The Meaning of Hebrews 1:10 Explained

Hebrews 1:10

KJV: And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

YLT: and, 'Thou, at the beginning, Lord, the earth didst found, and a work of thy hands are the heavens;

Darby: And, Thou in the beginning, Lord, hast founded the earth, and works of thy hands are the heavens.

ASV: And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of thy hands:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And,  Thou,  Lord,  in  the beginning  hast laid the foundation  of the earth;  and  the heavens  are  the works  of thine  hands: 

What does Hebrews 1:10 Mean?

Context Summary

Hebrews 1:1-14 - God's Final And Supreme Messenger
Christianity is greater than the Mosaic dispensation because it has been given through the Son, whereas the Law came through angels. See Acts 7:53. The message of the Gospel is connected speech; that of the Law was broken syllables.
The Son's intrinsic glory, Hebrews 1:1-4. Jesus is the channel of creation, providence and redemption. He is the far-traveled ray of Deity; but not one among many equals, for of Him alone could it be said that His nature was co-extensive with God's, as a seal with the die. He is on the throne, not merely because of His original nature, but as the reward of His obedience unto death, Philippians 2:9.
His superiority to angels, Hebrews 1:5-14. These quotations should be carefully studied as showing the deep inner meaning of the Psalms. Their fulfillment must be sought in Christ, and in them we overhear the voice of God. "We must ever thank God for the ministry of angels. Note that their service to us is a liturgy of adoration to God-such is the force of the Greek words. [source]

Chapter Summary: Hebrews 1

1  Christ in these last times coming to us from the Father,
4  is preferred above the angels, both in person and office

Greek Commentary for Hebrews 1:10

Lord [Κυριε]
In the lxx, not in the Hebrew. Quotation (the sixth) from Psalm 102:26-28 through Hebrews 1:10-12. Note emphatic position of συ — su here at the beginning as in Hebrews 1:11-12 This Messianic Psalm pictures the Son in his Creative work and in his final triumph. Hast laid the foundation First aorist active of τεμελιοω — themelioō old verb from τεμελιος — themelios (foundation) for which see Colossians 1:23. [source]
[]
d Sixth quotation (Hebrews 1:10-12), exhibiting the superior dignity of the Son as creator in contrast with the creature. Psalm 102:26-28. The Psalm declares the eternity of Jahveh. [source]
And - in the beginning [καὶ - κατ ' ἀρχάς]
And connects what follows with unto the Son he saith, etc., Hebrews 1:8. Κατ ' ἀρχὰς inthe beginning, N.T.oOften in Class., lxx only Psalm 119:152. The more usual formula is ἐν ἀρχῇ or ἀπ ' ἀρχῆς . [source]
Hast laid the foundation [ἐθεμελίωσας]
Only here in Hebrews. In Paul, Ephesians 3:18; Colossians 1:23. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Hebrews 1:10

Hebrews 3:8 In the day [κατὰ τὴν ἡμέραν]
Κατὰ in a temporal sense, as Acts 12:1; Acts 19:23; Acts 27:27. Comp. κατ ' ἀρχάς inthe beginning, Hebrews 1:10. [source]
Hebrews 1:10  []
d Sixth quotation (Hebrews 1:10-12), exhibiting the superior dignity of the Son as creator in contrast with the creature. Psalm 102:26-28. The Psalm declares the eternity of Jahveh. [source]
Hebrews 1:10 Lord [Κυριε]
In the lxx, not in the Hebrew. Quotation (the sixth) from Psalm 102:26-28 through Hebrews 1:10-12. Note emphatic position of συ — su here at the beginning as in Hebrews 1:11-12 This Messianic Psalm pictures the Son in his Creative work and in his final triumph. Hast laid the foundation First aorist active of τεμελιοω — themelioō old verb from τεμελιος — themelios (foundation) for which see Colossians 1:23. [source]
1 Peter 5:10 Shall settle [θεμελιώσει]
Omitted by some texts, and by Rev. From θεμέλιος a foundation. The radical notion of the word is, therefore, to ground securely. It occurs in Matthew 7:25, of the housefounded on a rock; in Hebrews 1:10, of laying the foundations of the earth. In Ephesians 3:18, it is joined with rooted. The messing of these expressions, unconnected by conjunctions, indicates strong feeling. Bengel thus sums up the whole: “Shall perfect, that no defect remain in you: shall stablish, that nothing may shake you: shall strengthen, that you may overcome every adverse force. A saying worthy of Peter. He is strengthening his brethren.” [source]

What do the individual words in Hebrews 1:10 mean?

And You in [the] beginning Lord of the earth laid the foundation and works of the hands of You are the heavens
Καί Σὺ κατ’ ἀρχάς Κύριε τὴν γῆν ἐθεμελίωσας καὶ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν σού εἰσιν οἱ οὐρανοί

ἀρχάς  [the]  beginning 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: ἀρχή  
Sense: beginning, origin.
Κύριε  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
τὴν  of  the 
Parse: Article, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
γῆν  earth 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: γῆ  
Sense: arable land.
ἐθεμελίωσας  laid  the  foundation 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: θεμελιόω  
Sense: to lay the foundation, to found.
ἔργα  works 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: ἔργον  
Sense: business, employment, that which any one is occupied.
τῶν  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
χειρῶν  hands 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Plural
Root: χείρ  
Sense: by the help or agency of any one, by means of any one.
σού  of  You 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
οὐρανοί  heavens 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: οὐρανός  
Sense: the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it.