Psalm 8:5

Translations

Modern

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

Traditional

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

Literal

And You made him lacking a little from the angels, and with glory and honor You crowned him.

Latin

Minuisti eum paulominus ab angelis; gloria et honore coronasti eum;

Original

Hebrew

English

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

Notes

Psalms 8:5

You made him a little lower than the angels: Humans bear God’s image. The Lord has given humans dignity and tasked them to rule (Genesis 1:26–27).

Hebrews 2:6–8 applies these words to Jesus Christ, the ideal human who fully realized God’s purposes.

Psalms 8:3–5

God’s glory is vast and awe-inspiring. At first, it might seem that people are too small or unimportant to matter to him.

Yet God has given humans honor and dignity. He has crowned them with glory and set them in charge of creation.

This shows that every person has value. Humans are called to care for and rule over the world responsibly, reflecting God’s glory in their lives.

Psalms 8:1–9

Psalm 8 begins the second part of Book One of the Psalms (Psalms 8–14). The psalmist praises God’s creation and the dignity of the ideal human (see Psalm 1). Instead of the world of enemies, wicked people, and unfair justice shown in Psalms 3–7, this psalm presents the world as God first made it. Someone who is tired (both physically and emotionally) can imagine a place of dignity in God’s world.

Theme notes and profiles

David Beauty in Nature The Creator-King The Glory of God

Related verses

Hebrews 2:7
You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor
Hebrews 2:9
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
Genesis 1:26–27
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.”
Hebrews 2:16
For surely it is not the angels He helps, but the descendants of Abraham.
Philippians 2:7–11
…but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Psalm 21:3–5
For You welcomed him with rich blessings; You placed on his head a crown of pure gold.
Psalm 103:4
…who redeems your life from the Pit and crowns you with loving devotion and compassion,
Ephesians 1:21
…far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
1 Peter 1:20–21
He was known before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake.
Genesis 2:7
Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.
Psalm 103:20
Bless the LORD, all His angels mighty in strength who carry out His word, who hearken to the voice of His command.
Psalm 45:1–3
For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lilies.” A Maskil of the sons of Korah. A love song. My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses to the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

Glossary

Bible Creation Crown David Elohim Exaltation of Christ Fullness Genesis, Book of Gittith Heaven Hebrews, Letter to the Man Music Presence of God Psalms, Book of

Topics

Angel (A Spirit): Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Birds: Man's Dominion Over Condescension of God: Scriptures Relating To God: Goodness of God: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Man: Created Man: Inferior to Angels Man: Little Lower than the Angels Religion: Natural

Psalm 8:5

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