“You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands” (Hebrews 2:7).
The first chapter of the Biblical book of Hebrews focused largely upon Jesus’ supremacy over angelic beings. Chapter two then opened with a cautionary message: “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away” (Hebrews 2:1). Despite these things, the issue of Jesus’ humanity undoubtedly concerned those who found it difficult to understand how a human could be superior to an angelic being. That question was further complicated by the fact that Christ was a man who died, unlike angels who are incapable of death.
In addressing these concerns, the author of Hebrews first draws our attention to an important truth regarding Christ in His humanity: “You have made him a little lower than the angels…” One source explains the significance of this statement in two different contexts…
“A little (Gr brachu ti) has two possible interpretations. It can refer to time (a little while) or degree (a small degree). The Hebrew word (me at) from the Psalm likewise provides both possibilities. But this is not to our detriment since the context already incorporates both concepts. Obviously, man possesses a lower status than the angels; and obviously, it is temporary. Since the time of this lower status exists until the kingdom, it seems better to understand the word as connoting degree—a small degree lower than the angels.” (1)
So, Jesus held a glorified position that far exceeded these members of the angelic realm prior to His incarnation. Then, in becoming a man, He temporarily assumed an inferior position. Our author will explain the divine rationale behind that act later in verse nine and will continue that discussion through the rest of this chapter.
Following His ascension, Jesus then resumed His rightful place of authority above these members of the angelic world. That brings us to an important (and oft-quoted) portion of Scripture that should guide our view of this passage and the verses that follow in Hebrews chapter two…
“…being in very nature God, [Christ] did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death- even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:6-9 NIV).
(1) Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.). (1994). KJV Bible Commentary (p. 2538). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.