Heb 1:10-12 | JFB | STEP | 10. And-- In another passage ( ) He says. in the beginning-- English Version, , "of old": Hebrew, "before," "aforetime." The Septuagint, "in the beginning" (as in ) answers by contrast to the end implied in "They shall perish," &c. The Greek order here (not in the Septuagint) is, "Thou in the beginning, O Lord," which throws the "Lord" into emphasis. "Christ is preached even in passages where many might contend that the Father was principally intended" [Bengel]. laid the foundation of-- "firmly founded" is included in the idea of the Greek. heavens-- plural: not merely one, but manifold, and including various orders of heavenly intelligences ( ). works of thine hands-- the heavens, as a woven veil or curtain spread out.

‏ Hebrews 1:10-12

10. And--In another passage (Psa 102:25-27) He says.

in the beginning--English Version, Psa 102:25, "of old": Hebrew, "before," "aforetime." The Septuagint, "in the beginning" (as in Ge 1:1) answers by contrast to the end implied in "They shall perish," &c. The Greek order here (not in the Septuagint) is, "Thou in the beginning, O Lord," which throws the "Lord" into emphasis. "Christ is preached even in passages where many might contend that the Father was principally intended" [Bengel].

laid the foundation of--"firmly founded" is included in the idea of the Greek.

heavens--plural: not merely one, but manifold, and including various orders of heavenly intelligences (Ep 4:10).

works of thine hands--the heavens, as a woven veil or curtain spread out.

11. They--The earth and the heavens in their present state and form "shall perish" (He 12:26, 27; 2Pe 3:13). "Perish" does not mean annihilation; just as it did not mean so in the case of "the world that being overflowed with water, perished" under Noah (2Pe 3:6). The covenant of the possession of the earth was renewed with Noah and his seed on the renovated earth. So it shall be after the perishing by fire (2Pe 3:12, 13).

remainest--through (so the Greek) all changes.

as ... a garment--(Is 51:6).

12. vesture--Greek, "an enwrapping cloak."

fold them up--So the Septuagint, Psa 102:26; but the Hebrew, "change them." The Spirit, by Paul, treats the Hebrew of the Old Testament, with independence of handling, presenting the divine truth in various aspects; sometimes as here sanctioning the Septuagint (compare Is 34:4; Re 6:14); sometimes the Hebrew; sometimes varying from both.

changed--as one lays aside a garment to put on another.

thou art the same--(Is 46:4; Mal 3:6). The same in nature, therefore in covenant faithfulness to Thy people.

shall not fail--Hebrew, "shall not end." Israel, in the Babylonian captivity, in the hundred second Psalm, casts her hopes of deliverance on Messiah, the unchanging covenant God of Israel.