What’s easily missed here is that Jesus isn't just like God's glory; He is its radiance, meaning He's how God’s glory is made visible and understandable to us. This "radiance" and "exact imprint" are not just descriptions of His divine nature, but they highlight how He is the ultimate revelation of who God is, especially after He purified our sins and took His seat of authority.
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The author of Hebrews begins by establishing the superiority of Jesus over angels, who were the traditional intermediaries in God's communication with humanity. This passage describes Jesus' divine nature and authority, highlighting his eternal existence and role as the one through whom God has revealed himself most fully. It sets the stage for the rest of the letter, which will further elaborate on Christ's priesthood and the new covenant he inaugurated.
How can we truly know God? The Bible says we can't see God directly and live. Yet, we are told Jesus is the 'radiance of the glory of God.' What does this dazzling description mean for our understanding of God and Christ?
The author of Hebrews uses powerful imagery to describe Jesus, comparing Him to the very outshining of God's glory.
Light from the Source
Why This Matters
This language isn't just theological speculation; it's foundational for faith. It tells us that to know God's glory and His true nature, we look to Jesus. He doesn't just point to God; He is the very visible manifestation of God's invisible perfections. This means we can approach God through Jesus, because in Him, God's unapproachable glory is made accessible and understandable.
Ask a follow-up
Before Jesus sat down at God's right hand, the verse tells us He 'upholds the universe' and 'purged our sins.' How do these immense actions connect to His ultimate rest and authority?
The author of Hebrews presents a stunning duality in Christ's work: cosmic power and atoning sacrifice. These aren't separate events but intrinsically linked aspects of His divine mission.
Upholding All Things
Purging Sins
After all His divine work – upholding creation and purging sins – Jesus 'sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.' Why is this act of 'sitting' so profound and significant?
The imagery of 'sitting down' is packed with meaning, signifying the completion of a monumental task and the assumption of ultimate authority.
Rest After Accomplishment
Assumption of Royal Authority
Understand the original words
doxa · Greek Noun
The manifestation of God’s own essence and divine presence. As the 'radiance' of this glory, Christ reflects the brightness and reality of God's being.
charaktēr · Greek Noun
The exact representation or 'stamp' of God's essence; it implies that Christ possesses the same divine nature as the Father in a visible and verifiable way.
katharismos · Greek Noun
The act of cleansing away moral impurity and guilt. In the context of Christ, it refers to his once-for-all sacrificial death that deals with the penalty and power of sin.
dexios · Greek Noun
A position of supreme power, authority, and honor. To sit at the right hand is to share in the ruling reign of the King.
angelos · Greek Noun
Spiritual beings created by God to serve Him and act as messengers. They are distinct from humans and, in this context, are shown to be inferior to the incarnate Son.
This passage describes the eternal pre-existence of the Word (Logos) who is with God and is God, directly paralleling Hebrews' description of Christ as the radiance and exact imprint of God's nature.
Colossians 1:15-17Similar to Hebrews, this passage identifies Christ as the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, through whom all things were created and in whom all things hold together, highlighting his divine power and authority.
Philippians 2:5-11This passage speaks of Christ's divine nature and equality with God ('being in very nature God'), his humbling himself to become human, and his subsequent exaltation to the highest place, which resonates with Christ's purification of sins and sitting at God's right hand.
Psalm 110:1This Psalm is a foundational Messianic prophecy that is directly quoted and alluded to in Hebrews 1:3 and following verses, describing the Lord's declaration to the Messiah, 'Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool,' underscoring Christ's enthronement and authority.
ellicottHebrews 1:3: "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;"
(3) Who being the brightness . . . — Who being the effulgence of His glory and the exact image of His substance. The first figure is familiar to us in the words of the Nicene Creed (themselves derived from this verse and a commentary upon it), “God of God, Light of…
wesleyHebrews 1:3: "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;"
1:3 Who sat down - The third of these glorious predicates, with which three other particulars are interwoven, which are mentioned likewise, and in the same order, Col 1:15,17,20. Who, being - The glory which he received in his exaltation at the right hand of the Fat…
What’s easily missed here is that Jesus isn't just like God's glory; He is its radiance, meaning He's how God’s glory is made visible and understandable to us. This "radiance" and "exact imprint" are not just descriptions of His divine nature, but they highlight how He is the ultimate revelation of who God is, especially after He purified our sins and took His seat of authority.
The author of Hebrews begins by establishing the superiority of Jesus over angels, who were the traditional intermediaries in God's communication with humanity. This passage describes Jesus' divine nature and authority, highlighting his eternal existence and role as the one through whom God has revealed himself most fully. It sets the stage for the rest of the letter, which will further elaborate on Christ's priesthood and the new covenant he inaugurated.
The author of Hebrews begins by establishing the superiority of Jesus over angels, who were the traditional intermediaries in God's communication with humanity. This passage describes Jesus' divine nature and authority, highlighting his eternal existence and role as the one through whom God has revealed himself most fully. It sets the stage for the rest of the letter, which will further elaborate on Christ's priesthood and the new covenant he inaugurated.
"He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as mu…" — What’s easily missed here is that Jesus isn't just like God's glory; He is its radiance, meaning He's how God’s glory is made visible and understandable to us. This "radiance" and "exact imprint"…
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Last reviewed October 2026
