But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Parallel translations
- WEB But one has somewhere testified, saying, “What is man, that you think of him? Or the son of man, that you care for him?
- BSB But somewhere it is testified in these words: “What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him?
- NKJV But one testified in a certain place, saying: “What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him?
- NASB But someone has testified somewhere, saying, “What is man, that You think of him? Or a son of man, that You are concerned about him?
- NLT For in one place the Scriptures say, “What are mere mortals that you should think about them, or a son of man that you should care for him?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Scripture marvels that God should be mindful of frail humanity and care for the son of man. It raises the question of humanity's place and dignity in God's purposes.
Overview
Quoting Psalm 8:4, the author voices wonder at God's attentiveness to lowly human beings. In its original setting the psalm celebrates humanity's God-given dignity and dominion. Hebrews will apply 'the son of man' especially to Jesus, who fulfills humanity's intended destiny on our behalf.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Ps 8:4–8What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
- Ps 144:3LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!
- Job 7:17–18What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?
- Isa 51:12I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;
- Job 15:14What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
- Job 25:6How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?
- Heb 4:4For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
- Luke 7:16And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.
- Gen 50:24And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
- 1 Pet 1:11Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
- Isa 40:17All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.
- Heb 5:6As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
- Luke 1:78Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
- Luke 1:68Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
- Ps 146:3–4Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Hebrews is sustained worship of Christ: better than angels, Moses, and the priests; the great High Priest after Melchizedek who by one sacrifice perfects forever those he saves.
How Hebrews 2:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.