How is Jesus a little lower than the angels (Psalm 8:5; Hebrews 2:7)?

from the old testament

• Psalm 8:5 says, “you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings.” The Hebrew word is elohim, and there is some disagreement as to whether this should be translated as “heavenly beings” (ESV) or “God” (NASB). However, the author of Hebrews quoted this verse using the Greek word for “angels.” Thus, a translation like “heavenly beings” is preferable. However, the point is the position of man in relationship to God.
• Psalm 8:5 refers to the creation account. David marvels at the fact that God would place mankind just a little lower than “God” or the “angels.” In Genesis 1:26, God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” As His pinnacle creation, God created us to rule over the rest of His creation. In that sense, we are just a little lower than Him and His angels.
• So, the Psalm 8:5 verse is mankind’s relationship to God as His vice-regents. We rule under God (a little lower in authority) over His creation. This is true even if one understands the passage to refer to “heavenly beings” as we do not (currently) rule over angels.

from the new testament

• The Hebrews 2:7 passage draws on Psalm 8. However, it modifies it slightly. Hebrews 2:7 reads, “You have made him for a little while lower than the angels.” The key difference is that Jesus is said to be lower than the angels “for a little while.” Clearly, because He is God, He is above the angels. This is the argument in Hebrews 1:1–13. However, He was a little lower than angels in authority in His humanity until He completed His work, in which case He was elevated above them.
• “For a little while,” Jesus was made lower than the angels. That refers to when Jesus added on humanity (Philippians 2:6–7) and was born. Being “a little lower than the angels” isn’t true for His deity or for all time; rather it is referring to the specific time when He took on humanity
• As fully human, Jesus became like us (except without sin). Being human, then, he also had the same dominion as God has all of mankind in Genesis 1:26. In that sense, He was a little lower than the angels.
• Unlike us, Jesus lived perfectly (1 Peter 2:22). Even if Jesus was a little lower than the angels, He still revealed that He was superior to humanity and angels by not sinning.
• When Jesus died and rose again, He “made purification for sins” in His blood and “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on High” (Hebrews 1:3). At that time, having done what no other human was able to do, He then became “as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they” (Hebrews 1:4). In the Bible, “name” refers to one’s authority, as does sitting at the right hand of God. After Jesus completed His mission of perfect obedience and death, His human authority was elevated to be above the angels.
• After His death, “God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9–11). That is, in His humanity, Jesus is now ruling over all of creation.
• Interestingly, Paul says we will also one day have authority over the angels (1 Corinthians 6:1–3).

implications for today

We were given authority over creation that was just a little lower than God’s authority (Genesis 1:26). When Adam sinned, creation was corrupted, as well as all of Adam’s descendants (Romans 5:12). Since then, we have neither ruled creation nor obeyed our Creator rightly.

In order to save us, God sent His Son (John 3:16). Being fully God (John 1:1), Jesus is incapable of sinning (Hebrews 4:15). However, being fully human (Philippians 2:6–7), He is like us (Hebrews 2:17). That means that Jesus had the same responsibilities before God that we have, including obedience and rule over creation.

Jesus lived perfectly on this earth. Because only humans die, Jesus was able (and willing) to die as a substitution for sinful men and women. Three days later He rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3–4), proving He was God, and is now sitting at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3). Because of Jesus’ death, we have a way of escape from the wrath due our rebellion. Also, because of His perfect obedience, the Father raised Jesus in His humanity to be above all creation, even the angels. Jesus, then, is the perfect human and perfect fulfilment of what God created man to do and be like.

In light of Jesus’ authority, there are two things we must do. First, as the only perfect human sacrifice, Jesus is also the only way to be saved (John 14:6). We must repent of our sin and trust in Him and His work for our salvation. Second, as the ruler who is sitting at the Father’s right hand, He also has all authority (Matthew 28:18). This means that we are to live for Him, obeying Him and giving Him all glory and honor as the King of Kings (Revelation 19:16).