Hebrews 2:7 - You made him a little lower than the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor.
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What does "Hebrews 2:7" mean?
Hebrews 2:7, "You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor," is a quote from Psalm 8:5. To understand its meaning in Hebrews, we need to consider both its original context in the Psalm and its application in the New Testament.
Here's a breakdown of the verse and its significance:
1. Original Context in Psalm 8:5 (Talking about Humanity):
"You made him a little lower than the angels (or heavenly beings/God):" The Hebrew word translated as "angels" can also be interpreted as "God" or "heavenly beings." In Psalm 8, this phrase speaks of God's creation of humanity and humanity's relative position in the cosmic order. Humans were created just below the divine, possessing unique attributes not found in other earthly creatures. This highlights humanity's elevated status compared to other creatures.
"You crowned him with glory and honor:" This refers to God's bestowal of dignity, authority, and responsibility upon humanity. God gave humans dominion over the earth and its creatures, reflecting a royal position. It emphasizes the inherent value and worth that God placed in humanity.
In Psalm 8, the verse is a statement about God's benevolent creation of humankind, highlighting our inherent dignity and responsibility.
2. Application in Hebrews 2:7 (Talking about Jesus):
The author of Hebrews quotes Psalm 8:5, but applies it specifically to Jesus Christ. He is making a crucial point about the incarnation (God becoming human):
"You made him a little lower than the angels:" This refers to Jesus taking on human form. The eternal Son of God, who existed in glory with the Father, humbled himself and became human. He willingly took on a lower position, subjecting himself to human limitations, suffering, and ultimately death. This temporary "lowering" was essential for him to accomplish his mission of salvation.
"You crowned him with glory and honor:" While Jesus was temporarily humbled, he was ultimately exalted above all. His resurrection, ascension, and session at the right hand of God demonstrate that he has been "crowned with glory and honor." He reigns supreme as King of kings and Lord of lords. This glory is both inherent to his divine nature and earned through his obedience and sacrifice.
In Hebrews 2:7, the verse emphasizes that:
Jesus truly became human: He wasn't merely appearing as human; he embraced the full experience of humanity.
His humility was essential: He had to be "made lower than the angels" to identify with humanity and to offer himself as a sacrifice for our sins.
His glory is now fully realized: Through his suffering and death, Jesus earned the right to be exalted and crowned with glory and honor.
The ultimate fulfillment of Psalm 8: While Psalm 8 speaks generally of humanity, it finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, the perfect human. He is the one who perfectly fulfills God's original intent for humanity and who now offers us the opportunity to share in his glory.
In essence, Hebrews 2:7 is a Christological statement that highlights the paradoxical nature of Jesus' identity: both fully God and fully man, both humbled and glorified. The author uses the Psalm to show how Jesus' incarnation, suffering, and exaltation fulfill God's plan for humanity. He became like us to save us and elevate us with him.
Hebrews 2:7 - You made him a little lower than the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor.
What does "Hebrews 2:7" mean?
Hebrews 2:7, "You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor," is a quote from Psalm 8:5. To understand its meaning in Hebrews, we need to consider both its original context in the Psalm and its application in the New Testament.
Here's a breakdown of the verse and its significance:
1. Original Context in Psalm 8:5 (Talking about Humanity):
"You made him a little lower than the angels (or heavenly beings/God):" The Hebrew word translated as "angels" can also be interpreted as "God" or "heavenly beings." In Psalm 8, this phrase speaks of God's creation of humanity and humanity's relative position in the cosmic order. Humans were created just below the divine, possessing unique attributes not found in other earthly creatures. This highlights humanity's elevated status compared to other creatures.
"You crowned him with glory and honor:" This refers to God's bestowal of dignity, authority, and responsibility upon humanity. God gave humans dominion over the earth and its creatures, reflecting a royal position. It emphasizes the inherent value and worth that God placed in humanity.
In Psalm 8, the verse is a statement about God's benevolent creation of humankind, highlighting our inherent dignity and responsibility.
2. Application in Hebrews 2:7 (Talking about Jesus):
The author of Hebrews quotes Psalm 8:5, but applies it specifically to Jesus Christ. He is making a crucial point about the incarnation (God becoming human):
"You made him a little lower than the angels:" This refers to Jesus taking on human form. The eternal Son of God, who existed in glory with the Father, humbled himself and became human. He willingly took on a lower position, subjecting himself to human limitations, suffering, and ultimately death. This temporary "lowering" was essential for him to accomplish his mission of salvation.
"You crowned him with glory and honor:" While Jesus was temporarily humbled, he was ultimately exalted above all. His resurrection, ascension, and session at the right hand of God demonstrate that he has been "crowned with glory and honor." He reigns supreme as King of kings and Lord of lords. This glory is both inherent to his divine nature and earned through his obedience and sacrifice.
In Hebrews 2:7, the verse emphasizes that:
Jesus truly became human: He wasn't merely appearing as human; he embraced the full experience of humanity.
His humility was essential: He had to be "made lower than the angels" to identify with humanity and to offer himself as a sacrifice for our sins.
His glory is now fully realized: Through his suffering and death, Jesus earned the right to be exalted and crowned with glory and honor.
The ultimate fulfillment of Psalm 8: While Psalm 8 speaks generally of humanity, it finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, the perfect human. He is the one who perfectly fulfills God's original intent for humanity and who now offers us the opportunity to share in his glory.
In essence, Hebrews 2:7 is a Christological statement that highlights the paradoxical nature of Jesus' identity: both fully God and fully man, both humbled and glorified. The author uses the Psalm to show how Jesus' incarnation, suffering, and exaltation fulfill God's plan for humanity. He became like us to save us and elevate us with him.