Hebrews 1 · Verse 13

Hebrews 1:13

But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Hebrews 1:13, King James Version

Hebrews 1:13 in other translations

BSBYet to which of the angels did God ever say: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet”?
WEBBut which of the angels has he told at any time, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet?”
ASVBut of which of the angels hath he said at any time, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet?
YLTAnd unto which of the messengers said He ever, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I may make thine enemies thy footstool?'
DARBYBut as to which of the angels said he ever, Sit at my right hand until I put thine enemies as footstool of thy feet?
BBEBut of which of the angels has he said at any time, Take your seat at my right hand till I put all those who are against you under your feet?
WebsterBut to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thy enemies thy footstool?

What does Hebrews 1:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. Quotation from Psa 110:1. The image is taken from the custom of conquerors putting the feet on the necks of the conquered (Jos 10:24, 25).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 13. But to which of the angels. The apostle adduces one other proof of the exaltation of the Son of God above the angels. He asks where there is an instance in which God had addressed any one of the angels, and asked him to sit at his right hand until he should subdue his enemies under him? Yet that high honour had been conferred on the Son of God; and he was therefore far exalted above them.

Sit on my right hand. Heb 1:3. This passage is taken from Ps 90:1--a Psalm that is repeatedly quoted in this epistle as referring to the Messiah, and the very passage before us is applied by the Saviour to himself, in Mt 22:43,44, and by Peter it is applied to him in Acts 2:34,35. There can be no doubt, therefore, of its applicability to the Messiah.

Until I make thine enemies thy footstool. Until I reduce them to entire subjection. A footstool is what is placed under the feet when we sit on a chair; and the phrase here means that an enemy is entirely subdued. Comp. 1Cor 15:25. The phrase, to make an enemy a footstool, is borrowed from the custom of ancient warriors, who stood on the necks of vanquished kings, on the occasion of celebrating a triumph over them, as a token of their complete prostration and subjection. Isa 10:6.--The enemies here referred to are the foes of God and of his religion; and the meaning is, that the Messiah is to be exalted until all those foes are subdued. Then he will give up the kingdom to the Father. 1Cor 15:24, seq. The exaltation of the Redeemer, to which the apostle refers here, is to the mediatorial throne. In this he is exalted far above the angels. His foes are to be subdued to him, but angels are to be employed as mere instruments in that great work.

(a) "Sit on my right hand" Ps 90:1

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 But to which of the angels - We have already seen, from the opinions and concessions of the Jews, that, if Jesus Christ could be proved to be greater than the angels, it would necessarily follow that he was God: and this the apostle does most amply prove by these various quotations from their own Scriptures; for he shows that while he is the supreme and absolute Sovereign, they are no more than his messengers and servants, and servants even to his servants, i.e. to mankind.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Hebrews 1:4-14

Many Jews had a superstitious or idolatrous respect for angels, because they had received the law and other tidings of the Divine will by their ministry. They looked upon them as mediators between God and men, and some went so far as to pay them a kind of religious homage or worship. Thus it was necessary that the apostle should insist, not only on Christ's being the Creator of all things, and therefore of angels…

Read the full comment on Hebrews 1:4-14 →

Hebrews 1:13 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

πρὸςprosToG4314
τίναtinawhichG5101
δὲdenowG1161
τῶνtōnof theG3588
ἀγγέλωνangelōnangelsG32
εἴρηκένeirēkenhas He saidG2046
ποτε·poteever:G4218
κάθουkathoudo sitG2521
ἐκekatG1537
δεξιῶνdexiōn[the] right handG1188
μουmouof MeG3165
ἕωςhe'ōsuntilG2193
ἂνanwhenG302
θῶthōI may placeG5087
τοὺςtoustheG3588
ἐχθρούςechthrousenemiesG2190
σουsouof YouG4771
ὑποπόδιονhupopodion[as] a footstoolG5286
τῶνtōnfor theG3588
ποδῶνpodōnfeetG4228
σου;souof You?G4771

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Hebrews 1:13

  • Psalms 110:1

    A Psalm of David. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

  • Mark 12:36

    For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

  • Matthew 22:44

    The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?

  • Hebrews 10:12-13

    But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:25-26

    For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

  • Acts 2:34-36

    For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

  • Hebrews 1:3

    Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

  • Luke 20:42

    And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

  • Acts 7:55

    But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

  • Psalms 132:18

    His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.

  • Revelation 19:11-21

    And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. …

  • Psalms 21:8-9

    Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee. Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger: the Lord shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
to.
5
Sit.
3; 10:12; Ps 110:1; Mt 22:44; Mr 12:36; Lu 20:42; Ac 2:34-36; 7:55
until.
Ps 21:8,9; 132:18; Isa 63:3-6; Lu 19:27; 1Co 15:25,26; Re 19:11-21
Re 20:15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Hebrews 1:12

    And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

  • Hebrews 1:13

    But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

  • Hebrews 1:14

    Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Read all of Hebrews 1

Hebrews 1:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Pues, ¿á cuál de los ángeles dijo jamás: Siéntate á mi diestra, hasta que ponga á tus enemigos por estrado de tus pies?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et auquel des anges a-t-il jamais dit: « Assieds-toi à ma droite, jusqu’à ce que j’aie mis tes ennemis pour marchepied de tes pieds »?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Zu welchem der Engel aber hat er je gesagt: "Setze dich zu meiner Rechten, bis ich deine Feinde lege zum Schemel deiner Füße"?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ad quem autem angelorum dixit aliquando: Sede a dextris meis, quoadusque ponam inimicos tuos scabellum pedum tuorum?