Bible Question: What is the meaning of the name "Son of Man" ? |
Bible Answer: In the old testament "Son of Man" is generally a title for a prophet who could be both a representative of mankind to God and God to mankind. Though I can't think of an example it literally could have been used for a son of Adam: Abel, Cain or Seth or any male child. In poetry it might just be a used as a parallel contrast; ex. "What is man that your are mindful of him and the son of man..." . The meaning gets elevated in Daniel which would seem to be the primary basis for its use in the Gospels. Son of God could refer to Adam as in Luke's Geaneology, it it used as a title for the king such as in Solomon's dream and possibly Psalm 2, Israel, angels, and maybe once early in Genesis as possibly any male descendent of Adam. The one who appears in the Lion's den of Daniel and Psalm 2 are important to the usage in the Gospels. Look at the context in which the titles occur especially if they are a quote or allusion to another passage. |