What is the Express Image of God?

Heb 1:3 brightness. The term is used only here in the NT. It expresses the concept of sending forth light or shining (cf. John 8:12; 2 Cor. 4:4, 6). The meaning of “reflection” is not appropriate here. The Son is not just reflecting God’s glory, He is God and radiates His own essential glory. express image of His person. The term translated “express image” is used only here in the NT. In extrabiblical literature, it was employed for an engraving on wood, an etching in metal, a brand on animal hide, an impression in clay, and a stamped image on coins. “Person” is a word expressing nature, being, or essence. The Son is the perfect imprint, the exact representation of the nature and essence of God in time and space (cf. John 14:9; Col. 1:15; 2:9). upholding. The universe and everything in it is constantly sustained by the Son’s powerfully effective word (Col. 1:17). The term also conveys the concept of movement or progress—the Son of God directs all things toward the consummation of all things according to God’s sovereign purpose. He who spoke all things into existence also sustains His creation and consummates His purpose by His word. purged our sins. By the substitutionary sacrifice of Himself on the cross (cf. Titus 2:14; Rev. 1:5). sat down at the right hand. The right hand is the place of power, authority, and honor (cf. v. 13; Rom. 8:34; 1 Pet. 3:22). It is also the position of subordination, implying that the Son is under the authority of the Father (cf. 1 Cor. 15:27, 28). The seat that Christ has taken is the throne of God (8:1; 10:12; 12:2) where He rules as sovereign Lord. This depicts a victorious Savior, not a defeated martyr. While the primary thrust of this phrase is the enthronement of Christ, His sitting might also imply the completion of His atoning work.
1:4 having become. The Gr. verb used here refers to a change of state, not a change of existence. The Son in His divine essence has eternally existed, but for a while He was made lower than the angels (2:9) and afterward was exalted to an infinitely higher position by virtue of what He had accomplished in His redemptive work (see notes on Phil. 2:9–11). angels. Spirit beings created by God to minister to Him and do His bidding. The Jews held angels in very high regard as the highest beings next to God. The sect of Judaism which had established a community at Qumran taught that the archangel Michael’s authority rivaled or surpassed that of the Messiah. The writer of Hebrews clearly disclaims any such concept. The Son of God is superior to the angels. more excellent name. That name is Lord (see notes on Phil 2:9–11). No angel is Sovereign Lord (vv. 6, 13, 14).
1:5 Quoting from Ps. 2:7 and 2 Sam. 7:14, the writer presents the unique relationship which the Son has with the Father. No angel ever experienced such a relationship. Son. A title of Christ expressing the voluntary submission of the Second Person of the Godhead to the First Person for the purpose of fulfilling the program of redemption established in eternity past (see note on 2 Tim. 1:9). Cf. vv. 2, 8; 3:6; 4:14; 5:5, 8; 6:6; 7:3, 28; 10:29; 11:17 and many other references in the NT. His sonship was also expressed in the OT (cf. Ps. 2:12; Prov. 30:4). The word “today” indicates that God’s Son was born in a point of time. He was always God, but He fulfilled His role as Son in space and time at His incarnation and was affirmed as such by His resurrection (Rom. 1:4).


MacArthur, J., Jr. (Ed.). (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed., p. 1897). Nashville, TN: Word Pub.