Question on Psalm 8:5?

[Esaias]

the 1917 Jewish Publication society bible renders the psalm verse like so:

Psa 8:5 (8:6) Yet Thou hast made him but little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

[Esaias]

Reina-Valera:

Psa 8:5 Pues le has hecho poco menor que los ángeles, Y coronástelo de gloria y de lustre.

[Amanah]

when I copied the above verse into a translator, this came out:

Psa 8: 5 For you have made him a little younger than the angels, and crown him with glory and luster.

[Esaias]

Keil and Delitzsch:

But when God says: “let us make man in our image after our likeness,” He there connects Himself with the angels. The translation of the lxx ἠλάττωσας αὐτὸν βραχύ τι παρ ̓ ἀγγέλους, with which the Targum and the prevailing Jewish interpretations also harmonize, is, therefore, not unwarranted. Because in the biblical mode of conception the angels are so closely connected with God as the nearest creaturely effulgence of His nature, it is really possible that in מֵֽאֱלֹהִים David may have thought of God including the angels. Since man is in the image of God, he is at the same time in the likeness of an angel, and since he is only a little less than divine, he is also only a little less than angelic.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Amanah

when I copied the above verse into a translator, this came out:

Psa 8: 5 For you have made him a little younger than the angels, and crown him with glory and luster.

poco menor literally means "a little minor". The word menor can be used of a "young (person)", it can mean younger, or it can mean less (just as the English word "minor" can have those same significations) as in "the minor prophets", or Asia Minor. Both of those uses signify "less" or "smaller" or lower in stature, size, importance, etc. The word minor literally means "smaller" or "less", whether less in age, size, significance, height, capacity, weight, or whatever.

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Keil and Delitzsch:

But when God says: “let us make man in our image after our likeness,” He there connects Himself with the angels. The translation of the lxx ἠλάττωσας αὐτὸν βραχύ τι παρ ̓ ἀγγέλους, with which the Targum and the prevailing Jewish interpretations also harmonize, is, therefore, not unwarranted. Because in the biblical mode of conception the angels are so closely connected with God as the nearest creaturely effulgence of His nature, it is really possible that in מֵֽאֱלֹהִים David may have thought of God including the angels. Since man is in the image of God, he is at the same time in the likeness of an angel, and since he is only a little less than divine, he is also only a little less than angelic.

very very interesting.

if they are indeed so like God in nature, it would be very troubling for them to fall.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Amanah

very very interesting.

if they are indeed so like God in nature, it would be very troubling for them to fall.

Which is why Jude and Peter spent the time to rebuke the Jewish sectarian heretics who taught that holy angels of God "fell".

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Esaias

There is no place in the Old Testament where Elohim means "angels;" and, though the LXX. so translate in the present passage, and the rendering has passed from them into the New Testament (Hebrews 2:7), it cannot be regarded as critically correct.

In other words, the apostles were wrong. And the translators of the OT into Greek over 2000 years ago were wrong.

Gill: Hebrews 2:7
Thou madest him a little lower than the angels,.... In the Hebrew text it is, "than Elohim", which some render, "than God"; but it is rightly rendered by the apostle, "than angels"; and so the Targum, Jarchi, Aben Ezra, Kimchi, and Ben Melech, interpret it.

It should also be pointed out that the phrase "a little lower" does not refer to level, but to time. "For a little while You have made him lower than the angels". This could not apply to mankind in reference to being lower than God Himself, because always has been and always will be lower than God. Thus, it must refer to man, who though made in the image and likeness of God was nevertheless made lower than the angels as a consequence of sin, which dimunition of glory is temporary because it will end in the resurrection. further, this is applied to Christ as well, who was indeed made lower than the angels FOR A LIMITED TIME (His earthly pre-Resurrection life) in which He was subject to death.

Again, Gill:

Christ was made a little lower than the angels, through the assumption of the human nature, which is inferior to angels, especially the corporeal part of it, and in this Kimchi makes the lessening to be; and more especially as that was assumed by Christ, with the infirmities of it; and by reason of the straits and indigencies he was brought into in it; besides, he was in it made under the law, which was given by angels, and to some parts of which they are not subject; and sometimes he stood in need of the ministry and support of angels, and had it; particularly he was made lower than they, when he was deprived of the gracious presence of God, and in the time of his sufferings and death; and which seem chiefly to be respected, as appears from Heb_2:9 and the word "little" may not so much intend the degree of his humiliation, as the duration of it; for it may be rendered, "a little while"; in which sense it is used in Act_5:34 as the Hebrew word מעט is in Psa_37:10 and so may respect the time of his suffering death; and at most the time from his incarnation to his resurrection; for he could not continue long in this low estate, which is matter of joy to us; he could not be held by the cords of death, but must rise, and be exalted above angels, as he is: and he was made so low by God, Jehovah the Father, whose name is excellent in all the earth, Psa_8:1 he preordained him to this low estate; he prepared a body for him, and had a very great hand in his sufferings and death; though neither of these were contrary to his will:

Thanks!!