Express
The Word in Hebrews 1:3
The KJV renders Hebrews 1:3 as declaring that Christ is "the express image of his person." Here "express" does not carry its modern meaning of speed or verbal communication. Instead, it means "exactly resembling the original" — a precise, detailed reproduction. Modern translations render this as "the exact representation of his being" (NIV) or "the exact imprint of his nature" (ESV), capturing the same essential meaning.
The Greek Word Charakter
The Greek word behind "express image" is charakter, from which we derive the English word "character." In its original usage, charakter referred to the tool used for engraving or stamping, and by extension, the impression or mark it produced. A charakter was the exact image left by a die or seal pressed into wax or metal. When applied to Christ in Hebrews 1:3, it communicates that Jesus is not a vague reflection of God but a precise and perfect representation of the Father's very essence.
Christ as God's Perfect Image
Hebrews 1:3 stands alongside several other New Testament passages that affirm Christ's unique relationship to God the Father. Paul wrote that Christ "is the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15) and that "in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form" (Colossians 2:9). Jesus himself declared, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). The word "express" in the KJV captures this same theological truth: to see Christ is to see God without distortion or diminishment.
The Broader Context of Hebrews 1
The opening chapter of Hebrews presents a comprehensive argument for the supremacy of Christ. He is identified as God's appointed heir of all things, the agent through whom the world was made, the radiance of God's glory, and the sustainer of all things by his powerful word (Hebrews 1:2-3). The phrase "express image" is part of this cascade of titles and descriptions, each reinforcing that Jesus is fully divine and uniquely qualified to reveal God to humanity.
Why Translation Matters
The evolution from "express image" in the KJV to "exact representation" in modern versions illustrates how English language usage changes over time while the underlying meaning remains constant. The KJV's use of "express" was clear to 17th-century readers but can puzzle modern audiences. Understanding the original Greek charakter helps readers of any translation grasp the profound claim being made: Jesus Christ is the definitive, undistorted revelation of who God is.
Biblical Context
The word "express" as used in the KJV appears in Hebrews 1:3, a passage that establishes Christ's divine nature and supremacy at the opening of the epistle. The verse situates Christ as the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of God's being. This passage is part of Hebrews' larger argument about Christ's superiority over angels, Moses, and the Levitical priesthood.
Theological Significance
The concept conveyed by "express image" is central to Christology. It affirms that Christ is not merely similar to God or a partial revelation of God, but the complete and exact representation of God's nature. This teaching undergirds the doctrine of the incarnation and the Christian understanding that God has made himself fully known through Jesus Christ. It establishes that knowing Christ is knowing the Father.
Historical Background
The Greek word charakter was well understood in the Hellenistic world as referring to the impression made by a stamp or engraving tool. Coins bore the charakter of the ruler who authorized them. The author of Hebrews drew on this familiar concept to communicate a theological truth in terms his Greek-speaking audience would immediately grasp. The KJV translators rendered it with the then-current English word 'express,' meaning 'exact' or 'precisely made.'