Hebrews 2:6-7
It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights a stunning contrast: God's intimate care ("mindful," "visitest") for humanity, a creation that seems so insignificant in the vast cosmos. This question isn't just about wonder; it's pointing to the extraordinary value God places on us, a value that will be fully revealed in Christ.
The author is reminding the readers that the Old Testament Scripture, specifically Psalm 8, speaks about God's profound care for humanity, not angels. This Psalm expresses wonder that God notices and cares for mankind, even though humans seem so insignificant. The writer uses this passage to underscore the incredible honor God has bestowed upon humanity, which will be fully realized in Jesus.
Have you ever felt incredibly small, like a tiny speck in a vast universe? David, the Psalmist, asks a similar question, but with a divine twist.
The passage in Hebrews quotes Psalm 8:4, "What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him?"
A Humble Beginning
This question arises from a sense of awe. Imagine looking up at the night sky, filled with countless stars and galaxies. It's natural to wonder about our place in it all. The Psalmist feels this profound insignificance.
Divine Attention
Yet, the question isn't just about our smallness; it's about God's incredible attention. Despite the immense cosmos, God is mindful of humanity. He doesn't just know we exist; He cares for us. This
God gave humanity amazing authority, but something went wrong. This passage reveals who truly fulfills that original design.
The author of Hebrews uses Psalm 8 to argue that the world to come is not subject to angels, but to man. But which man?
The Original Mandate
Genesis tells us God created humanity to have dominion over His creation. Psalm 8 reflects on this incredible gift: man made "a little lower than the angels," crowned with glory and honor, given authority over all things.
A Broken Reign
However, Adam's rebellion fractured this dominion. The commentators point out that man, in his fallen state, doesn't fully exercise this authority. The original glory and dominion were lost.
The Second Man
The argument here is that this dominion is ultimately realized not in fallen humanity, but in Jesus, the "Son of Man." He is the perfect representative man who perfectly fulfills God's original intention. The dominion originally given to man is ultimately and fully placed under Christ, and through Him, it is restored to humanity.
Understand the original words
enosh · Hebrew Noun
A general term for humanity, often emphasizing its fragility, mortality, and dependence on God in contrast to His transcendence.
ben-adam · Hebrew Noun phrase
A designation for a human being, emphasizing their earthly nature, yet often used prophetically in the Old Testament and uniquely by Jesus to refer to His messianic role, humility, and identification with humanity.
angelos · Greek Noun
Spiritual beings created by God who serve as His messengers, attendants, and agents, functioning in a realm higher than humanity in their natural, pre-resurrection state.
doxa · Greek Noun
A state of dignity, splendor, or majesty that reflects the character and presence of God, particularly associated with the status of redeemed humanity or the exalted Christ.
The author of Hebrews uses Psalm 8, originally a reflection on humanity's creation mandate, to powerfully argue for Christ's supremacy over angels. The psalm's meaning unfolds through history, finding its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus as the representative 'man' who fully embodies God's intended dominion.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
David Composes Psalm 8
King David, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, writes Psalm 8. He contemplates God's glory in creation and marvels at the high honor God has given to humanity, specifically man's dominion over the earth.
c. 500 BC
Septuagint Translation
The Hebrew Scriptures are translated into Greek, a common language in the Hellenistic world. This translation, known as the Septuagint (LXX), renders Psalm 8:4-6, influencing how many Jewish readers and early Christians would have encountered these verses.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus Quotes Psalm 8
During a confrontation in the Temple, Jesus quotes Psalm 8:2 (in Matthew 21:16), silencing the chief priests and scribes who questioned His authority. This highlights the psalm's significance and its Messianic connections.
c. AD 49
Paul Quotes Psalm 8
The Apostle Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 15:27), quotes Psalm 8, applying its theme of subjection to Christ, reinforcing the idea that ultimate dominion belongs to Him.
This is the direct source of the quote used in Hebrews 2:6, highlighting the marvel of God's attention to humanity.
Genesis 1:26-28This passage lays the foundation for the concept of man's dominion over creation, which is the underlying theme being explored when the writer quotes Psalm 8.
1 Corinthians 15:27This passage, also referencing Psalm 8, further emphasizes Christ's ultimate dominion, providing a parallel to how Hebrews applies the psalm.
Matthew 21:16Jesus himself quotes Psalm 8, applying it to his own authority, which supports the New Testament interpretation of the psalm as pointing to the Messiah.
wesleyHebrews 2:6: "But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?"
2:6 What is man - To the vast expanse of heaven, to the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained! This psalm seems to have been composed by David, in a clear, moonshiny, and starlight night, while he was contemplating the wonderful fabric of heaven; because in his magnificent description of its luminaries, he takes no notice of the sun, the most g…
barnesHebrews 2:6: "But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?"
But one in a certain place testified - The apostle was writing to those who were supposed to be familiar with the Hebrew Scriptures, and where it would be necessary only to make a reference in general without mentioning the name. The place which is quoted here is Psalm 8:4-6 . The "argument" of the apostle is this, that there stood in the sacred Scri…
The verse highlights a stunning contrast: God's intimate care ("mindful," "visitest") for humanity, a creation that seems so insignificant in the vast cosmos. This question isn't just about wonder; it's pointing to the extraordinary value God places on us, a value that will be fully revealed in Christ.
The author is reminding the readers that the Old Testament Scripture, specifically Psalm 8, speaks about God's profound care for humanity, not angels. This Psalm expresses wonder that God notices and cares for mankind, even though humans seem so insignificant. The writer uses this passage to underscore the incredible honor God has bestowed upon humanity, which will be fully realized in Jesus.
The author is reminding the readers that the Old Testament Scripture, specifically Psalm 8, speaks about God's profound care for humanity, not angels. This Psalm expresses wonder that God notices and cares for mankind, even though humans seem so insignificant. The writer uses this passage to underscore the incredible honor God has bestowed upon humanity, which will be fully realized in Jesus.
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The idea that God would care for, let alone exalt, humanity seems almost unbelievable. This passage reveals a divine plan that shocks the heavens.
The awe expressed in Psalm 8 isn't just about God's attention; it's about the astonishing place He has given to humanity, a place even higher than the angels.
A Mind-Boggling Question
When the Psalmist asks, "What is man...?" and "the son of man...?" he's grappling with why God would bestow such honor. The commentators highlight that this isn't a question stemming from ignorance, but from profound amazement.
Higher Than Angels?
The Old Testament Hebrew literally says man was made "a little less than God," though the Greek translation in the Septuagint (which Hebrews quotes) says "a little lower than the angels." Regardless of the phrasing, the point is clear: humanity was placed in an incredibly high position, meant to rule and reign.
The Ultimate Fulfillment
For fallen humanity, this honor seems impossible. But the New Testament reveals that this astonishing elevation is fully realized in Jesus Christ. By uniting Himself to human nature, the Son of God makes humanity, in Him, a participant in a glory that surpasses even angelic realms. This is the ultimate answer to the Psalmist's amazed question.
timē · Greek Noun
High status, esteem, or reverence granted to an individual, often as a result of divine appointment or virtuous character.
c. AD 60-62
Hebrews Author Quotes Psalm 8
The author of Hebrews cites Psalm 8:4-6 (using the Septuagint wording) in chapter 2, arguing that the 'world to come' is not subject to angels but to humanity, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus.
"It has been testified somewhere,
“What is man, that you are mindful of him,
or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
you have crowned him with glory and honor," — The verse highlights a stunning contrast: God's intimate care ("mindful," "visitest") for humanity, a creation that seems so insignificant in the vast cosmos. This question isn't just about wonder; i…