Nielsen’s Nook

Commentary

[a] Compare Τίνι γὰρ εἶπέν ποτε τῶν ἀγγέλων in v 5 with πρὸς τίνα δὲ τῶν ἀγγέλων εἴρηκέν ποτε here in v 13. This seems to be a sort of formula for appeal. That is, what God said about or to Jesus was never spoken to or about the angels. Alternate translation here in v 13: “To which of the angels has he said.”

[b] Quoting Psalm 109:1 LXX, Εἶπεν ὁ κύριος τῷ κυρίῳ μου Κάθου ἐκ δεξιῶν μου, ἕως ἂν θῶ τοὺς ἐχθρούς σου ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν σου. The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” (author’s translation). It is paramount to notice the way that the writer of Hebrews is employing this quotation in the epistle. Here King David’s Lord is Jesus Christ, who is greater than the angels.

[c] ἕως ἂν θῶ Here, because of the subjunctive θῶ, ἕως requires ἂν. As such it denotes “that the commencement of an event is dependent on circumstances.” (BAGD, 334)

[d] Compare with what is written 9 chapters later, “¹²But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.” (Heb 10:12-13 ESV) This passage references the same concepts but with different Greek syntax, ἐκάθισεν ἐν δεξιᾷ τοῦ θεοῦ, τὸ λοιπὸν ἐκδεχόμενος ἕως τεθῶσιν οἱ ἐχθροὶ αὐτοῦ ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν αὐτοῦ. [Christ] sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet (author’s translation). Hebrews 10:13 emphasizes the passive nature of the “enemies” passing into footstool status. Grammatically, and especially when compared with Hebrews 1:13, we see that 10:13 contains a divine passive. As such it is God who will set the world to rights while Christ actively waits (interceding on our behalf) at the right hand of the Father.

[e] λειτουργικὰ Here, “the angels are λειτουργικὰ πνεύματα εἰς διακονίαν ἀποστελλόμενα διὰ τοὺς μέλλοντας κληρονομεῖν σωτηρίαν. They are ordained to ministry, i.e., the διακονία of believers. Hence the use is not cultic, and is independent of the LXX.” (TDNT, 4:231)

[f] διὰ τοὺς here the use of διὰ + accusative gives a sense of “for the sake of” or “on behalf of.”

[g] μέλλοντας (μέλλω) When used with an infinitive, and most frequently an active infinitive as here, it may be rendered “about to” speaking of the immanent future. However, here it is likely “serves simply as a periphrasis for the future.” (BAGD, 501)