THE ANGELS WORSHIP HIM! PT. 2
I proceed with my analysis of Hebrews 1:6: THE ANGELS WORSHIP HIM! PT. 1.
ANGELS WORSHIP JESUS AS YHWH INCARNATE
Here’s the verse again:
“And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, ‘And let all the angels of God worship Him.’”
The question is, what specific OT text is Hebrews citing here?
Some expositors believe that the author has the following Psalm in mind:
“Let all those be ashamed who serve graven images, Who boast of idols; Worship Him, all you gods! Zion heard this and was glad, And the daughters of Judah have rejoiced Because of Your judgments, O Yahweh. For You are Yahweh Most High over all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods.” Psalm 97:7-9
More specifically, Hebrews would be referencing the Greek version of the Psalter, which often paraphrases or gives what is believed to be the meaning of the text, as opposed to a literal rendering:
“Let all that worship graven images be ashamed, who boast of their idols; worship him, all ye his angels.” Psalm 96 :7 LXX
Pay attention to the fact that the LXX identifies the gods which are commanded to worship YHWH are identified as God’s angels.
What this means is that Jesus is that very YHWH God whom the angels are ordered to worship!
This is further from the fact that, after his resurrection, Jesus physically ascended into heaven to sit on high in order to assume an status that makes him far exalted above all creatures for all eternity:
“and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe according to the working of the might of His strength, which He worked in Christ, by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, FAR ABOVE ALL rule and authority and power and dominion, and EVERY NAME that is named, not only in this age but also IN THE AGE TO COME. And He put ALL THINGS in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head OVER ALL THINGS to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:19-23
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us take hold of our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things like we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:14-15
“For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted ABOVE the heavens;” Hebrews 7:26
What makes this all the more astonishing is that Hebrews employs the same language to describe Jesus’ heavenly exaltation that the LXX does in respect to YHWH’s enthronement over creation!
For example, note what v. 3 says,
“who is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power; who, having accomplished cleansing for sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (en hypselois),” Hebrews 1:3
Now compare this with the foregoing Psalm:
“Who is as the Lord our God? who dwells in the high places (en hypselois),” Psalm 112:5 Brenton’s LXX
The inspired NT writers couldn’t be any clearer or more explicit in their affirmation that Christ possesses the very status, glory, honor and dominion, which the OT authors attribute to YHWH alone.
The other passage, which some commentators believe the author is citing, is the Hebrew version of Deuteronomy 32:43 employed by the Jewish scribes that produced the Dead Sea Scrolls:
Deuteronomy 32:43 is an unusual verse in view of its contents. As the list of variant readings shows, 4QDeut-supported by the Septuagint-differs markedly from the Masoretic Text and the Samaritan Pentateuch. For example, in the Qumran scroll it is “the heavens” which rejoice, not the nations; and God will avenge the blood of “his sons,” not “his servants.” Moreover, the mention of gods “bowing down to God” and “recompensing those who hate him” is absent from the Masoretic Text and the Samaritan Pentateuch. This verse provides a striking example of the very different readings that sometimes appear in the Dead Sea Scrolls…
Rejoice, O heavens, together with him, and bow down to him all you gods, for he will avenge the blood of his sons, and will render vengeance to his enemies, and will recompense those who hate him and will atone for the land of his people. (The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible – The Oldest Known Bible Translated For The First Time Into English, translated and with commentary by Martin Abegg Jr., Peter Flint & Eugene Ulrich [HarperOne; 1 edition, November 17, 1999], pp. 192, 193; bold emphasis mine)
This is the reading preserved and adopted by the Greek version:
“Rejoice, ye heavens, with him, and let all the angels of God worship him (kai proskynesatosan auto angeloi theou); rejoice ye Gentiles, with his people, and let all the sons of God strengthen themselves in him; for he will avenge the blood of his sons, and he will render vengeance, and recompense justice to his enemies, and will reward them that hate him; and the Lord shall purge the land of his people (kai ekkathariei Kyrios ten gen tou laou autou).” Deuteronomy 32:43 Brenton’s LXX
Notice, once again, how the Jewish scribes that produced the Greek version understood the gods of Deut. 32:43 to be God’s angelic host.
The evidence points to the inspired writer having this specific text in view.
The reason being is that, besides the fact that the Greek of Deuteronomy 32:43 and Hebrews 1:3 is virtually identical in their depiction of the angels worshiping God, both texts also speak of the Lord making purification:
“… When He had by Himself purged our sins (di’ heatou katharismon ton hamartion poiesamenos hemon), He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high… And again, when He brings the firstborn into the world, He says: ‘Let all the angels of God worship Him (kai proskynesatosan auto angeloi theou).’” Modern English Version (MEV)
This again equates Jesus with YHWH since he does what only YHWH can do, namely, redeem his people from their sins:
“If You should keep iniquities, O Yah, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, That You may be feared… O Israel, wait for Yahweh; For with Yahweh there is lovingkindness, And with Him is abundant redemption. And it is He who will redeem Israel From all his iniquities.” Psalm 130:3-4, 7-8
The most remarkable aspect of this connection is that the statements of Deuteronomy 32:43 are found within a context where YHWH is described as the only God that the Israelites are to trust in and depend on:
“See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand. For I lift up my hand to heaven and swear, As I live forever, if I sharpen my flashing sword and my hand takes hold on judgment, I will take vengeance on my adversaries and will repay those who hate me. I will make my arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh— with the blood of the slain and the captives, from the long-haired heads of the enemy. Rejoice with him, O heavens; bow down to him, all gods, for he avenges the blood of his children and takes vengeance on his adversaries. He repays those who hate him and cleanses his people’s land.” Deuteronomy 32:39-43 English Standard Version (ESV)
To, therefore, attribute this specific text to Jesus is astonishing since this leaves no doubt that the inspired writer believed that Christ is indeed YHWH God Almighty who became Man!
Just in case the readers may still have some doubt about this, Hebrews has the Father Almighty take the words of the foregoing Psalm, which is about YHWH being the unchangeable Creator and Sustainer of all creation,
“A Prayer of the afflicted when he is faint and pours out his complaint before Yahweh. O Yahweh, hear my prayer! And let my cry for help come to You… But You, O Yahweh, abide forever, And the remembrance of Your name from generation to generation… Of old You founded the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. Even they will perish, but You will remain; And all of them will wear out like a garment; Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end.” Psalm 102:1, 12, 25-27
And ascribe them to his Son!
“And, ‘You, Lord, in the beginning founded the earth, And the heavens are the works of Your hands; They will perish, but You remain; And they all will wear out like a garment, And like a mantle You will roll them up; Like a garment they will also be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end.’” Hebrews 1:10-12
In other words, the inspired writer has God himself glorifying and praising his Son for being that very immutable and all-powerful Creator who created and sustains all creation!
What all this proves is that Hebrews portrays Jesus as the eternal Son of God who is essentially one with both the Father and the Holy Spirit. For the inspired author, Christ is not a creature whom God brought into being. Rather, God’s Son is himself the one true God YHWH who became a human being.
This is why the Father commands the whole angelic host to worship his Firstborn as YHWH God Almighty, the very One who both created and sustains them forevermore.
There’s simply no way around these clear, explicit revealed truths of the God-breathed Scriptures.
Unless indicated otherwise, biblical citations taken from the Legacy Standard Bible (LSB).
FURTHER READING
WORSHIPING THE ETERNAL CREATOR
The Book of Hebrews and Jesus as Creator
JESUS AS THE ETERNAL CREATOR IN HEBREWS
CHRIST: THE UNCREATED CREATOR OF ALL CREATION
JESUS THE ETERNAL CREATOR AND SUSTAINER
JESUS CHRIST – THE CREATOR AND SUSTAINER OF ALL THINGS, PT. 2
JESUS CHRIST: SUPREME OVER ALL CREATION
THE NWT TESTIFIES THAT THE TRINITY IS THE ETERNAL CREATOR!