Hebrews 2:7

Letters to the Faithful - Hebrews 2:7

Berean Standard Bible

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

King James Bible

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:

Greek Text:

ἠλάττωσας αὐτὸν βραχύ τι παρ’ ἀγγέλους, δόξῃ καὶ τιμῇ ἐστεφάνωσας αὐτόν.

Transliteration:

ēlattōsas auton brachy ti par’ angelous, doxē kai timē estephanōsas auton.

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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 in Philippians 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.

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Hebrews 2:7, which reads, “You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor,” is a pivotal verse within the rich theological tapestry of the epistle to the Hebrews. This verse, a direct quotation from Psalm 8:4–6, is employed by the author to explore the nature of humanity’s role in God’s creation and, more specifically, to underscore the significance of Jesus’ incarnation and exaltation. To fully unpack its depth, we must consider its immediate context within Hebrews, its roots in the Old Testament, its christological application, and its implications for understanding humanity’s destiny and Christ’s redemptive work.

The broader context of Hebrews 2 is the author’s argument for the superiority of Jesus over the angels, a theme introduced in chapter 1. The epistle, likely written to a Jewish-Christian community facing persecution or temptation to revert to Judaism, seeks to affirm the supremacy of Christ and the sufficiency of His salvation. In chapter 1, the author establishes Jesus as God’s ultimate revelation, far greater than the angels who mediated the old covenant (1:4–14). Chapter 2 begins with a warning to heed the salvation announced through Christ (2:1–4), then transitions to a discussion of Jesus’ solidarity with humanity. Verses 5–9, where our verse resides, draw on Psalm 8 to address the paradox of humanity’s exalted status and current subjection, ultimately pointing to Jesus as the fulfillment of humanity’s intended destiny.

Hebrews 2:7 quotes Psalm 8:5 from the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible widely used in the early church. In Psalm 8, David marvels at humanity’s place in creation, noting that God made humankind “a little lower than the angels” (or “elohim” in the Hebrew, often interpreted as “God” or “heavenly beings”) yet crowned them with glory and honor, giving them dominion over creation (Psalm 8:5–6). The psalm celebrates humanity’s unique role as God’s image-bearers, entrusted with stewardship over the earth (Genesis 1:26–28). In its original context, Psalm 8 is a hymn of praise for God’s majesty and the dignity He bestowed on humanity despite their apparent insignificance compared to the vast cosmos.

In Hebrews, the author applies this psalm christologically, interpreting it through the lens of Jesus’ incarnation, death, and exaltation. The phrase “you made them a little lower than the angels” initially refers to humanity’s position in creation. The Greek term brachy ti (“a little”) can denote degree (“somewhat lower”) or time (“for a little while”), and in Hebrews, the temporal sense is likely primary. Humanity was created lower than the angels for a time, reflecting their embodied, earthly existence. However, the author quickly shifts focus to Jesus in verse 9, who was “made lower than the angels for a little while” through His incarnation, only to be exalted above them after His suffering and death. Thus, Hebrews 2:7 serves as a bridge between humanity’s intended role and Jesus’ fulfillment of that role as the pioneer of salvation.

The phrase “crowned them with glory and honor” draws on the imagery of royalty, evoking the idea of humanity as God’s vice-regents over creation. In Psalm 8, this “crowning” signifies the dignity and authority granted to humankind to rule over the earth. In Hebrews, however, the author sees this fulfilled supremely in Jesus. While humanity’s dominion has been marred by sin and death—evident in the “not yet” of verse 8, where “we do not yet see everything in subjection to them”—Jesus, through His death and resurrection, has been crowned with glory and honor (2:9). His exaltation to God’s right hand (1:3, 13) fulfills the psalm’s vision, securing humanity’s intended destiny through His representative role.

Theologically, Hebrews 2:7 illuminates several key themes. First, it affirms the dignity of humanity as created by God. Despite their finite, earthly nature (“a little lower than the angels”), humans are endowed with a unique status, reflecting God’s image and entrusted with stewardship. This anthropology counters any diminishment of human worth, a relevant message for the original audience facing persecution and marginalization. Second, the verse underscores the paradox of humanity’s current state. While created for glory, humanity is subject to death and unable to fully exercise dominion due to sin (2:8). This tension sets the stage for Jesus’ redemptive work, as He enters humanity’s condition to restore what was lost.

The christological application is central to the verse’s significance. Jesus, by becoming human, shared in the “lower than angels” status, experiencing the frailty and mortality of human existence (2:9, 14). His incarnation was not a diminishment of His divinity but a voluntary humbling to identify with humanity (Philippians 2:6–8). Through His suffering and death, Jesus was crowned with glory and honor, achieving victory over death and inaugurating the new creation where humanity’s dominion is restored. As the “pioneer” or “forerunner” of salvation (2:10), Jesus blazes the trail for humanity, enabling believers to share in His glory (Romans 8:17; Hebrews 2:10).

Historically, the context of the epistle’s audience adds depth to this verse. The Jewish-Christian recipients, likely familiar with Psalm 8 from their synagogue worship, would have recognized its use here as a bold reinterpretation. The author’s application of the psalm to Jesus would have reinforced His superiority over the angels, a pressing concern if some were tempted to elevate angelic mediators or revert to the old covenant (cf. Colossians 2:18). The emphasis on Jesus’ solidarity with humanity also addressed their struggles, assuring them that their Savior fully identifies with their suffering and has secured their future glory. In a world where Roman power and pagan religions dominated, the affirmation of humanity’s dignity and Christ’s victory would have bolstered their faith.

The verse also connects to the broader themes of Hebrews. The epistle repeatedly contrasts the temporary and partial with the eternal and complete, whether comparing the old covenant to the new (8:6–13) or earthly priests to Christ’s heavenly priesthood (7:23–28). In 2:7, the “little while” of humanity’s (and Jesus’) lowered state contrasts with the eternal glory of Christ’s exaltation, foreshadowing the “better” hope offered through His sacrifice (7:19). The theme of perseverance, central to Hebrews (10:36; 12:1–3), is also implicit here, as the audience is encouraged to look to Jesus, who endured suffering to attain glory, as their model.

For contemporary readers, Hebrews 2:7 offers profound theological and practical insights. It reaffirms the inherent worth of humanity, challenging dehumanizing ideologies or despair in the face of suffering. The verse reminds believers that their current struggles are temporary (“a little while”) and that Christ has secured their ultimate destiny. It also deepens our understanding of the incarnation, highlighting Jesus’ solidarity with humanity as the basis for salvation. His willingness to share in our “lower” state invites gratitude and trust, while His exaltation inspires hope for our own glorification (1 John 3:2). Practically, the verse calls Christians to exercise their God-given role as stewards of creation, reflecting His image in their relationships and responsibilities, even as they await the full realization of His kingdom.

In the broader scope of Hebrews, this verse sets the stage for the epistle’s exploration of Jesus’ high priestly role (4:14–5:10) and the certainty of salvation for those who persevere (6:19–20). It also resonates with the eschatological hope that permeates the letter, where believers are encouraged to fix their eyes on the unseen, eternal reality (11:1; 12:22–24). The use of Psalm 8 here exemplifies the author’s method of interpreting the Old Testament through Christ, seeing Him as the fulfillment of God’s promises and purposes.

In conclusion, Hebrews 2:7 is a theologically dense verse that bridges humanity’s created dignity, its fallen condition, and its redeemed future through the person and work of Jesus. By quoting Psalm 8, the author affirms humanity’s exalted status while acknowledging its current limitations, pointing to Jesus as the one who fulfills God’s intention for humankind. His incarnation, suffering, and exaltation not only secure salvation but also model the path of glory through humility. For the original audience and modern readers alike, this verse offers assurance of God’s redemptive plan, encouragement to persevere, and a call to live in light of the glory and honor bestowed through Christ, to the praise of His name.

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To all who are partakers of the heavenly calling, to those sanctified in Christ and being transformed from one degree of glory to another, grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. I write to you today not merely with ink and paper, but with a burden that burns in the heart, drawn from the living and active Word of God as it is written in the Epistle to the Hebrews, chapter 2, verse 7: “You made him for a little while lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor.”

In this passage, we find a mystery wrapped in majesty—the tension of humility and exaltation, of humanity and divinity, of temporal suffering and eternal splendor. This verse speaks of Christ, the Son of God, who for a little while was made lower than the angels. He who existed before all things, by whom and for whom all things were made, condescended to become like us in every way—except without sin. He, the eternal Word, became flesh and dwelt among us. He took on the frailty of human nature, not as a disguise but in full reality, embracing every aspect of our experience—hunger, weariness, temptation, sorrow, and death itself.

Consider this, beloved: He who was above all, higher than angels and thrones, did not cling to His status, but emptied Himself for our sake. He became lower than the angels—not in essence, but in role; not in deity, but in submission. He submitted to the limitations of time and space, the vulnerability of a human body, the indignity of suffering, and the horror of death. And He did so willingly, for it was the will of the Father and the joy set before Him. His humility was not forced upon Him; it was chosen. What great love is this, that the eternal Son would become low so that we who were low might be raised up?

Yet the verse does not end with descent. It leads us into glory. “You have crowned Him with glory and honor.” The One who descended has also ascended. The humiliation of the cross has been swallowed by the resurrection, and the grave has yielded to eternal life. Christ has been exalted to the right hand of the Majesty on High. The One who was for a little while lower than the angels now reigns far above all principalities and powers. His crown is not given by men, but by the Father Himself. His honor is not fleeting, but eternal. He is crowned not only because of who He is in divine essence, but because of what He has accomplished as the perfect man, the faithful servant, the victorious Redeemer.

This, dear brothers and sisters, is not merely a theological truth to admire from a distance. It is a blueprint for our own lives. For as Christ was humbled, so are we called to humility. And as Christ was exalted, so we too shall share in His glory. The pattern of the kingdom is always the same: first the cross, then the crown; first the suffering, then the glory. If we desire to reign with Him, we must also be willing to suffer with Him. Not because our suffering redeems, but because it refines. Not because our humility earns merit, but because it conforms us to the image of the Son.

In this light, our trials take on eternal significance. We are not merely enduring hardship; we are being shaped by it. We are not merely walking through valleys; we are following a King who walked them first. We are not abandoned in our weakness; we are being prepared for glory. When you are misunderstood, when you are rejected, when you are overlooked, remember this: Christ, too, was made lower than the angels for a time. But His story did not end in the grave. Neither will yours. If you are in Him, your suffering is not meaningless. It is working for you a weight of glory far beyond comparison.

But we must not only see Christ’s example as a path to follow—we must also receive it as a gift to be embraced. For in His descent, He took our place. He bore our sin. He entered our death so that we might enter His life. And now, crowned with glory and honor, He stands as our representative before the Father. He is the pioneer of our salvation, the firstborn from the dead, the Head of a new humanity. In Him, we see both our substitute and our destiny. He is what we were meant to be—crowned with glory and honor, reflecting the image of God without distortion or stain.

This verse, then, is not only about Christ—it is about us in Christ. It is about the restoration of humanity’s original purpose. In Adam, we lost our crown. In Christ, it is restored. In Adam, we were bound to decay. In Christ, we are destined for immortality. We were created to rule under God, to steward creation, to reflect His glory. Sin shattered that image. But Jesus, the true Man, has recovered it. And now, all who are united to Him by faith will share in that glory.

What then shall we do in response to such a calling? First, let us worship. Let our hearts overflow with gratitude and wonder. Let us cast down our own crowns, all our achievements and titles, at His feet. For He alone is worthy. Second, let us walk humbly. If Christ humbled Himself, how can we exalt ourselves? Let us seek the low place, the servant’s towel, the posture of surrender. And third, let us press on in hope. The road may be hard, but it leads to glory. The suffering may be intense, but it is temporary. The One who was crowned with thorns is now crowned with glory. So too shall we be, in Him.

Let this word be your anchor in affliction, your compass in confusion, your song in sorrow. You may feel low now—but so did He. You may be hidden now—but so was He. But your life is hidden with Christ in God, and when He appears, you also will appear with Him in glory.

May the Lord Himself, who was for a little while made lower than the angels, and is now exalted forever, strengthen you with grace, sustain you with joy, and clothe you with the hope of glory.

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O Most High and Majestic God, Ancient of Days, whose throne is established from everlasting and whose glory fills the heavens, we come before You in reverence, in wonder, and in trembling gratitude. With hearts bowed and spirits lifted, we set our gaze upon the mystery and majesty of Your Word, as declared in Hebrews 2:7: “You made him for a little while lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor.” O Lord, these words are sacred ground. Help us to approach them not with mere intellect, but with worship, and to receive them not as distant truth, but as present life.

Father, we begin by exalting You, for You alone are worthy. You, who set the stars in their courses and called the world into being by the power of Your voice, have also stooped low to consider man—frail, finite, fallen man. Who are we that You are mindful of us? And yet, You are not only mindful of us, You have acted in our favor with a love that confounds the proud and comforts the broken. You sent Your Son, Jesus Christ, to be made like us—for a little while lower than the angels—so that we might be raised to stand with Him in glory. We worship You, Lord, for this divine exchange, this mysterious condescension, this unparalleled mercy.

Lord Jesus Christ, we turn our attention now to You—the Eternal Word made flesh, the Image of the invisible God who willingly took on our nature. You left the realms of infinite majesty to walk the dust of earth. You who are higher than the heavens made Yourself lower than the angels, that You might taste death for everyone. We do not understand such love, but we receive it. We cannot fathom the humility of God wrapped in flesh, of the Creator cradled in the arms of His creation. Yet You came. You came not as a warrior mounted in glory, but as a servant clothed in vulnerability. You embraced weakness without surrendering holiness. You bore temptation without yielding to sin. You endured rejection, suffering, and the silence of God for a time, so that we might never be forsaken.

O Christ, You were made lower—not because You lacked divinity, but because You carried our humanity. You entered our poverty so we might inherit Your riches. You wore a crown of thorns so we might receive a crown of life. You tasted death so that death might lose its sting forever. And now, risen in triumph, ascended in splendor, seated at the right hand of the Father, You are crowned with glory and honor, not only as God eternal, but as the faithful Son who accomplished redemption. And in Your exaltation, we see both the guarantee and the goal of our own journey. What You are, we are becoming. What You endured, we can endure. What You have received, we shall share.

Lord, this truth must shape how we live. Help us, we pray, to embrace the pattern of Your life—the humility before the honor, the cross before the crown, the descent before the ascent. We confess, Lord, how often we strive for greatness without the willingness to be made low. How quickly we forget that in Your kingdom, the way up is down, and the way to reign is through servanthood. Forgive us when we resist the low places, when we despise weakness, when we are offended by suffering. Teach us, as You taught Your disciples, that to be great in the kingdom is to be last of all and servant of all.

Father, let this Word be comfort to those who feel unseen and forgotten. To those who walk through the valley of humiliation, let them know they walk a path their Savior walked first. Let them not despise the season of hiddenness, for even Jesus was hidden for a time. Let them not grow weary in their small obedience, for the One who was made low is now exalted. Let this Word be strength to the suffering, hope to the discouraged, and correction to the proud. Remind us, O God, that we are being formed into the likeness of the One who stooped to serve, who humbled Himself to save, and who now reigns in majesty.

Holy Spirit, we ask You to burn this truth into our hearts: that the temporary lowering of Christ was for our eternal lifting. Let it awaken worship in us. Let it produce endurance in us. Let it crush every lie of insignificance. Let it destroy every idol of self-exaltation. We are not forgotten, we are not worthless, and we are not alone—for the One who became like us is now interceding for us. Let this Word embolden our witness and deepen our devotion. Let it stir us to lay down our lives, as He laid down His, with joy and with the hope of resurrection.

And so, Lord, we surrender ourselves afresh today. We lay down our crowns, our titles, our ambitions. We fix our eyes on the One who was made for a little while lower than the angels, and who is now crowned with glory and honor. And we say, “Let this mind be in us, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Let our lives echo His humility. Let our hearts reflect His obedience. Let our voices proclaim His name. Let our steps follow His path.

Until the day when faith becomes sight, and we behold the Lamb in His glory, may we live in the shadow of His cross and in the light of His crown. For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever and ever.

Amen.