Hebrews 1:8,9 is quoted from Psalm 45:6,7:

"Your throne, O Mighty One [elohim, theos -- god], is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God [Elohim, that is, Yahweh], has anointed You [the elohim being spoken to] with the oil of gladness more than Your companions."

The Psalmist is evidently quoting God, at least in Psalm 45:6,7, and he prophetically speaks of the Anointed One, and the God of the Anointed One. The Hebrew word *Elohim* is used of both, but it is evident from the context that it is not used with the same meaning as applied to both. The One who does the anointing is spoken of the as the God of the One being anointed, thus the One doing the Anointed is the Supreme Being of the One Anointed. This is shown in Psalm 45:7 and Hebrews 1:9. One anoints the other with the oil of gladness. The one being anointed has companions. These companions are probably his "brothers" mentioned in Hebrews 2:11; one does not normally think of God Almighty as having "brothers".

Like many of the Psalms, many believe that there is an original minor typical application as well as the major antitypical application of Psalm 45. Some scholars say that the original application of this Psalm was to Solomon. (see NASB footnote) We read that Solomon "sat on the throne of Yahweh." (2 Chronicles 29:23; see also: 1 Kings 1:13) Likewise, Jesus' throne is also God's throne (Revelation 3:21), which he receives from his Father, the only true God. -- Psalm 2:4-6; Daniel 7:13,14; Acts 2:29-31; John 17:1,3.

Yahweh is the God [Supreme Being] of Jesus. Jesus was anointed by his God. Who is the Supreme Being over the Anointed One that is spoken of in Psalm 45:7 and Hebrews 2:9. The scriptures provide the answer in other scriptures. Another prophecy, speaking of Messiah, provides the answer, in Isaiah 61:1: "Yahweh has anointed me." It is the Supreme Being -- Yahweh -- the God [Supreme Being] of Jesus, who did the anointing, and who called Jesus theos (translated from elohim -- Psalm 45:6,7; See also Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38; Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34; John 17:1,3; 20:17; 2 Corinthians 1:3; 11:31; Ephesians 1:3,17; 5:20; Colossians 1:3; Hebrews 1:9; 1 Peter 1:3 Revelation 2:7; 3:2,13). Thus Elohim who received the anointing is not the Supreme Being, since Yahweh is referred to as his Supreme Being. Thus, we should realize that Elohim as being applied to the One Anointed does not carry the same meaning as it does for the One who did the anointing.

Jesus is prefigured by Moses, who is also called elohim. "And you [Moses] shall speak to him [Aaron], and you [Moses] shall put the words in his [Aaron's] mouth. And I [Jehovah] will be with your mouth, and with his mouth, and I will teach you wht you shall do. And he shall speak for you to the people. And it shall be, he shall be a mouth for you, and you shall be a god [elohim] for him." (Exodus 4:16, Jay Green's A Literal Translation of the Bible, 1985) "And Jehovah said to Moses, Come, see I have made you a god [elohim] to Pharaoh." (Exodus 7:1, Jay Green's A Literal Translation of the Bible, 1985) -- Deuteronomy 18:18,19; Acts 3:19-23.

From this and other usages of the Hebrew words for "god", we determine that its meaning does not always mean the restriction of "Supreme Being", or the Almighty; nor does it's usage of other mean that the others to whom it is applied are necessarily "false gods". Remembering that the basic meaning of Hebrew words for God is "strength" or "power"*, we need to note that Elohim is applied to Moses in this sense, that is, that God gave to Moses power, or strength, over Aaron and Pharaoh. Only Yahweh is God as the Supreme Being, or the exclusive Source of All Power. Moses is not this exclusive source of power, thus it would be false to refer to him as "God" with the restricted meaning of "the Supreme Being", but he is called Elohim, since Yahweh gave him special powers.
*See our document:
Hebraic Usage of the Titles for "God"
and:

http://bible.crosswalk.com/Lexicons/Hebrew/heb.cgi?number=0430

Indeed, the spirit that impersonated Samuel is also called elohim. "The king said to her, Don't be afraid: for what do you see? The woman said to Saul, I see a god [Hebrew, elohim] coming up out of the earth." (1 Samuel 28:13, World English) However, it should be apparent that *elohim* here applied to this spirit is not in the same manner as it is applied to Yahweh. This spirit does have power granted by God, even though he is misusing the power as a spirit being. Recognizing this some translations render *elohim* here as: *divine being* (New American Standard; New Revised Standard Version) *spirit* (New King James Version; Good News Translation; New Century Translation; The Message translation; Contemporary English Version) *godlike being* (Jewish Publication Society Bible). Others render it as "a god" and some render it as plural "gods". Of course, how it is rendered in English does not change the word used in the Hebrew.

Likewise, the word is used in the plural sense as applied to the angels. It should be apparent that elohim applied to the angels is not in the same manner as applied to Yahweh. -- Psalm 8:5; Hebrews 2:7.

The sons of God to whom the Word of God came likewise are also called elohim, but again we can see that they are not elohim in the same manner as the word is applied to Yahweh. -- Psalm 82:6 http://reslight.net/youaregods.html

Likewise, it should be apparent that in Hebrews 1:1,5,8 (Psalm 45:6) that theos (elohim) applied to the Son is with a different meaning than applied to Yahweh. Paul definitely shows that it is God that is speaking of his Son, thus the Son is not the God of whom he is Son. There is definitely nothing in either Hebrews 1 or Psalm 45 about three persons in one God. The word *elohim* in the Old Testament usually refers to Yahweh, but as a general descriptive word it is often applied to others, which would include Jesus, the Son of Yahweh. In giving all power to Jesus, it is evident that the One who gave this power to Jesus is excepted. (1 Corinthians 15:27) The very fact that this power over his fellows is given to Jesus by Yahweh's anointing shows that Jesus is not equal to Yahweh, and thus that Elohim, as applied to Jesus, is not in the exclusive meaning as it is applied to Yahweh, for only Yahweh is the source of all power.

In the above scriptures we see three individual beings who are called elohim: Yahweh, Jesus and Moses. Only Yahweh has the position of Supreme Being, however, since both Moses and Jesus receive their power from Yahweh. We have no reason to believe that the author of Hebrews chapter one understood Psalm 45 in any other way than it had been viewed at the time it was written. The wording of the psalm draws a clear distinction between the one and only Ultimate Power, the Father (Creator) Who is the Majesty On High, -- and the secondary "Power", the son who was sent by Yahweh and to whom learned to obey though what he suffered.(Hebrews 1:1,2; 3:2; 5:8) Therefore, the Ultimate Power, the Creator of the first-born of creation, has anointed His obedient son (who offered up both petitions and entreaties to the One able to save him from death -- Hebrews 5:7) above his peers.

Alternatively, we might also note how some translations render Hebrews 1:8 and Psalm 45:6:

Hebrews 1:8

Today's English Version: Your kingdom, O God,will last forever! You will rule over your people with justice.

Revised Standard Version, margin: God is thy throne for ever and ever.
as obtained from:
http://www.bbie.org/WrestedScriptures/B08Trinity/Hebrews1v8.html

Moffatt translation (1922): he says of the Son, "God is Thy throne for ever and ever."

Daniel Mace New Testament (1729): but to the son he saith, "God is thy throne for ever and ever; the sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of equity.

Twentieth Century translation: while of the Son he said--'God is thy throne for ever and ever

Psalm 45:6

Revised Standard Version: Your divine throne endures for ever and ever. Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity.

Good News translation: The kingdom that God has given you will last forever and ever. You rule over your people with justice.

New Jerusalem Bible - You throne is from God, forever and ever.

The Message translation: "Your throne is God's throne, ever and always; The scepter of your royal rule measures right living."

JPS Version: Thy throne given of God is for ever and ever; a sceptre of equity is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

New English Bible translation: Your throne is like God's throne

Either way, however, there is nothing in Hebrews 1:8 or Psalm 45:6,7 that would lead us to think that Jesus is Yahweh. There is certainly nothing about three persons in one God.

Updated, February, 2004.

Related Links
Please note that we do not necessarily agree with all that is stated on the following links, nor do the authors of these pages necessarily agree with us in all we say.

Hebrews 1:8 - A discussion of The New World Translation's rendering of this verse. There are some good references on this page.

Yahweh is the Only Elohim

Hebrews 1:8 Comments by Wes Williams.

Conversations on the Trinity - You will need to search this page for the section concerning Psalm 45:6 and Hebrews 1:8.

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