Hebrews 2:7 kjv
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:
Hebrews 2:7 nkjv
You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands.
Hebrews 2:7 niv
You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor
Hebrews 2:7 esv
You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor,
Hebrews 2:7 nlt
Yet for a little while you made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.
Hebrews 2 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 8:4-6 | What is man that You are mindful of him... You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. | Original source of the quote, applied to man and then Christ. |
| Heb 2:9 | But we do see Jesus... made for a little while lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor... | Immediate context, confirms the "him" as Jesus. |
| Phil 2:6-8 | Christ Jesus... did not consider equality with God... made Himself nothing... became obedient to death... | Jesus' voluntary self-emptying and humiliation. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above every name... | God's response to Christ's humiliation: exaltation. |
| Col 1:15-18 | He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation... all things were created through Him and for Him... | Christ's pre-eminence and ultimate headship. |
| John 1:14 | The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory... | The Incarnation of the Son of God. |
| 2 Cor 8:9 | For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor... | Christ's humility for humanity's sake. |
| Matt 28:18 | All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. | Christ's post-resurrection universal authority. |
| Eph 1:20-22 | ...raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms... Far above all rule and authority... | Christ's exaltation and dominion over all powers. |
| 1 Pet 3:22 | Who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers subject to Him. | Christ's exaltation and universal subjugation. |
| Heb 1:3-4 | The Son is the radiance of God's glory... He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So He became as much superior to angels... | Christ's supreme glory and superiority to angels. |
| Heb 12:2 | Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross... | Jesus' path of suffering leading to glory. |
| Luke 24:26 | Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter His glory? | Prophetic necessity of suffering before glory. |
| Rom 8:3 | For what the law was powerless to do... God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh... | God's divine action in Christ's incarnation. |
| 1 Cor 15:45-49 | So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit... | Christ as the "Last Adam" who perfects humanity. |
| Rom 5:12-19 | Just as sin entered the world through one man... how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ... | Christ as the one through whom God restores. |
| Gen 1:26-28 | Let us make mankind in Our image, in Our likeness, so that they may rule... | Original divine mandate for humanity's dominion. |
| Ps 2:7 | You are my Son; today I have become Your Father. | Declaration of divine sonship leading to authority. |
| Dan 7:13-14 | One like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven... He was given authority, glory and sovereign power... | Prophecy of the Son of Man's universal reign. |
| Eph 4:8-10 | “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” ...He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens... | Christ's descent and glorious ascent. |
| Acts 2:33 | Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. | Christ's exaltation and sending of the Spirit. |
Hebrews 2 verses
Hebrews 2 7 Meaning
Hebrews 2:7 states that God the Father made "him"—referring to Jesus Christ—for a temporary period "lower than the angels." This state of humiliation refers to Christ's incarnation, during which He fully entered human existence, subjected Himself to human limitations, and experienced suffering and death. Following this period, the verse declares that God "crowned Him with glory and honor" and "set Him over the works of Your hands," signifying His post-resurrection exaltation, universal dominion, and the full establishment of His rightful authority over all creation, fulfilling the destiny God originally intended for humanity as found in Psalm 8.
Hebrews 2 7 Context
Hebrews chapter 2 expands on the core argument from chapter 1 regarding the absolute superiority of Jesus Christ over angels, particularly in His identity as God's Son and heir of all things. While chapter 1 focused on Christ's divine nature and inherent glory, chapter 2 delves into the mystery and purpose of His incarnation.
Hebrews 2:5-9 serves as the immediate context for verse 7. The author clarifies that God has not appointed angels to rule "the world to come" (Heb 2:5), but rather humanity, a point drawn from Psalm 8. This sets up the problem: if humanity is destined for such glory, why do we not yet see all things subject to us, and why do humans suffer and die? Verse 7, quoting Psalm 8:5-6, highlights the paradoxical temporary humiliation of man ("lower than angels") yet ultimate coronation ("crowned with glory and honor," "set over the works").
The author then immediately interprets this in verse 9, explaining that this Psalm is fully and truly fulfilled not in all humanity generally, but specifically in Jesus. Christ willingly submitted to a "little while lower than the angels" through His Incarnation, suffering, and death, which enabled Him to be "crowned with glory and honor" and taste death "for everyone." This profound theological explanation underscores that Jesus, as the perfect Man, actualizes God's original intention for humanity, fulfilling what Adam failed to do. His humiliation was purposeful, leading to His ultimate exaltation and providing salvation for many, proving Him to be the compassionate and faithful High Priest.
Hebrews 2 7 Word Analysis
- You made him: (Greek: ēlatōsas auton) This emphasizes God the Father's sovereign design and action in orchestrating the Son's incarnation. It points to a divine decree, not an accidental or forced event. God is the active agent in both the humiliation and the exaltation of Christ.
- him: While Psalm 8 refers to anthrōpos (man/humanity), in Hebrews 2:9 the author explicitly applies "him" to Jesus. This shift is crucial, identifying Jesus as the quintessential Man who perfectly fulfills God's original purpose for humanity.
- for a little while: (Greek: brachy ti) This temporal phrase is vital. It underscores the temporary nature of Christ's humiliation in contrast to His eternal pre-existent glory and His eternal post-resurrection glory. This "little while" encompasses His earthly ministry, suffering, and death—the duration of His state "lower than the angels."
- lower than the angels: (Greek: par' angelous) The author uses the Septuagint (LXX) translation of Psalm 8:5, which renders the Hebrew mē'ĕlōhîm (meaning "than God" or "than divine beings/gods") as "than angels." This translation choice in the LXX is significant for the author of Hebrews, as it directly supports his ongoing argument in chapters 1 and 2 about Christ's relationship to angels. Despite being God, Christ voluntarily took on a form of existence (humanity) that is, in terms of creaturely power and present position, lower than angels. This highlights the depth of His condescension.
- you crowned him: (Greek: estephanōsas auton) This speaks of an act of bestowing kingly honor or the reward of a victor. This "crowning" event occurs at Christ's resurrection and ascension, marking His ultimate triumph over sin and death. It's an act of divine recognition and vindication.
- with glory and honor: (Greek: doxē kai timē) These two words consistently refer to a high status, praise, and public recognition of worthiness. It signifies Christ's divine majesty and the preeminent position He holds following His atoning work.
- and set him over the works of your hands: (Greek: kai katestēsas auton epi ta erga tōn cheirōn sou) This phrase, also from Psalm 8:6 (though its inclusion in Heb 2:7 varies in manuscripts, it is strongly supported and often understood as implied), refers to the conferral of authority and dominion over all creation. It connects Christ's exaltation to God's original purpose for humanity to rule over creation, showing that in Christ, this purpose is perfectly and fully realized. It confirms His universal reign and kingly authority.
Hebrews 2 7 Bonus Section
- The Purpose of the "Little While": Christ's temporary lowering was not a sign of inferiority, but a strategic divine necessity. It allowed Him to identify with humanity in its weakness and mortality, to experience temptation without sin (Heb 4:15), and critically, to taste death for everyone (Heb 2:9). This pathway of suffering (pathos) was essential for His "perfection" (teleioō) as the Captain of salvation, enabling Him to fully discharge His priestly and kingly duties.
- LXX and Original Hebrew Nuance: The author's use of the LXX translation for Psalm 8:5 is pivotal. The Hebrew Elohim could mean "God" or "divine beings," but the LXX translators chose angels, which conveniently serves the author of Hebrews' argument throughout chapters 1 and 2 about Christ's relationship and superiority to angels. This highlights the providential accuracy of the LXX for prophetic fulfillment.
- The Ultimate Fulfillment of Dominion: While Psalm 8 originally speaks of general humanity's dominion (Gen 1:26), it is apparent this has never been fully realized due to sin. The author of Hebrews reveals that this divinely intended dominion is finally and perfectly realized in Christ, the archetypal Human. He achieved what no other human could, and through Him, believers share in this future glorious rule (Heb 2:10, Rom 8:17, 2 Tim 2:12).
Hebrews 2 7 Commentary
Hebrews 2:7 is a crucial verse in the argument for Christ's supreme identity and mission. It bridges the chasm between Christ's divine pre-existence and His redemptive incarnation. By quoting Psalm 8, the author emphasizes God's original plan for humanity to rule creation. However, he immediately shows that this fallen humanity has failed to achieve this dominion. It is Jesus, the perfect "Man," who perfectly fulfills this prophetic Psalm. His "little while" lower than the angels refers to His voluntary condescension to humanity, experiencing all its limitations, including suffering and death. This was not a diminution of His divine nature but a humble submission for redemptive purposes. This act of profound humiliation, however, was the very pathway to His "crowning with glory and honor" and His being "set over the works of your hands."
This verse thus highlights the paradox of the Incarnation and the foundational Christian truth that suffering precedes glory, especially for the Suffering Servant who is also the triumphant King. Christ's temporary state of weakness and vulnerability ultimately secured His eternal position of supreme authority and universal dominion. This reinterpretation of Psalm 8 affirms Jesus as the true and ultimate Son of Man, the New Adam who, through His obedience and sacrifice, perfectly realizes humanity's created destiny to rule under God. His ascension and coronation mean He now exercises perfect dominion over everything, and this rule is ultimately for the benefit of those He came to save, bringing many sons to glory.