Hebrews 2:7
Thou
madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and
honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
a.
NLT: Yet you made them only a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.
and crowned them with glory and honor.
b.
NIV: You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory
and honor.
c.
YLT: Thou didst make him some little less than messengers, with glory and
honour Thou didst crown him, and didst set him over the works of Thy hands,
d.
Amplified Bible Classic: For some little time You have ranked him lower than and
inferior to the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor and set
him over the works of Your hands,
e.
Worrell Translation: Thou madest him a little less than angels; Thou crownedest
him with glory and honor.
f.
Wuest Translation: You made him for a little time lower than angels; with glory
and honor you crowned him.
1. “Thou
madest him a little lower than the angels…”
a.
[Thou] madest…lower [Strong: 1642 elattoo el-at-to'-o from 1640;
to lessen (in rank or influence):--decrease, make lower.]
b.
him [Strong: 846 autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin
to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the
reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third
person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her,
it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-,
thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, -
by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those,
together, very, which.]
c.
a little [Strong: 1024 brachus brakh-ooce' of uncertain affinity;
short (of time, place, quantity, or number):--few words, little (space, while).]
d.
than [Strong: 3844 para par-ah' a primary preposition; properly,
near; i.e. (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with
dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with
accusative case) to the proximity with (local (especially beyond or opposed to)
or causal (on account of):--above, against, among, at, before, by, contrary to,
X friend, from, + give (such things as they), + that (she) had, X his, in, more
than, nigh unto, (out) of, past, save, side...by, in the sight of, than,
(there-)fore, with. In compounds it retains the same variety of application.]
e.
the angels [Strong: 32 aggelos ang'-el-os from aggello (probably
derived from 71; compare 34) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an
"angel"; by implication, a pastor:--angel, messenger.]
1).
It is clear that Hebrews 2:6, 7 and part of 8 are quoting Psalm 8:4-6. It is
also clear that Psalm 8:1-3 is referring to God while Psalm 8:4-8 is referring
to man, to Adam in particular after his creation and placed as the ruler of the
earth. This partial quote in the text Hebrews 2:7 from Psalm 8:5, “Thou madest
him a little lower than the angels” is said by many to actually mean, a little
lower than God. Though that is the way I believe it, it seems to me that the
inspired writer’s use in Hebrews 2:7 of the Greek aggelos instead of theos
takes a bite out of that teaching, and I can’t explain it. Regardless, in light
of the whole counsel of God it is more clear that man was created above angels
and that Jesus in the New Covenant restored man to that position.
a).
1). Because the same Hebrew word used
here is translated “God”, “gods” and “angels”
in other instances, depending on the context, more than a few
translations translate this Hebrew word “God”. The scholarship behind that
translation is impressive, but I then wonder about the quote of Psalm 8:4, 5 in
Hebrews 2 that translates the word as “angels” and not “God”. When looking at
the context of Hebrews 2 it is explained. It is because of the suffering of
death. Hebrews 2:6-9.
2).
David Stearn, Jewish New Testament Commentary: Yeshua was much higher than
angels. But as man he was made lower than angels,…so that…he might taste death,
experiencing evil and pain, for all of
humanity, something angels cannot do.
3).
Pink, Exposition of Hebrews: “Thou hast put all things under his feet” (Hebrews
2:8). The language here employed shows plainly the connection between this quotation
from the 8th Psalm and what the apostle had declared in Hebrews 2:5.
There he said, “For unto the angels hath He not put in subjection the world to
come whereof we speak.” Here we learn that unto “man” will the world to come be
placed in subjection. Here we learn that “man,” frail and fallen, but redeemed
and exalted by the Lord, will have, in the world to come, “all things” put
under his feet. It is the blessed sequel to Genesis 1:26, the earthly Paradise
regained. The absoluteness of this “subjection” of the world to come unto
redeemed man, is intimated by the figure which is hereused, “under his feet”;
lower a thing cannot be put. It is not simply “at his feet,” but “under.” The
scope of the subjection is seen by the “all things.” This goes beyond the terms
of Psalm 8:7, 8, for the last Adam has secured for His people more than the
first Adam lost. All creation, even angels, will then be “in subjection” to
man.
a). That is good except putting off the
authority over angels until “the world to come. Paul said it is now.
(1)
Ephesians 1:19-22 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward
who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
1:20
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at
his own right hand in the heavenly places,
1:21
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name
that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
1:22
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all
things to the church,
2. “…thou
crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy
hands:”
a.
thou crownedst [Strong: 4737 stephanoo stef-an-o'-o from 4735; to
adorn with an honorary wreath (literally or figuratively):--crown.]
b.
him [Strong: 846 autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin
to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the
reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third
person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her,
it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-,
thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, -
by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those,
together, very, which.]
c.
with glory [Strong: 1391 doxa dox'-ah from the base of 1380;
glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative,
objective or subjective):--dignity, glory(-ious), honour, praise, worship.].
d.
and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle,
having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so
then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles
or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then,
therefore, when, yet.]
e.
honor [Strong: 5092 time tee-may' from 5099; a value, i.e. money
paid, or (concretely and collectively) valuables; by analogy, esteem
(especially of the highest degree), or the dignity itself:--honour, precious,
price, some.]
f.
and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle,
having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so
then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles
or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then,
therefore, when, yet.]
g.
didst set [Strong: 2525 kathistemi kath-is'-tay-mee from 2596 and
2476; to place down (permanently), i.e. (figuratively) to designate,
constitute, convoy:--appoint, be, conduct, make, ordain, set.]
h.
him [Strong: 846 autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin
to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the
reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third
person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self),
one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self,
(your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in,
-into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together,
very, which.]
i.
over [Strong: 1909 epi ep-ee' a primary preposition; properly,
meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of
distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the
dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards,
upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as
(touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as
much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for)
the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains
essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).]
j.
the works [Strong: 2041 ergon er'-gon from a primary (but
obsolete) ergo (to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an
act:--deed, doing, labour, work.]
k.
of thy [Strong: 4675 sou soo genitive case of 4771; of thee,
thy:--X home, thee, thine (own), thou, thy.]
l.
hands [Strong: 5495 cheir khire perhaps from the base of 5494 in the
sense of its congener the base of 5490 (through the idea of hollowness for
grasping); the hand (literally or figuratively (power); especially (by
Hebraism) a means or instrument):--hand.]
1).
This includes the whole universe.
a).
Psalm 8:1-6 O Lord, our Lord, how
excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the
heavens.
8:2
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of
thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
8:3
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars,
which thou hast ordained;
8:4
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou
visitest him?
8:5
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him
with glory and honour.
8:6
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all
things under his feet:
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