Psalm 8

[agedman]

1O LORD, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name in all the earth,
Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!​

2From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength
Because of Your adversaries,
To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.

3When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;

4What is man that You take thought of him,
And the son of man that You care for him?

5Yet You have made him a little lower than God,
And You crown him with glory and majesty!

6You make him to rule over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,

7All sheep and oxen,
And also the beasts of the field,

8The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

9O LORD, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name in all the earth!
​

A psalm about humans, The Christ, or both?

Please support your thinking with Scriptures

 

[Reformed]

Hebrews 2:5-8 seems to but this Psalm in the context of man's dominion over the earth.

 

[agedman]

Hebrews 2:5-8 seems to but this Psalm in the context of man's dominion over the earth.

In what manner was Adam or Eve a nursing babe?

 

[Deacon]

Psalm 8:5a

You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings NIV84

You have made them a little lower than the angels NIV2011

Some others:

For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels AV1873

For thou hast made him but little lower than God, ASV

Yet thou hast made him little less than God, RSV

Yet you have made them little less than a god, NAB

Yet You have made him a little lower than God, NASB95

Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings ESV

Yet you made them only a little lower than God NLT

You made him little less than God CSB

and You make him little less than the gods, Robert Alter

But you made him fall short of God by a little, John Goldingay

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Its talking about men (humans) ...and I like Robert Alter’s translation.

In Hebrew poetic parallelism, the second occurrence of a phrase reinforces the initial use.

Numbers 23:19 (CSB) God is not a man, that he might lie, or a son of man, that he might change his mind. Does he speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill?

Psalm 144:3 (CSB) Lord, what is a human that you care for him, a son of man that you think of him?

Isaiah 51:12 (CSB) I—I am the one who comforts you. Who are you that you should fear humans who die, or a son of man who is given up like grass?

Jeremiah 50:40 (CSB) Just as God demolished Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns— this is the Lord’s declaration— so no one will live there; no human being will stay in it even temporarily as a temporary resident.

Rob

 

[agedman]

Psalm 8:5a

You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings NIV84

You have made them a little lower than the angels NIV2011

Some others:

For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels AV1873

For thou hast made him but little lower than God, ASV

Yet thou hast made him little less than God, RSV

Yet you have made them little less than a god, NAB

Yet You have made him a little lower than God, NASB95

Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings ESV

Yet you made them only a little lower than God NLT

You made him little less than God CSB

and You make him little less than the gods, Robert Alter

But you made him fall short of God by a little, John Goldingay

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Its talking about men (humans) ...and I like Robert Alter’s translation.

In Hebrew poetic parallelism, the second occurrence of a phrase reinforces the initial use.

Numbers 23:19 (CSB) God is not a man, that he might lie, or a son of man, that he might change his mind. Does he speak and not act, or promise and not fulfill?

Psalm 144:3 (CSB) Lord, what is a human that you care for him, a son of man that you think of him?

Isaiah 51:12 (CSB) I—I am the one who comforts you. Who are you that you should fear humans who die, or a son of man who is given up like grass?

Jeremiah 50:40 (CSB) Just as God demolished Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns— this is the Lord’s declaration— so no one will live there; no human being will stay in it even temporarily as a temporary resident.

Rob

Did not Christ refer to Himself as “son of man?” (Mark 14, Matthew 26)

Was Christ not made “a little lower than the angels?”

Hebrews 2:9

“9But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.”​

 

[Iconoclast]

The passage is speaking of man...when it is quoted in Hebrews 2:5-8 it is speaking of Jesus in the incarnation becoming the new Exodus for the redeemed....We are in saving union with Him,we are given a restored dominion mandate as the church spreads the Kingdom worldwide through gospel preaching...

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

 

[agedman]

The passage is speaking of man...when it is quoted in Hebrews 2:5-8 it is speaking of Jesus in the incarnation becoming the new Exodus for the redeemed....We are in saving union with Him,we are given a restored dominion mandate as the church spreads the Kingdom worldwide through gospel preaching...

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

So, the fish are controlled by humans?

Did not the Lord demonstrate total control over even the fish by producing more on a specific side of the boat, and by increasing the amount in the baskets of food?

To what man has the God of heaven said, sit beside me until I make your enemies a footstool?

To what individual man has the God of heaven given authority to make the enemies and revenge filled cease (die)?

To what man does God make a little lower then himself and give Glory and Majesty?

 

[Deacon]

So, the fish are controlled by humans?

Did not the Lord demonstrate total control over even the fish by producing more on a specific side of the boat, and by increasing the amount in the baskets of food?

Genesis 1:26 (CSB) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”

• Many consider the psalm a hymn of creation.
• Enemies/adversities are of mans doing (Mans strength); infants and nursing babies are only made strong by divine work (God's strength).
• God (Elohim) made man less than the Elohim (divine beings, gods, angels)

To what man has the God of heaven said, sit beside me until I make your enemies a footstool?

Not in Psalm 8.

To what individual man has the God of heaven given authority to make the enemies and revenge filled cease (die)?

To what man does God make a little lower then himself and give Glory and Majesty?

If the Psalm is read Christologically we see that "...God has put everything under his [the Messiah's] feet. (1 Corinthians 15:27).

Iconoclast said it quite well.
It is only in the work of the Messiah that man achieves the place where he was designed to be.

Rob​

 

[agedman]

Genesis 1:26 (CSB) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”

• Many consider the psalm a hymn of creation.
• Enemies/adversities are of mans doing (Mans strength); infants and nursing babies are only made strong by divine work (God's strength).
• God (Elohim) made man less than the Elohim (divine beings, gods, angels)

But the question must be ask, does humankind actually rule the fish, the birds, the livestock, the whole earth and the creatures that crawl on the earth?

Obviously not, or the sharks wouldn't bit, the bees wouldn't sting, skunks wouldn't stink, horses wouldn't buck, and snakes wouldn't bite.

Who ruled such while here? Christ. He alone commanded all the elements and all the creatures - even riding what had never been ridden (broken to ride).

From what babies does God derive strength against the adversaries and enemies? Were they not all that were prophets, apostles, and even the Christ?

You would show "man" as "men," yet the psalm presents a singular man as crowned with authority and majesty.

Humankind does not ascend to God, Humankind is made of dust, the rubbish accumulated from other more important work that was repurposed into the image of God, but not God, but a picture, a likeness, a sketch.

If the Psalm is read Christologically we see that "...God has put everything under his [the Messiah's] feet. (1 Corinthians 15:27).

Iconoclast said it quite well.
It is only in the work of the Messiah that man achieves the place where he was designed to be.

Rob​

Certainly, but that is not the statement of the psalm. It is not presenting some evangelistic aspect.

The psalm is not a statement of man's achievement, but that of positional endowment upon a certain one.

The question ask, "What is man that you are mindful of him" is a statement that shows that humankind are of no value, yet God used that of no value to present the Son.

The rest of the Psalm is graphically depicting the attributes not of humankind, but of the authority of the Son.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

A psalm about humans, The Christ, or both?

Both.
Psalm 8 is concerning Man, and Mankind has been made steward of this world (Genesis 1:28; 2:15). But of course, since the Fall, the earth has been to some degree inhospitable to Man (Genesis 3:17-19) and subject to random events (Romans 8:20), this being God's righteous judgement that sinful men and women are not going to enjoy a perfect world.
But if our dominion over the world is partial, not so that of the Lord Jesus to whom the Father says, 'Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool' (Psalm 110:1-2) and this is what we see in Hebrews 2:5-9.
Christ rules 'in the midst of [his] enemies' and although we do not now see His enemies made His footstool (Hebrews 2:8b), nothing is more certain that that it will happen (Psalm 110:5-7), so with the eye of faith, we see the Lord Jesus 'who for a little while was made lower than the angels, [now] crowned with honour and glory.'

 

[OnlyaSinner]

From #9:
But the question must be ask, does humankind actually rule the fish, the birds, the livestock, the whole earth and the creatures that crawl on the earth?

Obviously not, or the sharks wouldn't bit, the bees wouldn't sting, skunks wouldn't stink, horses wouldn't buck, and snakes wouldn't bite.

Obviously humans do not rule those resources in the same sense as does God. However, we have His permission, as stewards of His creation, to use those fish, birds, etc. for the good of humankind (but with the requirement of being good stewards.) Post #10 puts it well, and in more detail.

 

[agedman]

From #9:
But the question must be ask, does humankind actually rule the fish, the birds, the livestock, the whole earth and the creatures that crawl on the earth?

Obviously not, or the sharks wouldn't bit, the bees wouldn't sting, skunks wouldn't stink, horses wouldn't buck, and snakes wouldn't bite.

Obviously humans do not rule those resources in the same sense as does God. However, we have His permission, as stewards of His creation, to use those fish, birds, etc. for the good of humankind (but with the requirement of being good stewards.) Post #10 puts it well, and in more detail.

The rule ended in Eden.

God turned the nature loose from human control, and even as believers we may petition God’s authority to ask (if such asking is not askew from His will) for certain elements of nature to be changed, but there is no general authority such as Adam enjoyed before the Fall.

Permission to use is not the same as indicated in Psalm 8 which discloses total authoritative control.

 

[Deacon]

The rule ended in Eden.

God turned the nature loose from human control, and even as believers we may petition God’s authority to ask (if such asking is not askew from His will) for certain elements of nature to be changed, but there is no general authority such as Adam enjoyed before the Fall.

Permission to use is not the same as indicated in Psalm 8 which discloses total authoritative control.

A statement of initial intent.
​

You make him to rule over the works of Your hands Psalm 8:6a​

Statements that follow declare what God has done, not what man is doing

You have put all things under his feet,
All sheep and oxen,
And also the beasts of the field,
The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas. Psalm 8:6b-8​

As a creation psalm it praises God for his work, rather than what man did with it.

Rob

 

[Iconoclast]

The rule ended in Eden.

God turned the nature loose from human control, and even as believers we may petition God’s authority to ask (if such asking is not askew from His will) for certain elements of nature to be changed, but there is no general authority such as Adam enjoyed before the Fall.

Permission to use is not the same as indicated in Psalm 8 which discloses total authoritative control.

The rule is now restored in the last Adam. Redeemed saints are in Christ....
The dominion mandate is back on....