like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
While the verse uses the imagery of old clothes being folded away, the core emphasis isn't on their disposal, but on the radical change they undergo, hinting at a powerful transformation rather than mere destruction for the heavens and earth. This sets up a profound contrast with God, who remains eternally the same and unchanging.
like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The author of Hebrews has been contrasting the superiority of Christ to angels, emphasizing that Christ is God's Son who created all things, while angels are merely created beings. This passage directly quotes Psalm 102:26-27 to highlight the temporary nature of creation, which, like worn-out clothing, will be rolled up and changed. This stands in stark contrast to the unchanging, eternal nature of the Son, who will reign forever.
The Bible describes creation's grandeur with imagery we use every day – clothing. But what does this tell us about God's relationship with His creation?
The verse uses powerful imagery to describe the fate of the heavens and the earth. It says they will be 'rolled up like a robe' and 'changed.' This isn't about destruction or annihilation, but about transformation. Think of a favorite old coat that's worn out and replaced with something new. The existing heavens and earth will be retired, set aside, and replaced by a renewed creation.
This reveals a divine purpose behind creation's cycles. It's not static; it moves towards a future state. The very fabric of the universe is designed by God to serve His purposes, and when its current form has served its purpose, it will be 'changed' to make way for what comes next.
In a universe that is constantly changing, where can we find stability? This verse points to an incredible truth about Jesus.
The stunning contrast in the verse is drawn between the changing heavens and the unchanging God. 'But you are the same, and your years will have no end.' This unchanging nature, this eternality, is a hallmark of divinity. While creation has a beginning and an end, or at least a series of changes, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is eternal.
His 'years will have no end' speaks to His timeless existence. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. This immutability isn't just a characteristic; it's the foundation of our faith. Because Jesus doesn't change, His promises are sure, His love is steadfast, and our hope in Him is secure, even when everything around us is in flux.
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This Old Testament passage, which the author of Hebrews is quoting from, directly contrasts the impermanence of creation with the eternal, unchanging nature of God, mirroring the verse's core theme.
Isaiah 34:4This prophecy describes the heavens being rolled up like a scroll, a powerful image of cosmic change and dissolution that directly aligns with the imagery used in Hebrews 1:12.
Malachi 3:6This verse states, 'For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed,' highlighting God's unchanging nature as a source of steadfastness, similar to how Christ's unchanging nature is presented in Hebrews.
2 Peter 3:10-13This passage describes the heavens passing away with a roar and the elements melting, setting the stage for a new heaven and a new earth, which expands on the idea of the current creation being temporary and subject to change.
Hebrews 13:8This verse explicitly states 'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever,' directly echoing the unchanging attribute of Christ that is underscored by the comparison to the transient heavens in Hebrews 1:12.
pooleHebrews 1:12: "And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail."
And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up: peribolaion is an upper garment, cloak, or coat, which a man puts on or casts off at his pleasure; when it is of no more use it is folded up and laid by: so the great gospel Minister, God the Son incarnate, shall roll up the natural heavens when useless, and lay them by. And they shall be changed; by him they shall be…
jfbHebrews 1:12: "And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail."
- vesture—Greek, "an enwrapping cloak."fold them up—So the Septuagint, Ps 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 Isa 34:4; Re 6:14); sometimes the Hebrew; sometimes…
While the verse uses the imagery of old clothes being folded away, the core emphasis isn't on their disposal, but on the radical change they undergo, hinting at a powerful transformation rather than mere destruction for the heavens and earth. This sets up a profound contrast with God, who remains eternally the same and unchanging.
The author of Hebrews has been contrasting the superiority of Christ to angels, emphasizing that Christ is God's Son who created all things, while angels are merely created beings. This passage directly quotes Psalm 102:26-27 to highlight the temporary nature of creation, which, like worn-out clothing, will be rolled up and changed. This stands in stark contrast to the unchanging, eternal nature of the Son, who will reign forever.
The author of Hebrews has been contrasting the superiority of Christ to angels, emphasizing that Christ is God's Son who created all things, while angels are merely created beings. This passage directly quotes Psalm 102:26-27 to highlight the temporary nature of creation, which, like worn-out clothing, will be rolled up and changed. This stands in stark contrast to the unchanging, eternal nature of the Son, who will reign forever.
"like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”" — While the verse uses the imagery of old clothes being folded away, the core emphasis isn't on their disposal, but on the radical change they undergo, hinting at a powerful transformation rather tha…
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Last reviewed October 2026