Hebrews 1:6: Source and Significance

Abstract

Καὶ προσκυνησάτωσαν αὐτῷ πάντες ἄγγελοι θεοῦ in Heb 1:6 is a quotation from a Greek translation of the Hebrew text of Deut 32:43 represented by 4QDeut32. The current text of Deut 32:43 in the LXX is a conflation of two Greek translations. One of these was the translation of the 4QDeut32 text used by Hebrews. The other was a translation of a Hebrew text like the MT. Since there are more differences between the two Greek translations than between the underlying Hebrew texts, it is likely that conflation occurred after translation into Greek. The original translation of the 4QDeut32 text read οἱ ἄγγελοι θεοῦ in Deut 32:43b rather than υἱοὶ θεοῦ. This translation is essential to the argument of Hebrews and is represented in our LXX by the Odes 2 version of Deut 32:43. Οἱ ἄγγελοι θεοῦ is more in line with the way the LXX translates the underlying Hebrew אלהים elsewhere. It makes much more sense as a translation of אלהים within the context of the Hebrew text represented by 4QDeut32. The writer of Hebrews was aware of the context of Deut 32:43 in his discussion of the Son, the sons, and the angels in Heb 1:4–14, 2:5–18, and 12:3–11.