What is the meaning of Hebrews 1:11? They will perish - The writer quotes Psalm 102:25–27 to underline the destiny of the material universe: “The heavens are the works of Your hands; they will perish.” Creation has an expiration date (2 Peter 3:10; Isaiah 51:6). - The certainty of this perishing underscores that the universe is not eternal, a truth that reinforces Genesis 1:1 and Romans 8:20–22, where the created order is “subjected to futility.” - By setting “they” (all created things) over against the Son, Hebrews highlights Jesus’ supremacy: everything visible is destined for dissolution, while He stands above it, unthreatened. But You remain - In stark contrast, the Son is declared eternal: “but You remain.” This echoes Psalm 102:27 and is consistent with Hebrews 13:8—“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” - His unchanging nature affirms His deity (John 1:1; Revelation 1:8). What is true of Yahweh in the psalm is applied directly to the Son, showing He is not merely another created being alongside angels. - Because He remains, believers have an unshakable anchor for faith (Hebrews 6:19). The decay of the present world cannot touch the One who sustains it (Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:17). They will all wear out like a garment - The imagery of a well-worn cloak paints creation’s gradual decline. Matthew 24:35 echoes the same thought: “Heaven and earth will pass away.” - Romans 8:22 describes creation groaning as in childbirth, longing for liberation. The picture is not merely destruction but replacement—Revelation 21:1 speaks of “a new heaven and a new earth.” - For the believer, this decay is not cause for despair but anticipation. The same Lord who presides over creation’s winding-down will usher in its renewal (2 Peter 3:13). summary Hebrews 1:11 contrasts the temporary nature of all created things with the eternal, unchanging Son. “They will perish” assures us the universe is finite; “but You remain” proclaims Christ’s deity and permanence; “they will all wear out like a garment” pictures creation’s decline and hints at its coming renewal. The verse calls us to place confidence not in what is passing, but in the everlasting Lord who holds all things together and will one day make everything new. |