“He [the Son] is the reflection/outshining of

[God’s] glory and the exact representation

(charakter) of his very being (hupastasis).” 1

~Hebrews 1:3~

Regarding the word “character,” Bible translator Charles B. Williams, in a

footnote in his New Testament translation, remarks that the “Grk. word means
exact imprint; so the Son is the perfect representation of God’s being.” Another
commentary notes that the word refers to “an impression such as a seal leaves on
wax, an exact reproduction of the original.” 2 Strong’s Dictionary defines
charakter as “a graver (the tool or the person), i.e. (by implication) engraving, the
figure stamped, i.e. an exact copy or [figuratively] representation).” Thayer’s
Lexicon says of charakter: “the exact expression (the image) of any person or
thing, marked likeness, precise reproduction in every respect (cf. facsimile).” 3
The Son—as indicated by the sacred text—is one who perfectly represents
the very “being” 4 of God. Even the renowned Greek Scholar, A. T. Robertson,
pointed out in his Word Pictures in the New Testament: “Charakter is an old
word from charasso, to cut, to scratch, to mark. It first was the agent (note
ending = ter) or tool that did the marking, then the mark or impress made, the
exact reproduction, a meaning clearly expressed by charagma (Acts 17:29; Rev.
13:16f.)…The word occurs in the inscriptions for ‘person’ as well as for ‘exact
reproduction’ of a person. The word hupostasis for the being or essence of
God…” 5
Thus the verse has been accurately translated: “he is the reflection of his
glory and the perfect representation (C. B. Williams); “the exact

1 The KJV translates the verse, “the express image of his person.” But the NIV is a marked improvement: “the exact
representation of his being.” J. N. Darby points out in the footnote to his translation that the Greek word used here refers:
“clearly [to] ‘substance,’ ‘essential being,’ not ‘person.’” Another reference work similarly states: “The Greek word
translated ‘nature’ [NASB] (hypostasis) is also significant to note, since it denotes here the ‘substantial nature, essence,
actual being’ of God, which the Son is thus said to reproduce exactly.” —A Biblical Theology of the New Testament (DTS
Faculty), p. 373. However, the English nature is a better translation of the Greek phusis, as in 2 Peter 1:4, where it is said
that Christians would become “partakers of the divine nature (theias koinōnoi phuseōs).” Divine “nature” (phusis) is
something Christians will partake of. Yet God’s “being” (hupastasis) is something unique to, and owned by, God, and of
which his Son is said to be the “exact reproduction” of.
2 The One Volume Bible Commentary, J. R. Dummelow, p. 1016 (emphasis added).
3 Emphasis added. The footnote to Hebrews 1:3 in the Jerusalem Bible refers to it as a “replica.” A couple of translations

even have: “the reflection of his glory and the facsimile of his essence.” —Modern Literal Version of the New Testament;
“The Son shows the glory of God. He is a perfect copy of God’s nature.” —Holy Bible, Easy-to-Read-Version, 2001.
4 “God’s hypostasis is his essential being, ‘the reality of God’…The patristic distinction between three hypostasis and one

ousia in God is irrelevant, since hypostasis is in fact used here with a meaning closer to that which ousia/substance
acquired in later christological discussion. All the stress in this passage falls on Christ’s unity with God, a traditional truth
of which the readers probably needed to be reminded. For both author and readers, it probably went without saying that
Jesus was distinguishable from God.” ⎯The New International Greek Testament Commentary, The Epistle to the
Hebrews, A Commentary on the Greek Text by Paul Ellingworth (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans/Paternoster Press, 1995) p.
90.
5 Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, Volume V, p. 336 (emphasis added).
representation” (New International Version); “the exact likeness” (Today’s
English Version); “an exact copy” (New Century Version); “the perfect copy”
(Jerusalem Bible/Beck) of [God’s] being.”
Although not fully or correctly coming to terms with the real implications
of his observations, Wayne Grudem was correct when he noted: “This Son, says
the writer, ‘reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp [lit., is the ‘exact
duplicate,’ Gk. Character] of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of
power’ (Heb. 1:3). Jesus is the exact duplicate of the ‘nature’ (or being, Gk.
hypostasis) of God…” 6
The well-known Methodist commentator, Adam Clarke, explains both
words: “The ‘hypostasis’ of God is that which is essential to Him as God; and the
‘character’ or image is that by which all the likeness of the original becomes
manifest, and is a perfect facsimile of the whole. It is a metaphor taken from
sealing, the die or seal leaving the full impression of its every part on the wax to
which it is applied.” 7
With regard to the term often translated into English as “being” or
“essence (sometimes as ‘nature’),” it was confirmed by one source:
“Etymologically, the word imports the lying or being placed underneath: and this
is put in common usage, for 1. substratum or foundation—fundamentum”; and
“this last seems to be the best meaning in our place: His essential being, His
substance.” 8 This is why we can be sure that whatever the underlying, substantial
reality of what God truly is (God’s very being), God’s Son, Christ Jesus, is a
perfect “reproduction” of that. He is, in fact, the Father’s Son. That is, after all,
essentially what a Son is. How appropriate and how fitting it is that he is
described in the way that Scripture describes him.

~Hebrews 1:3 and English Bible Translations~

According to Hebrews 1:3, Jesus, the Son, is…

“the reflection of God’s glory and the perfect representation of His being”
⎯New Testament by C. B. Williams
“the reflection of God’s glory, and the representation of his being”
⎯An American Translation
“the reflection of God’s glory and bears the impress of God’s own being”
⎯New Jerusalem Bible
“the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being”
⎯New Revised Standard Version
“the reflection of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature”
⎯Original New Testament, Schonfield

6 Systematic Theology, p. 547. It was noted in another respected commentary that charakter “is ‘the exact reproduction,’

as a statue of a person; literally, the stamp or clear-cut impression made by a seal, the very facsimile of the original…The
idea of character as a replica is further illustrated by the Bereschith rabba, 52. 3 (on Gn 21:2) : ‘hence we learn that he
(Isaac) was the splendour of his (father’s) face, as like as possible to him.’” ⎯The International Critical and Exegetical
Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews, James Moffatt D.D., (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1975) pp. 6, 7 (emphasis
added).
7 Adam Clarke’s Commentary, One Volume Edition (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1967) p. 1248.
8 The Greek Testament by Henry Alford, D. D., with revision by Everett F. Harrison. Th.D., P.hd, Volume IV, Hebrews-

Revelation, (Chicago: Moody Press, 1958) p. 8.

 “the very reflection of His glory and the very imprint of His substance”
⎯Nazarene Saint’s Translation
“the reflection of the Father’s glory, the exact representation of the Father’s being”
⎯New American Bible, 1970
“the reflection of his glory and the exact representation of his very being.” (Or, “the
image imprinted by his substance.”) ⎯New World Translation
“He radiates God’s glory, he shows us exactly what God’s nature is”
⎯The Translator’s New Testament
“the reflection of God’s glory and the living image of his being”
⎯The New Testament in Plain English, Charles Kingsley Williams
“The Son reflects God’s own glory, and everything about him represents God exactly”
⎯New Living Translation
“The Son reflects the glory of God. He is an exact copy of God’s nature”
⎯New Century Version
“He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature”
⎯Revised Standard Version
“the reflection of God’s glory and the true expression of His being”
⎯Modern Language Bible
“the reflection of God’s glory, the image of God’s substance”
⎯The Unvarnished New Testament
“He reflects the brightness of God’s glory and is the exact likeness of God’s own being”
⎯Today’s English Version
“the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being”
⎯New International Version
“the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of his nature”
⎯New American Standard Bible
“the radiance of God’s glory, and exact image of God’s nature”
⎯Norlie’s Simplified New Testament
“the radiant light of God’s glory and the perfect copy of his nature”
⎯Jerusalem Bible
“the radiance of his Father’s splendour, and the full expression of his being”
⎯Knox, The Holy Bible
“the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature”
⎯English Standard Version
“the radiance of His glory, the exact expression of His nature”
⎯Holman Christian Standard Bible
“the radiance of the glory of God, flawless expression of the nature of God”
⎯Phillip’s Modern English
“the radiance of God’s glory, the stamp of God’s very being”
⎯Revised English Bible
“the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance”
⎯World English Bible
“the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence”
⎯New English Translation
“the radiance of the Glory of God and the very expression of his Being”
⎯The Twentieth Century New Testament
“the radiant reflection of God’s glory, and the express image of his nature”
⎯New Testament by Kleist & Lily
“the radiance of his glory…the exact impression of his being”
 ⎯New Testament by William Barclay
“He brightly reflects God’s glory and is the exact representation of His being”
⎯New Testament in Modern Speech, Weymouth
“the brightness of the glory, and the impress of His subsistence”
⎯Young’s Literal Translation
“the brightness of his glory, and the figure of his substance”
⎯Douay Rheims-Bible
“the brightness of his glory and the express image of his being”
⎯Holy Bible From Ancient Eastern Manuscripts
“the brightness of the esteem and the exact representation of His substance”
⎯The Scriptures
“the brightness of his glory and the image of his substance”
⎯Saint Joseph New Catholic Edition
“God’s Son is the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his being.”
⎯The New Simplified Bible
“God’s Son has all the brightness of God’s own glory and is like him in every way”
⎯Contemporary English Version
“the shining brightness of God’s glory and the exact picture of God’s real being.”
⎯Simple English Bible
“the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person”
⎯King James Version
“the effulgence of his glory and [the] expression of his substance [clearly ‘substance,’
‘essential being,’ not ‘person’]” ⎯Darby Translation
“the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance (Or, the impress of his
substance)” ⎯American Standard Version
“the Effulgence of his glory, and an exact Impress of his substance”
⎯Emphatic Diaglott
“the effulgence of His grandeur, and the representative of his essence”
⎯The Holy Bible in Modern English, Ferrar Fenton
“Who, being the effulgence of His glory and the impress of His substance”
⎯The Recovery Version New Testament
“the effulgence of God’s splendour and the stamp of God’s very being”
⎯New English Bible
“the effulgence of God’s glory and the very image of His substance”
⎯The New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
“the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance (Or, the impress of his
substance)” ⎯Revised Version
“the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being.”
⎯New American Bible, 1987
“an emanation of God’s glory and stamp of his substance”
⎯Montgomery New Testament
“an emanation of God’s glory and stamp of his substance”
⎯Centenary Translation of the New Testament
“the outshining of His glory and [the] exact expression of His essence”
⎯Analytical-Literal Translation
“the outshining of his glory, the true image of his substance”
⎯Bible in Basic English
“He who shines with God’s glory and is the copy of His being”
⎯Beck’s New Testament Translation
 “the shining splendor of His glory, and express image of His essence”
⎯Literal Translation by J. P. Green
“the sole expression of the glory of God- the Light -being, the out-raying of the divine -
and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature”
⎯Amplified Bible
“The Son perfectly mirrors God, and is stamped with God’s nature”
⎯The Message New Testament
“the beam of his glory and imprint of his essence”
⎯The Bible in Living English
“an eradiated brightness of his glory, And an exact representation of his very being”
⎯Rotherham’s Emphasized Bible
“He shines with the same glory, is the exact image of His being.”
⎯2001 Translation an American English Bible
“He who is the reflection of his glory and the facsimile of his essence.”
⎯Modern Literal Version of the New Testament
“This Son expresses the radiance of God’s splendor and represents His very Being.”
⎯The New Testament, An Understandable Version
“who was the shining brightness of his glory and the sculpture of his basic self.”
⎯Non-Ecclesiastical New Testament
“God’s Son is the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his being.”
⎯New Simplified Bible
“He is the radiance of his glory and the exact representation of his being.”
⎯The Common Edition New Testament Copyright Timothy E. Clontz, 1999.
“Who, being the radiance of his glory, and the exact image of his essence.”
⎯A Conservative Version
“The Son shows the glory of God. He is a perfect copy of God’s nature.”
⎯Holy Bible, Easy-to-Read-Version, 2001
“His Son is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact likeness of God’s being.”
⎯God’s Word Translation
“who being the radiation of his glory, and the impress image of his substance.”
⎯Hebrews 1:3, Daniel Mace New Testament 1729
“the out-raying [effulgence] of His glory and the exact reproduction of His essence”
⎯Wuest, Expanded Translation

~Hebrews 1:3 and the homousios doctrine of Nicea~

If the author of Hebrews already articulates a very precise description of
Jesus Christ’s relationship to God and to God’s “being,” we may ask, why are the
post-biblical, Nicene definitions necessary for Christians? Note that the term
used at Nicea to describe the relationship of the Father and Son was homousios
meaning “consubstantial” (‘of the same essence/being’) and does not appear in
Scripture. The notion of the Son being “of the same substance/being” as God (the
Father) and the notion of the Son as “the perfect copy/reproduction of God’s
being” are entirely different. In other words, the concept advanced by Hebrews
1:3 is not a reflection of the traditional Trinitarian concept; simply because “exact
representation/perfect copy of God’s being”—what the Bible says—is not the
same as “the same being,” “sharing the same being,” or “of the same being”—the
classical Trinitarian formula. The fact is that orthodox Protestant and Catholic
theology does not teach that Jesus Christ is “the exact reproduction” of God’s
being; but rather that Jesus Christ is one “person” out of three who shares in the
one being that is God in the ultimate sense. The original, first-century description
of God’s Son at Hebrews 1:3 does not harmonize with the homoousious (‘of
identical substance/being’) formula of the fourth-century Nicene creed. When
seen in this light, the result of the Nicene council—or, at least, the modern day
understanding of it—is found to be yet another humanly devised theological
production, standing out in verifiable contrast to the divinely-inspired testimony
of the sacred Scriptures.
By Patrick Navas (2006)