What Does The Express Image Mean?

What Does The Express Image Mean?

In the book of Hebrews, it said: "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," (Hebrews 1:3 KJV).

This is a poor translation of the Greek and most newer translations help with this error. The Greek of the passage is "χαρακτὴρ τῆς ὑποστάσεως αὐτοῦ," or, "expression of the fundamental reality of him". That is to say, Jesus represents the Father in that his nature is portrayed.

As the NASB translates it: "And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high," (Hebrews 1:3 NASB1995). It is to be noted that the best translations prefer this translation. Such as the CSB, ESV, EXB, and RSV.

A representation of his nature, his all goodness. Jesus is not some clone of the Father as some claim, but he has the same fundamental reality as the Father.

Works Cited:
Barnes' Notes on the New Testament. United Kingdom, Kregel Publications, 1962.

NASB 1995 Bible. United States, American Bible Society, 1995.

The Pulpit Commentary, Volume 8. United States, Delmarva Publications, Inc., 2015.