Gwen Frangs / Templemore / 3 March 2024
In most Bible translations Hebrews 1:7 reads as:
7 In speaking of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels spirits,
Hebrews 1:7 NIV
and his servants flames of fire.”[a]
However, the author of Hebrews is quoting from a verse in the Old Testament – Psalm 104:4, which reads:
4 He makes winds his messengers,[a]
Psalm 104:4 NIV
flames of fire his servants.
The Greek word ‘πνεύματα’, which is translated as ‘spirits’ in the majority of translations of the Bible is more appropriately translated as ‘winds’. Strong;s Concordance defines the word as follows:
Strong’s Concordance
pneuma: wind, spirit
Original Word: πνεῦμα, ατος, τό
Strong;s Concordance: 4151. pneuma
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: pneuma
Phonetic Spelling: (pnyoo’-mah)
Definition: wind, spirit
Usage: wind, breath, spirit.
As you see, ‘wind’ and ‘breath’ precede ‘spirit’.
Fortunately, the English Standard Version has gotten the translation correct. In the ESV, Hebrews 1:7 reads as:
7 Of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds,
Hebrews 1:7 ESV
and his ministers a flame of fire.”
If one thinks it through, translating the verse using ‘winds’ instead of ‘spirits’, is the only way that makes sense. This is because angels are spirits. To say that God makes something that is already a spirit, into a spirit simply does not make sense.