Hebrews 1:4

1:4 Thus he became ¹  so far better than the angels as ²  he has inherited a name superior to theirs.

Hebrews 7:7

7:7 Now without dispute the inferior is blessed by the superior,

Hebrews 11:40

11:40 For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us. ³ 

Hebrews 12:24

12:24 and to Jesus, the mediator ⁴  of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abel’s does. ⁵ 

[1:4]  ¹ tn Grk “having become.” This is part of the same sentence that extends from v. 1 through v. 4 in the Greek text.

[1:4]  ² tn Most modern English translations attempt to make the comparison somewhat smoother by treating “name” as if it were the subject of the second element: “as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs” (cf. NAB, NIV, NRSV, CEV). However, the Son is the subject of both the first and second elements: “he became so far better”; “he has inherited a name.” The present translation maintains this parallelism even though it results in a somewhat more awkward rendering.

[11:40]  ³ tn The Greek phrasing emphasizes this point by negating the opposite: “so that they would not be made perfect without us.”

[12:24]  ⁵ tn The Greek word μεσίτης (mesith", “mediator”) in this context does not imply that Jesus was a mediator in the contemporary sense of the word, i.e., he worked for compromise between opposing parties. Here the term describes his function as the one who was used by God to enact a new covenant which established a new relationship between God and his people, but entirely on God’s terms.

[12:24]  ⁶ sn Abel’s shed blood cried out to the Lord for justice and judgment, but Jesus’ blood speaks of redemption and forgiveness, something better than Abel’s does (Gen 4:10; Heb 9:11-14; 11:4).