CH 1l] THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 397
the position of universal lordship. This thought is developed by means of Ps. viii. Having set Christ above the angels, the writer must reconcile that claim with the historical fact of Christ’s humiliation in his incarnate state. The Psalm presents a paradox in the antithesis of lower than the angels and all things under his feet. From the Psalm is drawn the statement of a temporary subordination of Christ to angels, followed by his permanent exaltation over them.
Hath — put in subjection (v7érafev). The word suggests an economy; not merely subjecting the angels, but arranging or marshalling them under a new order. See 1 Cor. xv. 27, 28 ; Eph. i. 22; Philip. iii. 21.
The world to come (tiv oixovpévny tHv wéAXOVoaV). See on ch. i. 2. For 1 oixoupévn the inhabited (land or country) see on L. ii. 1. The world to come means the new order of things inaugurated by the sacrifice of Christ.
6. In a certain place (7ov). Only here and ch. iv. 4, signifying indefinite quotation. It does not mean that the writer is ignorant of the author or of the place, but assumes that the readers know it, and that it is a matter of no moment who said it or where it is written.
Testified (Svewaptupadro). Mostly in Luke and Acts. Only here in Hebrews. In Paul only in Ist Thessalonians. See on 1 Th. ii. 12. It implies a solemn, earnest testimony.
What is man. The Hebrew interrogation, m% what, what kind of, implies “how small or insignificant” compared with the array of the heavenly bodies; not ‘how great is man.”
The son of man. Hebrew son of Adam, with a reference to his earthly nature as formed out of the dust. Very often in Ezekiel as a form of address to the prophet, LXX, vie avOpa- mov son of man. ‘The direct reference of these words cannot be to the Messiah, yet one is reminded that the Son of man was Christ’s own title for himself.
398 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. II.
Visitest (émicxértn). The primary sense of the verb is to look upon; hence, to look after or inspect ; to visit in order to inspect or help. Similarly the Latin wsere means both to look at and to visit. An érloxomros is an overlooker, and éricKor is visitation. The verb only here in Hebrews, °P., very often in LXX. See on Matt. xxv. 36. Here in the sense of grac- iously and helpfully regarding ; caring for.
Thou madest him a little lower than the angels (7\ar- Twcas avTov Bpayd tt wap ayyédous). Rend. thou didst for some little time make him lower than the angels. ’EXarrovv to make less or inferior, only here, ver. 9, and J. ii. 80. Often in LXX (principally Sirach). Bpayv 7, the Hebrew as A.V. a little; of degree. The LXX translators interpreted it, ap- parently, of t¢me, “for some little time.” Although there is precedent for both meanings in both Class. and N. T., the idea of time better suits the whole line of thought, and would probably, as Robertson Smith observes, have appeared to a Greek reader the more natural interpretation. For this sense see Isa. lvii. 17; Acts v. 84. He who has been described as superior to the angels, was, for a short time, on the same plane with man, and identified with an economy which was under the administration of angels. This temporary sub- ordination to angels was followed by permanent elevation over them. Ilap’ ayyéAous. The Hebrew is ovidyy than God. Elohim is used in a wide sense in O. T.: see, for instance, Ps. lxxxii. 6, where God addresses the judges by that title, and declares that he himself called them to their office and gave them their name and dignity. Comp. J. x. 84 and Ps. xxix. 1, LXX viol Oe0d sons of God, A.V. mighty.. The LXX translators understand it, not as representing the per- sonal God, but that which is divine, in which sense it would be appropriate to angels as having divine qualities.