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Christianity

Psalms 8What Is Man?

Summary

Psalm 8 is a hymn that opens and closes with the same refrain praising the majesty of the LORD's name in all the earth. Looking at the moon and stars, the psalmist marvels that God cares for human beings, yet has made them a little lower than the angels and given them rule over animals, birds and fish. It echoes the creation account of Genesis 1. The New Testament applies its words to Jesus in Hebrews 2.

Key verse

“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?”

Psalms 8:4

Themes

  • Majesty of God
  • Human Dignity
  • Creation
  • Stewardship

Text

1

O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

2

Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

3

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

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.

6

Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

7

All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;

8

The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

9

O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

  • Islam

    Surah Al-Baqara (2): A Viceroy in the Earth

    Quran 2:30 tells of God announcing to the angels that he will place a viceroy (khalifa) on earth. Like Psalm 8 it gives humanity a high role in creation, while the angels question the choice.

  • Christianity

    Hebrews 2: Made a Little Lower

    Hebrews 2:6 to 9 quotes Psalm 8:4 to 6 and applies it to Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels and then crowned with glory.

  • Christianity

    Genesis 1: Dominion over Creation

    Psalm 8 reflects Genesis 1:26 to 28, where humans are created in God's image and given dominion over fish, birds and every living thing.

Questions about Psalms 8

What does a little lower than the angels mean in Psalm 8?

The Hebrew reads elohim, which can mean God or divine beings. The KJV follows the Greek Septuagint in rendering it angels; some modern translations say a little lower than God.

Where is Psalm 8 quoted in the New Testament?

Jesus cites verse 2 in Matthew 21:16 about praise from children, and Hebrews 2 and 1 Corinthians 15:27 apply its words about all things under his feet to Christ.