71. In Psalm 8, what does David call the angels of heaven, and so how do various translations render Psalm 8:5?

⁷¹ In Psalm 8:4, 5 David speaks prophetically of how the Word of God became flesh and David calls the angels of heaven elohím or “gods,” using the same word that occurs in Psalm 82:1, 6.

(AV) However, An American Translation renders Psalm 8:5 to read: “Yet thou hast made him but little lower than God.”

Bible Highlights Psalms 1 to 41

Here we discuss the first of these, Psalms 1 to 41.

10. Are all lower earthly creatures now in subjection to man, and how did David point forward prophetically to the man to whom they would be subject?

¹⁰ More than thirteen hundred years after the Deluge, when King David of Jerusalem wrote the eighth psalm Ps 8, not all the lower earthly creatures were in subjection to man in the sense of being tame and harmless toward man.

You make him dominate over the works of your hands; everything you have put under his feet: small cattle and oxen, all of them, and also the beasts of the open field, the birds of heaven and the fish of the sea, anything passing through the paths of the seas.”​—Ps. 8:3-8.

Psalm 8:5 says: “You [Jehovah] also proceeded to make him [man] a little less than godlike ones.”

The ones here called “gods” are angels, because, when quoted at Hebrews 2:7, Psalm 8:5 reads: “You made him a little lower than angels.”

Turning to Psalm 8, we observe that, rather than any suggestion of the ownership of the earth being handed over to man, the entire theme reflects to the credit and praise of the One who possesses and controls all things: “O Jehovah our Lord [Master, Owner], how majestic your name is in all the earth!” (Ps 8 Vss. 1, 9)

Regarding man’s position as owner, what do we learn from (a) Genesis 2:15-17, (b) Genesis 9:3-6, (c) Psalm 8, and (d) Psalm 115?

Ps 1-8 Ps 1-8

Rather, we are sinful creatures petitioning the Sovereign Lord Jehovah. (Psalm 8:3-5, 9; 73:28)

It means supporting his sovereignty, upholding his laws and principles, and having faith in his promises. (Psalm 8:1-9; Isaiah 50:10; Hebrews 11:6)

When we do so, we are, in effect, acknowledging the Source of human dignity, Jehovah God.—Psalm 8:4-9.

Though they were lower than the angels, they were intelligent creatures capable of making wise decisions. (Psalm 8:4, 5)

c Some examples are Psalms 8, 9, 18, 19, 24, 51, 55, 63, 66, 73, 77, 84, 86, 90, 103, 130, 135, 139, 145.

But in the Bible, angels, humans, false gods, and Satan are also called “gods.” (Angels: Psalm 8:5; compare Hebrews 2:6, 7. Humans: Psalm 82:6. False gods: Exodus 12:12; 1 Corinthians 8:5. Satan: 2 Corinthians 4:4.)

If Jesus had been human and divine at the same time, it could not have been said that he had been “made a little lower than angels.”​—Hebrews 2:9; Psalm 8:4, 5.

The animal sacrifices that men of faith from Abel onward offered up could not really cover men’s sins, since humans are superior to brute beasts. (Psalm 8:4-8)

So the angel represents Jesus during the Lord’s day.​—See Psalm 8:4-8; Hebrews 2:5-9.

Psalms 1-41, 8/15

They are a little lower than the angels, while Jehovah is the everlasting, supreme Sovereign of the universe. (Psalm 8:3-5, 9; 90:1-4)

 3. (a) At what part of Jehovah’s organization did this resister first strike? (b) What developments resulted in the Devil’s becoming the ruler of the demons?

³ Likely in order to undermine Jehovah’s organization, Satan first struck at its lowest part, Adam, the appointed head of the human family. (Genesis 3:1-24; Psalm 8:3-5; Romans 5:12)

The fact that he is now a superhuman spirit person does not matter. (Psalm 8:4, 5; Hebrews 2:5-9)

And think of all the bird and animal life that makes a trip through the countryside so enjoyable. (Job 37:5-16; Psalm 8:3-9; Acts 14:15-17)