Hebrews 1:6 Quotes a Jehovah-Worship Text — And Applies It to Jesus
Jesus receives obeisance, not worship. Proskuneo can mean respectful
bowing, not necessarily religious worship. Angels honour Jesus as God's
appointed representative, just as subjects honoured a king's envoy.
Open in the NWT — even their translation says God commands angels to 'do obeisance' to the Son. Ask where this quotation comes from in the Old Testament. The source is in the Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls (4QDeutq), a pre-Christian Hebrew manuscript that reads 'bow down to him, all gods.' The context is unmistakable: has Jehovah declaring 'I am He; there is no God besides me.' The one to whom all gods and angels bow in verse 43 is Jehovah — there is no alternative referent. Yet the author of Hebrews takes this Jehovah-worship text and, without apology or qualification, applies it to the Son. This is part of a pattern in Hebrews 1 where YHWH texts are applied to Jesus ( in vv. 10–12, in vv. 8–9). The Dead Sea Scrolls confirm the longer reading existed in Hebrew before the Christian era, refuting any claim it was a later interpolation.
The quotation in comes from a passage where Jehovah is the one being worshipped. A monotheistic Jewish author would never apply a Jehovah-worship text to a creature — unless he identified the Son with Jehovah.
Proskuneo means 'obeisance,' not worship — the NWT correctly translates it.
The NWT translates the same Greek word proskuneo as 'worship' when the object is Jehovah () or false gods (, 13:8). It only becomes 'obeisance' when the object is Jesus. Even the original 1950 NWT rendered as 'worship' — it was changed to 'obeisance' in the 1971 revision. That inconsistency reveals a theological decision, not a translation one.
Jesus receives honour as God's appointed representative, like a king's envoy.
In , the one being worshipped IS Jehovah himself — not a representative. Verse 39 says 'I am He; there is no God besides me.' The author of Hebrews takes this exclusive Jehovah- worship text and applies it to the Son without any qualification. If the Son were merely a representative, applying a text about worshipping Jehovah to him would be blasphemous.
The quotation comes from Psalm 97:7, not Deuteronomy 32:43.
The wording of matches LXX more closely than LXX, and the Dead Sea Scrolls confirm the Deuteronomy reading existed in Hebrew. But even if is the source, it does not help — Psalm 97 is entirely about YHWH's reign ('the LORD reigns,' v. 1; 'You, O LORD, are Most High over all the earth,' v. 9). Either source text is a Jehovah-worship passage being applied to the Son.
'Firstborn' in Hebrews 1:6 means Jesus was the first creation.
Firstborn (prototokos) denotes preeminence and rank, not chronological origin. Israel was called God's 'firstborn' () though not the first nation. David was called 'firstborn' () though he was the youngest son. uses 'firstborn' followed by 'all things were created through him.' The emphasis is on supreme status, not being created.
Don't get bogged down in textual criticism details about Masoretic versus LXX readings. Keep the argument simple: the source text is about worshipping Jehovah, and the author of Hebrews applies it to Jesus. The Dead Sea Scrolls are supporting evidence, not the main point.
Read so you can show that verse 39, 'I am He; there is no God besides me', sits just before the call to bow down in verse 43. Know in one sentence that the wording Hebrews quotes comes from the Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls (4QDeutq), then leave textual detail alone. Read and mark the Old Testament texts applied to the Son in verses 6, 8-9 and 10-12. Compare the NWT's rendering of proskuneo at and with so you have seen the 'worship' and 'obeisance' difference yourself. Practise the doorstep question aloud, and rehearse the reply by reading .