Unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee? Let all the angels of God worship Him. (Hebrews 1:5-6)

Jennens draws on the Letter to the Hebrews for his libretto. The same words are found in the second Psalm which the Book of Acts reports Paul used as the centerpiece of his sermon in Antioch to explain the nature of Christ.

The New Testament Greek pretty well agrees with the Hebrew of the Psalms (and the English translation). But there is an interesting difference in the temporal context.

In Hebrew "this day" is yowm, the precise meaning of which depends on context, but refers to a passage of time that begins and ends. It is derived from an ancient root meaning hot. It is a noun.

The Greek is an adverb modifying the verb, in this case begotten. Semeron, the Greek word, seems to suggests the suddenness of the verb. The construction does not imply a beginning or ending. It is happening.

The Hebrew tells us when the action happened (and ended), the Greek tells us more about the character of the action. The Hebrew is historical in its implication. The Greek is more suggestive of physics.

Do we experience the action of Christ as a noun that is in the past or as a still unfolding verb?

You may listen to this recitative and chorus from the Messiah, following Lift up your Heads, performed by the Academy of St. Martin's in the Fields.

Above is Dead Christ supported by Angels by Giovanni Bellini.