Hebrews 1:7

The Angels are Subordinate Servants—1:7

This fourth quotation of Hebrews is from Psalm 104:4—a creation psalm. The phrase “And of the angels He says” makes clear that the preacher is describing the angels. The conjunction “and” is coordinating v. 6 with 7-12. “Who makes His angels winds, and His ministers a flame of fire.” This quotation is directed to the angels, not Christ. The text describes the angels as winds, or spirits (KJV). It is a quote from Psalm 104:4 (LXX 103). The original Hebrew has a different emphasis, there it is God “makes the winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants”[1] The Psalm is that of sovereign praise to the creator. It speaks of God over His creation. The word winds are the word pneuma, which means the wind, the air in motion, breath, spirit, a spiritual being. It denotes their incorporeal spiritual nature. Ross suggests that God arrayed His angels with physical phenomena, similar to the way He often manifested Himself.[2] Hughes notes “the rendering ‘winds’ rather than ‘spirits’ is contextually required, however; for, if the latter were correct, then a consistently parallel interpretation should be sought for the description of God’s servants as fiery flames.”[3] Marshall confirms the context calls for the translation; “he makes winds of his angels and a flame of fire his servants.”[4]

The intent of the quotation is debated. Three views are given: 

• God changes angels into wind and fire for His purpose; a view held by Jewish rabbinic teaching.
• The angels assume the form of wind and fire. 
• It is a comparison between angels and these forces. The best view in my humble opinion is the Wind speaks of invisibility and fire as an instrument of judgment. Kent mentions that “God uses angels as His instruments to carry out His will, just as the winds and flaming fire are agents of swift destruction.”[5] The main point, however, is the “transitory and mutable nature of angels compared to the eternality of the Son.”[6] They are subordinates to carry out the will of God.

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[1]  NASV gives the more lateral translation

[2]  Allen P Ross, BIBLE KNOWEDGE COMMENTARY: OLD TESTAMENT: “PSALMS”, [Wheaton IL, Victor Books, 1985]. 869,

[3]  Philip Edgeumbe Hughes, HEBREWS, 62. 

[4]  I Howard Marshall, NIGTC: HEBREWS, 120.

[5]  Homer Kent, HEBREWS, 43.

[6]  David Allen, NAC: HEBREWS, 177.