A little lower than God?

PAProphet at aol.com PAProphet at aol.com
Mon Jul 30 08:39:28 EDT 2001


Hello,

(Psa 8:4 KJV)  4  What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of 
man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him 
with glory and honour.

"00430 430  'elohiym  el-o-heem'

 plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically
 used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the
 supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to
 magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X
 exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X
 mighty.
 see HEBREW for 0433 "

     Now some say that this should be translated, "a little lower than God."  
But there is a direct quote of this passage found in Hebrews and the Greek 
word used is the one for angels.

(Hebrews 2:6 KJV) 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?
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:

"00032 32  aggelos  ang'-el-os

 from aggello (probably derived from 71; compare 34) (to bring
 tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a
 pastor:--angel, messenger.
 see GREEK for 71
 see GREEK for 34 "

     Was the author of Hebrews quoting from the Septuagint?  Or was he simply 
aware of the correct meaning of Psalm 8:5?
     Thank you.

Mark Thompson



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