Hebrews 2:7 · Bible study
Hebrews 2:7 Commentary: Lower Than Angels, Crowned With Glory
Greek · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Exegetical study of Hebrews 2:7 examining whether 'a little lower' refers to humanity's rank or Christ's temporary humiliation.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The verse describes a temporary lowering followed by coronation, applied to both humanity and Christ.
- Key words: βραχύ (brachu), ‘a little’ (degree or time); ἐλαττόω (elattoō), ‘make less’; στεφανόω (stephanoō), ‘crown’.
- Main debate: Whether ‘a little’ refers to degree of rank or brief duration, and whether the verse primarily speaks of humanity or Christ.
- Theological theme: Humiliation and exaltation of the Son of God; human dignity and divine condescension.
- Best use: To show Christ’s solidarity with humanity and his victory over death.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor
WEB World English Bible 2000
You made him a little lower than the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor.
KJV King James Version 1769
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:
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; Thou crownedst him with glory and honor, And didst set him over the works of thy hands:
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Thou didst make him some little less than messengers, with glory and honour Thou didst crown him, and didst set him over the works of Thy hands,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Thou hast made him some little inferior to the angels; thou hast crowned him with glory and honour, [and hast set him over the works of thy hands;]
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels: thou hast crowned him with glory and honour and hast set him over the works of thy hands.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Tú le hiciste un poco menor que los ángeles, coronástele|strong="G4737, G0846" de gloria y de honra, y pusístele|strong="G2525, G0846" sobre las obras de tus manos;
Tu o fizeste um pouco menor que os anjos, de glória e de honra o coroaste,
Tu l’ as abaissé pour un peu de temps au-dessous des anges,
Du hast ihn eine kleine Zeit niedriger sein lassen denn die Engel; mit Preis und Ehre hast du ihn gekrönt und hast ihn gesetzt über die Werke deiner Hände;
Gij hebt hem een weinig minder gemaakt dan de engelen; met heerlijkheid en eer hebt Gij hem gekroond, en Gij hebt hem gesteld over de werken Uwer handen;
Tu l’hai fatto di poco inferiore agli angeli; l’hai coronato di gloria e d’onore;
Na małą chwilę mniejszym uczyniłeś go od Aniołów, chwałą i czcią ukoronowałeś go i postanowiłeś go nad uczynkami rąk twoich,
Не много Ты унизил его пред Ангелами; славою и честью увенчал его, и поставил его над делами рук Твоих,
你叫他 比 天使 微小 一點（或譯：你叫他暫時比天使小），賜他 榮耀 尊貴 為冠冕，並將你手所造的都派他管理，
You made him a little lower than the angels; you gave him a crown of glory and honour, and made him ruler over all the works of your hands:
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Hebrews 2:7
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Hebrews 2:7 quotes Psalm 8:5 and applies it to Jesus Christ, showing his temporary humiliation and subsequent exaltation. Calvin and Barnes note that the Greek βραχύ τι (‘a little’) can mean either a small degree of rank or a brief period of time; the writer of Hebrews uses it to stress the short duration of Christ’s lower status. Gill and Clarke similarly point to Hebrews 2:9, where Jesus is clearly described as ‘made a little lower than the angels’ before being ‘crowned with glory and honor.’ The consensus holds that the verse describes a deliberate lowering, whether of humanity or the Son, that leads to a coronation. The commentators agree that the original Psalm refers to humanity’s dignified place in creation, but the author re-reads it in light of Christ’s incarnation. There is debate on whether ‘a little’ primarily signifies degree or time, and whether the ‘him’ refers generically to man or specifically to the Messiah. Still, all see the pattern of humiliation-then-exaltation as central to the argument of Hebrews 2.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Degree of rank: Barnes and JFB argue that 'a little' denotes inferiority in rank, supported by the Psalm’s original context of humanity’s dominion.
- Brief duration: Clarke, Gill, and Calvin read βραχύ as a short time, supported by Hebrews 2:9 where Jesus' lowering is temporary.
- Both meanings present: Some interpreters hold that the Psalm speaks of human dignity (degree) while Hebrews applies it to Christ’s temporary state (time).
What is clear: The verse sets up a pattern of lowering followed by exaltation, and it is applied to Jesus to show his finished work of salvation.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'a little' (βραχύ) | It signifies a lowering or lessening in status. | Some commentators like Barnes and JFB read it as degree of rank; others like Clarke, Gill and Calvin read it as brief duration (a short time). |
| Referent of 'him' | The verse applies to both humanity in Psalm 8 and to Christ in Hebrews. | Whether the primary reference in Hebrews is humanity generically or exclusively Christ. Calvin sees it as an adapted application; others see a direct messianic prophecy. |
| Translation of 'angels' from Hebrew Elohim | The Septuagint renders Elohim as 'angels,' and the author follows that version. | Whether the original Hebrew thought of God or divine beings. The Cambridge Bible and Clarke note the possibility of 'God' in the original. |
| Extent of 'crowned with glory and honor' | It indicates exaltation and authority. | Whether this crowning refers to the resurrection, ascension, or future eschatological reign, and whether it applies to humanity in any sense beyond Christ. |
| Relationship to Psalm 8 original context | The author adapts the Psalm for his argument. | Whether this is a reinterpretation (Calvin) or a literal reading of the Psalm as messianic (some evangelical readings). |
Historical & Cultural Context
The verse is part of a larger argument in Hebrews 2:5, 9, where the author demonstrates that the coming world is subject not to angels but to the Son. To support this, he quotes Psalm 8:5 from the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint). In the Hebrew original, the phrase ‘little lower than God’ (Elohim) is used, but the Septuagint translators rendered Elohim as ‘angels’, likely to avoid suggesting another divine being and to fit Jewish angelology. The Cambridge Bible notes this shift, explaining that the writer works from the Greek text familiar to his audience.
The original Psalm celebrates humanity’s creation as rulers over the earth, placed just below the heavenly beings. In Jewish tradition, angels were seen as mediators of the Law and guardians of the nations. The author of Hebrews argues that Jesus, not angels, is the one to whom the coming world is subjected. By quoting the Psalm, he shows that the one ‘made a little lower’ was later ‘crowned with glory and honor’, a pattern fulfilled in Christ’s incarnation, death, and exaltation.
The language of crowning evokes images of royal and priestly investiture in the ancient world. For the original audience, Jewish Christians under pressure, this connection reinforced Christ’s authority despite his temporary lowering. The phrase ‘crowned him with glory and honor’ echoes the honor bestowed on victorious kings and priests, pointing to Jesus’ resurrection and ascension.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note a textual variant: the clause ‘and didst set him over the works of thy hands’ is omitted in some early manuscripts (such as Codex Vaticanus and the Syriac version), though it appears in most others. The Cambridge Bible and Lange mention this omission. The variant does not change the core meaning of the verse.
Reception History
This verse has been central to Christological reflection on the incarnation and exaltation. Early church writers used it to articulate the two natures of Christ, fully God, yet temporarily lower than angels. In the medieval period, it was woven into liturgies for Ascension and Christ the King. Reformers like Calvin emphasized its role in showing Christ’s voluntary humiliation. Across traditions, it has been sung in hymns that celebrate the descent and ascension of the Son. The verse also appears in discussions of human dignity, reminding believers that humanity was created for glory, a promise fulfilled in Christ.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Lowering: Christ willingly accepted a status below angels, as seen in the incarnation (Philippians 2:6-7).
- The Crowning: After his suffering, he was exalted and crowned with glory and honor (Hebrews 2:9).
- The Purpose: That by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone, bringing many children to glory (Hebrews 2:9-10).
Five-point outline
- Psalm 8 describes humanity’s original dignity and dominion.
- The author of Hebrews applies this to Jesus’ incarnation.
- The phrase ‘a little lower’ points to the temporary nature of his humiliation.
- His exaltation follows as the ‘crowning’ after death.
- The goal: salvation for all and solidarity with believers.
Illustration hooks
- A CEO who works incognito as a janitor for a month to understand his company’s struggles, temporary lowering for a greater purpose.
- A parent who kneels down to speak face-to-face with a toddler, lowering themselves to the child’s level to connect.
- The concept of a ‘temporary demotion’ in a career, with the promise of later promotion and reward.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If Jesus was lower than angels for a time, does that mean he was less divine?
- How does Christ’s temporary humiliation help us when we feel low or suffering?
- If humanity was originally made a little lower than angels, does that apply after the fall?
Leading a Discussion
This verse from Psalm 8 is quoted by the author of Hebrews to show that Christ, though temporarily lower than angels, is now crowned with glory. As you discuss, consider both the original context of humanity’s dignity and the New Testament application to Jesus.
Discussion questions
- What does the verse say about the status of the one being described? Is it a statement of rank or of time?
- How does the author of Hebrews apply this verse to Jesus in chapter 2? Where do you see the connection most clearly?
- The Greek word βραχύ can mean ‘a little’ in degree or ‘a little while.’ How does the context of Hebrews 2 decide the meaning?
- What does it mean that Jesus was ‘crowned with glory and honor’? When did that happen historically?
- How does this pattern of lowering and exaltation encourage believers who face hardship or persecution?
- In what ways does this passage shape our understanding of Christ’s identity and mission?
- How should this truth affect our prayers and worship?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Psalms 8:5 | For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor. |
| Philippians 2:6 | who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, |
| Philippians 2:7 | but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke emphasizes that the Hebrew text literally says God made man "less than God," not less than angels, placing him at the head of creation next to his Maker. He then notes that in Christ's case, "a little lower" refers to a short period of humiliation so he could suffer death.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes reads the phrase "a little lower than the angels" as referring to rank, not duration, and stresses the wonder that God gave human nature such honor. He argues that Paul applies this to Christ, showing that the same human nature made only slightly lower than angels has now been exalted far above them.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin argues that the writer of Hebrews is not reinterpreting the psalm's original meaning about humanity's dignity but borrowing its language as an ornament to describe Christ's temporary humiliation and lasting glory. David's point about human honor remains intact; the Apostle simply adapts the words for a different subject.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes highlight the contrasting dignity of humanity: made only a little lower than the angels, yet crowned with glory and honor and placed in authority over all of God's created works. This dual status reflects both human humility and the exalted role given by God.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill argues that Christ's being made "a little lower" than the angels refers primarily to a brief period of time rather than a slight degree. From his incarnation to his resurrection, Christ humbled himself under the law, endured suffering and death, and even needed angelic ministry. This low estate was temporary, ordained by the Father, and followed by glory.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange stresses that the coming Messianic world is subjected not
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry notes that the gospel age, called "the world to come," is not placed under angels but directly under Christ's authority. Unlike the old law given through angelic mediation, this new covenant age is committed to Christ alone in all spiritual and eternal matters.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that the original Hebrew describes man as "a little lower than God," referring to Adam as the highest created being. He observes that the apostles applied these same words to Christ in a fuller sense. The apostles consistently used the Septuagint translation that says "angels" rather than "God," not correcting it to avoid endless disputes.