Hebrews 2:6
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But somewhere it is testified in these words: “What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him?
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
But--It is not to angels the Gospel kingdom is subject, BUT . . . one . . . testified--the usual way of quoting Scripture to readers familiar with it. Psa 8:5-7 praises Jehovah for exalting MAN, so as to subject all the works of God on earth to him: this dignity having been lost by the first Adam, is realized only in Christ the Son of man, the Representative Man and Head of our redeemed race. Thus Paul proves that it is to MAN, not to angels, that God has subjected the "world to come." In Heb 2:6-8, MAN is spoken of in general ("him . . . him . . . his); then at Heb 2:9, first JESUS is introduced as fulfilling, as man, all the conditions of the prophecy, and passing through death Himself; and so consequently bringing us men, His "brethren," to "glory and honor." What, &c.--How insignificant in himself, yet how exalted by God's grace! (Compare Psa 144:3). The Hebrew, "Enosh" and "Ben-Adam," express "man" and "Son of man" in his weakness: "Son of man" is here used of any and every child of man: unlike, seemingly, the lord of creation, such as he was originally (Gen. 1:1-2:25), and such as he is designed to be (Psa 8:1-9), and such as he actually is by title and shall hereafter more fully be in the person of, and in union with, Jesus, pre-eminently the Son of man (Heb 2:9). art mindful--as of one absent. visitest--lookest after him, as one present.
Open source ↗In this chapter the apostle, I. Makes some application of the doctrine laid down in the chapter foregoing concerning the excellency of the person of Christ, both by way of exhortation and argument (Heb 2:1-4). II. Enlarges further upon the pre-eminence of Christ above the angels (Heb 2:5-9). III. Proceeds to remove the scandal of the cross (Heb 2:10-15). IV. Asserts the incarnation of Christ, taking upon him not the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham, and assigns the reason of his so doing (Heb 2:16 to the end).
Open source ↗2:6-8 These verses quote Ps 8:4-6. Psalm 8 speaks of the position God has given humanity, but the author of Hebrews applies it as a prediction about Christ, who is the fulfillment and representative head of humanity. 2:6 What are mere mortals: These two lines of the psalm proclaim God’s special attention to human beings. • a son of man (or the Son of Man): The phrase son of man speaks of human existence; it parallels mere mortals in the previous line. In the Gospels Jesus frequently referred to himself with this phrase.
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
O LORD, what is man, that You regard him, the son of man that You think of him?
“I, even I, am He who comforts you. Why should you be afraid of mortal man, of a son of man who withers like grass?
What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?
how much less man, who is but a maggot, and the son of man, who is but a worm!”
For somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this manner: “And on the seventh day God rested from all His works.”
trying to determine the time and setting to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely visit you and bring you up from this land to the land He promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
A sense of awe swept over all of them, and they glorified God. “A great prophet has appeared among us!” they said. “God has visited His people!”
And in another passage God says: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.