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:

Thou madest {G1642} him {G846} a little {G1024}{G5100} lower {G1642} than {G3844} the angels {G32}; thou crownedst {G4737} him {G846} with glory {G1391} and {G2532} honour {G5092}, and {G2532} didst set {G2525} him {G846} over {G1909} the works {G2041} of thy {G4675} hands {G5495}:

You made him a little lower than the angels,
you crowned him with glory and honor,

You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor

Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; Thou crownedst him with glory and honor, And didst set him over the works of thy hands:

Commentary on Hebrews 2:7 (KJV)

Hebrews 2:7 is a pivotal verse in the book of Hebrews, directly quoting Psalm 8:5. The author of Hebrews applies this Old Testament prophecy not merely to humanity in general, but specifically to Jesus Christ, highlighting His unique role in God's redemptive plan. This verse encapsulates both Christ's temporary humiliation and His ultimate exaltation.

Context

The book of Hebrews aims to demonstrate the superiority of Jesus Christ over all things, including angels, the Old Covenant, and its institutions. In Hebrews Chapter 1, the author establishes Christ's divine nature and His preeminence over angels. However, in Chapter 2, the focus shifts to Christ's humanity. Verse 7, alongside Hebrews 2:9, explains *why* the Son of God, who is superior to angels, would be made "a little lower than the angels." This temporary lowering was essential for Him to fully identify with humanity and accomplish salvation through suffering.

Key Themes

  • Christ's Voluntary Humiliation: The phrase "Thou madest him a little lower than the angels" refers to Jesus Christ taking on human flesh. This was not a demotion but a voluntary act of condescension, essential for Him to experience death and become our High Priest. It underscores the profound love and humility of God's Son.
  • Christ's Exaltation and Sovereignty: "Thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands" points to Christ's post-resurrection status. After enduring suffering and death, He was exalted by God, given supreme authority over all creation. This reflects the triumph of His sacrifice and His rightful position as King and Lord. Philippians 2:9-11 powerfully echoes this theme of divine exaltation following profound humility.
  • Fulfillment of Humanity's Destiny in Christ: While Psalm 8 originally speaks of humanity's dominion over creation, the author of Hebrews argues that sinful humanity has not fully realized this dominion. It is in Christ, the perfect Man, that this Psalm finds its ultimate and complete fulfillment. He perfectly embodies the "glory and honour" and exercises the "dominion" over God's creation that humanity was originally intended to have.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "a little lower than the angels" translates the Greek brachy ti par' angelous (βραχύ τι παρ' ἀγγέλους). The term brachy ti can mean "a little while" (referring to duration) or "a little degree" (referring to status). Both meanings are relevant here: Christ was temporarily made lower in status by becoming human, and this state was for a limited time until His exaltation. The word "crownedst" (Greek: estephanōsas - ἐστεφάνωσας) implies a victor's crown, signifying triumph and ultimate authority, consistent with His enthronement at God's right hand.

Practical Application

This verse offers profound assurance and understanding of Jesus' identity. It reminds us that our Savior fully embraced humanity, experiencing its limitations and suffering, yet He was ultimately glorified and given all authority. This means we have a High Priest who understands our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15) and a sovereign King who has overcome all things. His journey from humiliation to glory provides hope and a pattern for believers, who are called to share in His sufferings and ultimately in His glory.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 8:5

    For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

  • Philippians 2:6

    Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

  • Philippians 2:7

    But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

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