.
In this verse the writer underscores the superiority of Christ over the angels. He points out that God never declared to any angel, “Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee,” a claim that is reserved exclusively for the Son. By making this contrast the author affirms Jesus’ exalted status as the divine Son of God, far above the created heavenly beings.
The phrase “this day have i begotten thee” is a quotation from Psalm 2:7. Early Christians applied that Psalm to Jesus, seeing it as a reference to His incarnation—when the eternal Son took on human flesh—and also as a prophetic anticipation of His resurrection, as Paul later notes in Acts 13:33 that God fulfilled the promise by raising Jesus from the dead. Both the incarnation and the resurrection highlight the unique, unrepeatable relationship between Father and Son.
The latter clause, “I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son,” further emphasizes the intimate Father‑Son relationship that distinguishes Jesus from any angelic being. This declaration confirms the divine nature of Christ and the relational bond that undergirds the entire Christian faith.
By drawing on Psalm 2:7 and other Old‑Testament promises, the author shows that Jesus fulfills the prophetic expectations of the Messiah. The citation demonstrates that the promises spoken of in the Hebrew Scriptures find their consummation in Christ, who embodies God’s plan of redemption.
Overall, Hebrews 1:5 serves to encourage the beleaguered believers, assuring them that their faith rests on a Son who is uniquely Father’s heir, superior to angels, and the fulfillment of God’s ancient promises. This assurance offers both comfort and confidence in the face of ongoing trials.
