“Son of Man”
“Son of Man” is the English translation of the phrase “ben adam” in Hebrew. The phrase could be a loss of translation. Some instances of “Son of Man” in the Bible may be phrases that should be translated as “mere human” or “humankind.” “And God said, Let us
“Son of Man” is a title from the Old Testament that is used in many different contexts. Jesus gave himself the title “Son of Man.” Jesus used the widely known messianic use. "The main ideas that probably underlie the title as applied to our Lord are lowliness, humility, suffering, honor. dignity, as head and founder of the kingdom of God, and judge of all men. The thought of him as the representative or ideal Man, chosen by our Lord as expressive of his headship over the whole human family."-from http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bd/s/93 The Psalms, Job, and Numbers all use the title conveying a sense of humankind, often using this to denote the stature of a human being compared to God. “Son of Man” is also used as a title for the prophets such as David and Ezekiel.
In the Bible, humans are shown as great in Genesis 1:26-28.
in our image, after our likeness:
and let them have dominion over
the fish of the sea, and over
the birds of the heavens,
and over the cattle,
and over all the earth,
and over every creeping thing
that creepeth upon the earth.
And God created man in his own image
, in the image of God created he him;
male and female created he them.
And God blessed them:
and God said unto them,
Be fruitful, and multiply,
and replenish the earth, and subdue it;
and have dominion over the fish of the sea,
and over the birds of the heavens,
and over every living thing
that moveth upon the earth.”
“In my vision at night I looked,
and there before me was one like a son of man,
coming with the clouds of heaven.
He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.
He was given authority, glory and sovereign power;
all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that will not pass away,
and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”
Numbers 23:19 gives a clear distinction between God and man. “God is not a man, that he should lie,
Neither the son of man, that he should repent:
Hath he said, and will he not do it?
Or hath he spoken, and will he not make it good?”
Psalm 146:3 uses “Son of Man” to refer to humankind in general. “Put not your trust in princes,
nor in the son of man , in whom there is no help.”
Daniel 8:17 shows how “Son of Man” can be used as a title for a prophet. In this instance the angel Gabriel is talking to the prophet Daniel. “So he came near where I stood;
and when he came, I was affrighted,
and fell upon my face: but he said unto me,
Understand, O son of man; for the vision belongeth
to the time of the end.”
“How then can man be justified with God?
or how can he be clear that is born of a woman?
Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not;
yea, the stars are not pure in his sight.
How much less man, that is a worm?
and the son of man, which is a worm?”
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