You made him a little lower than the angels;This phrase reflects the incarnation of Jesus Christ, emphasizing His temporary position as a human being. The reference to being "a little lower than the angels" highlights the humility and condescension of Christ, who took on human form. This is rooted in
Psalm 8:5, which speaks of mankind's place in creation, but in Hebrews, it is applied to Jesus, showing His identification with humanity. Theologically, this underscores the mystery of the Incarnation, where Jesus, though fully divine, became fully human to fulfill His redemptive work. The phrase also points to the order of creation, where angels are spiritual beings with a higher status than humans in terms of power and presence in the heavenly realm. However, Jesus' temporary lower status was necessary for His mission of salvation.
You crowned him with glory and honor
This part of the verse speaks to the exaltation of Christ following His resurrection and ascension. After completing His work on earth, Jesus was glorified and honored by God the Father, as seen inPhilippians 2:9-11, where God highly exalts Him and gives Him the name above every name. The crowning with glory and honor signifies His victory over sin and death and His rightful place at the right hand of God. This also fulfills the messianic prophecies found in the Old Testament, where the Messiah is depicted as a reigning king. The imagery of a crown is significant in biblical culture, symbolizing authority, victory, and divine approval. This exaltation assures believers of Christ's sovereignty and His role as the mediator between God and humanity.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Jesus ChristThe central figure in this passage, who is made "a little lower than the angels" during His incarnation, yet crowned with glory and honor through His resurrection and ascension.
2.
AngelsSpiritual beings who serve God and are often seen as messengers. In this context, they are used as a point of comparison to highlight the humility and subsequent exaltation of Jesus.
3.
The IncarnationThe event of God the Son taking on human flesh, becoming fully human while remaining fully divine. This is the period when Jesus was made "a little lower than the angels."
4.
The Resurrection and AscensionEvents that signify Jesus being crowned with glory and honor, affirming His divine authority and victory over sin and death.
5.
Psalm 8The Old Testament scripture that
Hebrews 2:7 references, originally speaking of mankind's place in creation but ultimately finding its fulfillment in Christ.
Teaching Points
The Humility of ChristJesus willingly became "a little lower than the angels" to fulfill God's redemptive plan. This teaches us the importance of humility and obedience in our own lives.
The Exaltation of ChristDespite His temporary lowering, Jesus is crowned with glory and honor. This assures us of His ultimate victory and authority, encouraging us to trust in His sovereignty.
Human Dignity and PurposeBy referencing
Psalm 8, we are reminded of the dignity and purpose God has given humanity, which is fully realized in Christ. This calls us to live purposefully and honorably.
The Fulfillment of ScriptureHebrews 2:7 shows how Old Testament prophecies and writings find their fulfillment in Jesus, encouraging us to see the Bible as a unified account centered on Christ.
Living in Light of Christ's ExampleAs followers of Christ, we are called to emulate His humility and trust in God's plan for our exaltation in His kingdom.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Hebrews 2:7?
2.How does Hebrews 2:7 emphasize humanity's temporary position "lower than the angels"?
3.What does being "crowned with glory and honor" in Hebrews 2:7 signify for believers?
4.How does Hebrews 2:7 connect to Psalm 8:5 regarding human dignity?
5.How can understanding Hebrews 2:7 influence our view of human worth today?
6.In what ways can we reflect God's glory and honor in our daily lives?
7.How does Hebrews 2:7 relate to the concept of Jesus' divinity and humanity?
8.Why does Hebrews 2:7 emphasize being "a little lower than the angels"?
9.What is the significance of "crowned with glory and honor" in Hebrews 2:7?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Hebrews 2?
11.Hebrews 2:7–8 quotes Psalm 8 about mankind’s dominion—how does this align with modern scientific understanding of humanity’s place in the universe?
12.Is Jesus superior to the angels?
13.What did Jesus mean by 'some will not taste death'?
14.Are humans slightly below angels in status?What Does Hebrews 2:7 Mean
You made him a little lower than the angelsHebrews 2:7 begins, “You made him a little lower than the angels.” The writer is quotingPsalm 8:5 to show two intertwined truths:
• Humanity’s place in creation
–Psalm 8:4-6 marvels that the Creator “made him a little lower than the angels” and “set him over the works of Your hands.”
–Genesis 1:26-28 records God’s literal mandate for mankind to “rule over” the earth, revealing that our earthly position, though beneath heavenly beings, still carries real authority.
• Christ’s incarnation
– InHebrews 2, the phrase applies directly to Jesus, who “for a little while was made lower than the angels” (Hebrews 2:9). He took on flesh (John 1:14) and shared our humanity (Philippians 2:6-8), fully entering the human condition without relinquishing His deity.
– By embracing a status beneath angels, the eternal Son could genuinely suffer and die (Hebrews 2:14), fulfilling God’s plan of redemption foretold in Scripture.
This “little lower” is temporary. It points to a purpose: identification with us and qualification to save us.
You crowned him with glory and honorThe quotation continues: “You crowned him with glory and honor.” Here the spotlight rests on God’s faithfulness to exalt the one who humbled Himself:
• Christ’s exaltation
– After His suffering, Jesus was “crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death” (Hebrews 2:9).
–Hebrews 1:3-4 testifies that He “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” higher than any angel.
–Philippians 2:9-11 andRevelation 5:12 echo this vindication: every knee will bow, every tongue will confess His lordship.
• Humanity’s restored destiny
–Psalm 8:6 adds that God placed “everything under his feet.”Hebrews 2:8 acknowledges we do not yet see all things in subjection to man, but in Christ we see the pledge of that coming reality (1 Corinthians 15:27;Romans 8:19-21).
– Believers are “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17), destined to share in His reign (2 Timothy 2:12).
So, the crowning speaks both of Jesus’ present supremacy and of the future fulfillment of humanity’s God-given role, guaranteed by His triumph.
summaryHebrews 2:7 affirms that God, true to His Word, allowed His Son to step below angels for a brief season so He could stand with us and die for us. Because He did, He now wears the crown of glory and honor, and all who trust Him are invited to share in that victory when His kingdom is fully revealed.
Verse 7. -
Thou madest him a little lower than the angels. Here the LXX. takes
Elohim (being a plural form) to mean "angels;" as also in
Psalm 97:7 and Psalms 138:1. The more correct rendering of the Hebrew may be, "thou reddest him a little short of God," with reference to his having been made "in God's image," "after God's likeness," and having dominion over creation given him. But, if so,
Elohim must be understood in its abstract sense of "Divinity" (so Genesis), rather than as denoting the Supreme Being. Otherwise, "thyself" would have been the more appropriate expression, the psalm being addressed to God. The argument is not affected by the difference of translation. Indeed, the latter rendering enhances still more the position assigned to man.
Thou crownedst him with glory and worship, and didst set him over the works of thy hands. The latter clause of this sentence, which is found in the LXX., but not in the Hebrew, is omitted in several codices. It is not wanted for the purpose of the argument.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
You made him a little lowerἠλάττωσας(ēlattōsas)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1642:To make less (inferior). From elasson; to lessen.thanπαρ’(par’)Preposition
Strong's 3844:Gen: from; dat: beside, in the presence of; acc: alongside of.[the] angels;ἀγγέλους(angelous)Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 32:From aggello; a messenger; especially an 'angel'; by implication, a pastor.You crownedἐστεφάνωσας(estephanōsas)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4737:To crown, adorn, decorate. From stephanos; to adorn with an honorary wreath.himαὐτόν(auton)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846:He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.with gloryδόξῃ(doxē)Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1391:From the base of dokeo; glory, in a wide application.andκαὶ(kai)Conjunction
Strong's 2532:And, even, also, namely.honorτιμῇ(timē)Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5092:A price, honor. From tino; a value, i.e. Money paid, or valuables; by analogy, esteem, or the dignity itself.
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NT Letters: Hebrews 2:7 You made him a little lower than (Heb. He. Hb) 
