Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? ~ Hebrews 1:4-5

The more excellent name which Jesus has inherited from the Father is contextually, that of Son. The Greek word is ὄνομα, ατος, τό (onoma) and refers to a name, authority, and cause. The interlinear Bible Helps Word – Studies says (figuratively) the manifestation or revelation of someone’s character, i.e. as distinguishing them from all others.

Now, allow that sink in. Jesus has a character (as God’s Son) that distinguishes him from all others. Throughout Hebrews, the writer tells us repeatedly how Jesus is greater than all his predecessors (Moses, Joshua, and Aaron, etc). In chapter 1, he begins by making the distinction between Jesus and the prophets. God spoke through the prophets in time past, and always in a limited fashion, but in the person of his Son, God speaks the full revelation of himself.

God has spoken by the Son!

Not only is the Son greater than the prophets, he is greater than all the angelic hosts. After telling us that God has spoken to us by his Son in contrast to the prophets, the writer of Hebrews draws us into a glorious declaration of praise for the Son to whom even the angels do not compare.

Consider the first five verses of Hebrews 1 with all this mind.

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 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: being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?  ~ Hebrews 1:1-3 

Jesus reveals God in a way that no one else ever could, because Jesus the Son in whose character God’s person and glory is fully revealed, in whom his exact likeness is known. The prophets and angels could speak for God as messengers, but no prophet or angel has ever spoken as the manifestation of God himself, only the Son has!