• Hebrews 2:7
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 7 ἠλάττωσας You made less αὐτὸν him βραχύ short τι something παρ’ beside ἀγγέλους, angels, δόξῃ to glory καὶ and τιμῇ to honor ἐστεφάνωσας you crowned αὐτόν, him, καὶ and κατέστησας you set down αὐτὸν him ἐπὶ upon τὰ the ἔργα works τῶν of the χειρῶν hands σου, of you,

  • Hebrews 2:7
    King James Version

    • 7 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 Study Notes—Chapter 2
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 2:7

      You made him a little lower than angels: When King David wrote the words quoted here (Ps 8:4-6), he was comparing mankind with the mighty angels. (See Ps 8:5, ftn.) Humans are creatures of “blood and flesh.” (Heb 2:14; Ps 144:3) Angels are superior to humans because they are spirit creatures greater in power and ability. (2Pe 2:11) Some Bibles convey the idea “You made him for a little while lower than the angels,” but the Hebrew text of Ps 8:5, from which Paul quotes, does not convey such an idea.​—Regarding the application of this passage to Jesus, see study note on Heb 2:9.

      you crowned him with glory and honor: Paul continues his quote from Ps 8:4-6. There David wrote that God created man with a measure of “glory and splendor” and gave humans dominion over the earth. (Ge 1:26-28; Heb 2:6-8) However, Paul shows that this passage also has a deeper meaning; it points prophetically to the one perfect man who descended from Adam, Jesus Christ. As the following verses show, Jesus would be crowned with even greater glory and honor because he was willing to give his perfect human life as a sacrifice. (Heb 2:9 and study note) By doing so, he would make it possible for obedient humans to regain the original glory and honor that God had bestowed on mankind.​—Compare study note on 1Co 15:45.