Breathingbook

So far, Hebrews 1:1-6 has been devoted to proving through the scriptures how Jesus Christ is higher than the angels. We now come to Heb 1:7 which quotes Psalm 104:4. Keep in mind the concept of Key Words and phrases. No matter how brief the quote, it’s always important to look it up and keep things in context. In this case Psalms 104 is important because it’s entirely devoted to praising the glorious works of God! Since it’s already been established that Jesus Christ is the one who created all things (Heb 1:2-3; Jn 1:1-3; Eph 3:9; Col 1:15-19; Heb 11:3), the whole of Psalms 104 is a celebration of all that Jesus has done! So, to anyone knowing that truth of proper doctrine, what seems like a minor reference is actually huge, because of all that Psalms 104 has to say and it says a lot!

When you compare the two, it’s very easy to see Heb 1:7 quotes Psa 104:4.

Heb 1:7 And of the angels He saith, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.

Psa 104:4 Who maketh His angels spirits; His ministers a flaming fire.

So, let’s keep that in mind and return to breaking down Heb 1:7.

Heb 1:7 And of the angels He saith, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.

And of the angels He saith Looking back at Heb 1:5-6 we see these verses all indicate “He saith,” means, “the Father saith.” 

Who maketh “Who” here is Jesus. Again, Jesus created everything (Heb 1:2-3; Jn 1:1-3; Eph 3:9; Col 1:15-19; Heb 11:3) and Psalms 104 is all about the the creations Jesus has made. The Gk. word for “maketh” is “poieo,” which means to appoint, design, or to bring forth. Thus, the scripture is saying, Jesus made (designed; appointed) His angels to be spirits. The gist of it is to reiterate Jesus’ superiority to the angels. In other words, He that created the thing – designed and appointed it it’s destiny -  is naturally greater than the thing created.

His angels spirits Some translations, such as the ESV say, He makes His messengers winds, His ministers a flaming fire. Just to clear up any question as to why different words would be used for different translations, let’s look for a moment at the word used within the Gk. text, which is “pneuma.” Pneuma’s basic meaning is a current of air (see below), and refers not only to the wind, but the wind-like nature of that which is spirit or spiritual.

G4151. pneuma, pnyoo”-mah; from G4154; a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figurative a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ”s spirit, the Holy Spirit:–ghost, life, spirit (-ual, -ually), mind. Compare G5590.

As you can see above, this same word is used for describing

• a current of air
• breath
• a spirit
• the Holy Spirit
• the soul
• one’s mental or emotional outlook
• an angel
• a ghost
• a demon

Consider Jn 3:8, where the Lord Jesus refers to the Spirit as being wind-like.

Jn 3:8 The wind (pneuma) bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit (pnuema).

So when we see the scripture say, Who maketh His angels spirits (pneuma), it is speaking of the wind-like attribute that angels can have – when they are not appearing to humans as if they were normal human beings (Heb 13:2).

To paraphrase, “No one knows where angels come from. You might hear the sound of them, but you can not tell for sure where they’re coming from or where they’re going to next”  Jn 3:5-8. 

Heb 1:7 And of the angels He saith, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.

His ministers a flame of fire The angel of the Lord was sometimes represented in the OT as a flame of fire (Exo 3:2-4 see below). This is exactly what happened with the bush that burned with fire (but was not consumed) that Moses went up into the mountain to see.

Exo 3:2-4 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. 4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush,and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

Praise the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, for He is patient and kind.

Peace out!