Editing Son of man

{{Short description|Phrase used in the Bible}}
{{about|general religious issues|Christian teachings|Son of man (Christianity)|Jewish teachings|Son of man (Judaism)|other usage|Son of man (disambiguation)}}

"'''Son of man'''", "'''son of Adam'''", or "'''as''' '''a man'''", are phrases used in the [[Hebrew Bible]], various [[apocalypticism|apocalyptic]] works of the [[intertestamental period]], and in the Greek [[New Testament]]. In the indefinite form ("son of Adam", "son of man", "like a man") used in the Hebrew Bible, it is a form of address; or it contrasts [[human]]s with [[God in Judaism|God]] and the [[angel]]s; or it contrasts foreign nations (like the [[Sasanian Empire]] and [[Babylon]]), which are often represented as animals in apocalyptic writings (bear, goat, or ram), with Israel which is represented as human (a "son of man"); or it signifies an [[Jewish eschatology|eschatological]] human figure.

The phrase is used in its indefinite form in the [[Septuagint]], [[Biblical apocrypha]] and [[Pseudepigrapha]]. The Greek New Testament uses the earlier indefinite form while introducing a novel definite form, "the son of man."

==History==
===Jewish Bible===
{{main|Son of man (Judaism)}}
The Hebrew expression "son of man" ({{Langx|he|בן–אדם|ben-āḏām}}) appears 107 times in the [[Hebrew Bible]], the majority (93 times) in the [[Book of Ezekiel]].{{sfn|Bromiley|1995|p=574}} It is used in three main ways: as a form of address (Ezekiel); to contrast the lowly status of humanity against the permanence and exalted dignity of God and the angels ({{bibleverse|Numbers|23:19}}, {{bibleverse|Psalm|8:4}}); and as a future [[eschatology|eschatological figure]] whose coming will signal the end of history and the time of God's judgment ({{bibleverse|Daniel|7:13-14}}).{{sfn|McGrath|2011|p=270}}

[[Daniel 7]] tells of a vision given to [[Daniel (biblical figure)|Daniel]] in which four "beasts," representing pagan nations, oppress the people of Israel until judged by God. {{Bibleref|Daniel|7:13-14|JSR}} describes how the "Ancient of Days" (God) gives dominion over the earth to "one ''like a son of man'' ({{Lang|he|כבר אנש}} [{{Lang|he-latn|kibar 'anash}}])". The passage in [[Daniel 7]]:13 occurs in [[Biblical Aramaic]].

Later, in chapter 7, it is explained that "one like a man" certainly implies a "human being" and also stands for "the saints of the Most High" (7:18, 21–22) and "the people of the saints of the Most High" (7:27).{{sfn|Burkett|2002|p=64}} The "saints" and "people of the saints," in turn, probably stand for the Israelites – the vision sees it that God will take dominion over the world away from the beast-like pagan "nations" and give it to human-like Israel.{{sfn|Burkett|2002|p=64}}

[[File:BambergApocalypseFolio003rAngelWith7Candlesticks.JPG|thumb|"One like a son of man" with a sword among the seven lampstands, in [[John's vision of the Son of Man|John's vision]]. From the [[Bamberg Apocalypse]], 11th century.]]

===Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha===
Although Daniel's 7:13 "like a son of man" has been interpreted as standing for the [[Messiah]] (e.g. in [[Rashi#Commentary on the Tanakh|Rashi's ''Commentary on the Tanakh'']]), this interpretation was probably introduced by later [[Biblical apocrypha|apocryphal]] and [[Deuterocanonical books|deuterocanonical works]] such as the [[Similitudes of Enoch|Similitudes (or Parables) of Enoch]] and [[4 Ezra]].{{sfn|Burkett|2002|p=64}} Whether these messianic "Son of Man" references are genuinely Jewish or the result of [[Christian interpolation]] is disputed.<ref>G. Nickelsburg, "Son of Man." in [[Anchor Bible Dictionary]] 6.138.</ref> An example of a disputed section is that of The Similitudes (1 Enoch 37–71) which uses Daniel 7 to produce an unparalleled messianic Son of Man, pre-existent and hidden yet ultimately revealed, functioning as judge, vindicator of righteousness, and universal ruler.{{sfn|Bromiley|1995|p=575}} The Enochic messianic figure is an individual representing a group (the Righteous One who represents the righteous, the Elect One representing the elect), but in {{bibleverse|2|Esdras|13||4 Ezra 13}} (also called 2 Esdras) he becomes an individual man.{{sfn|Slater|1999|p=71}}<ref>The Expository Times  1900 – Volume 11 – Page 64 "Again, Schmiedel is quite prepared to admit the possibility that the Son of man passages in Enoch may be Christian interpolation, and so far as ability to deal with this part of the problem depends on a knowledge of Ethiopic (in which language ...)"</ref><ref>The Enoch-Metatron Tradition - Page 82 3161485440 Andrei A. Orlov - 2005 "The same interchangeability is observable in the titles "son of man" and "chosen one." Here ... 88 Some scholars believe that these chapters might represent later interpolation(s) and do not '83 G. Nickelsburg, "Son of Man." ABD 6.138."</ref>

===New Testament===
{{main|Son of man (Christianity)}}
The New Testament features the indefinite "a son of man" in {{bibleverse|Hebrews|2:6}} (citing {{bibleverse|Psalm|8:4}}), and "one like the son of man" in {{bibleverse|Revelation 1:13, 14:14|multi=yes}} (referencing Daniel 7:13's "one like a son of man").{{sfn|Hurtado|2005|p=293 fn.83}} The [[Gospel]]s introduce a new definite form, {{Lang|grc|ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου}}, literally 'the son of the man,' an awkward and ambiguous expression in Greek.{{sfn|Bromiley|1995|p=574}} It functions as an emphatic equivalent of the first-person pronoun I/me/my, and in all four gospels it is used only by Jesus (except once in the [[Gospel of John]], when the crowd asks what Jesus means by it).{{sfn|Hurtado|2005|p=290, 292, 293}} German theologian [[Rudolf Bultmann]] sees the phrase not as one genuinely used by Jesus but as one inserted by the early Church,{{sfn|Burkett|2000|p=121,124}} but theologian [[C. F. D. Moule]] argues that the phrase, "so far from being a title evolved from current apocalyptic thought by the early Church and put by it onto the lips of Jesus, is among the most important symbols used by Jesus himself to describe his vocation and that of those whom he summoned to be with him."<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Origin of Christology|last=Moule|first=C. F. D.|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=1977|isbn=0-521-21290-1|location=Cambridge|page=22}}</ref>

The title "Son of Man" is the most frequently used designation for Jesus in the Gospels, particularly in his own self-references. Outside the Gospels, however, "Christ" (Messiah) becomes the dominant title, especially in the writings of Paul and the broader New Testament epistles.<ref>Romans 1:1; 1 Corinthians 1:23; Philippians 2:5–11</ref>

In the New Testament, Jesus combines the titles "Son of Man" and "Son of God" in key theological moments. In his conversation with Nicodemus, he unites both titles while speaking of his divine mission and salvation.<ref>John 3:13–18 (NIV)</ref> At his trial before the Sanhedrin, he affirms his identity by linking them again.<ref>Matthew 26:63–64; Mark 14:61–62 (NIV)</ref> Other instances include his discourse on resurrection and judgment,<ref>John 5:25–27 (NIV)</ref> Peter’s confession at Caesarea Philippi,<ref>Matthew 16:13–17 (NIV)</ref> and Martha’s confession before the raising of Lazarus.<ref>John 11:25–27 (NIV)</ref>

== The term in the source languages ==
The exact words used for "son of man" vary, depending on the source language.
*{{langx|he|[[wikt:בן אדם|בן אדם]]|translit=ben-āḏām|lit=son of Adam}}<ref>{{cite web|author1=HALEY WILSON|title=A SURVEY OF THE "SON OF MAN" (pdf)|url=http://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1236&context=studiaantiqua|website=BYU's ScholarsArchive|publisher=[[Brigham Young University]]|access-date=7 May 2017}}</ref>
*{{langx|arc|בר אנש|bar<ref>{{Strong-number|bar|H|1247}}</ref> 'enash<ref>{{Strong-number|'enash|H|0606}}</ref>|son of man}}
*{{langx|arc|כבר אנש|kibar 'anash|like a son of man}} — see [[Son of man (Judaism)]]
*{{langx|grc-x-koine|text=ὡς υἱὸς ἀνθρώπου|translit=hōs<ref>{{Strong-number|hos|G|5613}}</ref> huios<ref>{{Strong-number|huiós|G|5207}}</ref> anthrōpou<ref>{{Strong-number|anthrópou|G|444}}</ref>|lit=like a son of man}} – per the [[Septuagint]] in Dan. 7:13 [LXX].<ref name="Lee2012">{{cite book|last=Lee|first=Yongbom|title=The Son of Man as the Last Adam: The Early Church Tradition as a Source of Paul's Adam Christology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KRRNAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA81|date=1 July 2012|publisher=Wipf and Stock Publishers|isbn=978-1-61097-522-3|page=81}}</ref>
*{{langx|grc-x-koine|text=ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου|translit=ho huios tou anthrōpou|lit=the son of the man}} – per the [[New Testament]], see [[Son of man (Christianity)]]

==See also==
*[[Adam Kadmon]]
* [[Son of man (Christianity)]]
* [[Son of man (Judaism)]]
* [[Son of perdition]]
* [[Son of God]]

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist|2}}

==References==
*  {{cite book
| last      = Bromiley
| first     = Geoffrey W.
| title     = International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: vol. iv, Q-Z
| year      = 1995
| publisher = Eerdmans
| isbn = 978-0-8028-3784-4
| url                           = https://books.google.com/books?id=6OJvO2jMCr8C&q=%22an+awkward+and+an+ambiguous+expression+in+Greek%22&pg=PA574
}}
* {{Cite book
|last          = Budd
|first         = Philip J.
|chapter       = Numbers
|editor1-last  = Dunn
|editor1-first = James D. G.
|editor2-last  = Rogerson
|editor2-first = John William
|title         = Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible
|publisher     = Eerdmans
|year          = 2003
|chapter-url           = https://books.google.com/books?id=2Vo-11umIZQC&q=%22the+Pentateuch+as+we+know+it%22%22550+BC+to+about+400+BC%22&pg=PA127
|isbn          = 978-0-8028-3711-0
}}
*  {{cite book
| last      = Burkett
| first     = Delbert
| title     = An Introduction to the New Testament and the Origins of Christianity
| year      = 2002
| publisher = Cambridge University Press
| isbn = 978-0-521-00720-7
| url       = https://books.google.com/books?id=EcsQknxV-xQC&q=%22one+like+a+son+of+man+probably+did+not+represent+the+messiah%22&pg=PA64
}}
*  {{cite book
| last      = Burkett
| first     = Delbert
| title     = The Son of Man Debate: A History and Evaluation
| year      = 2000
| publisher = Cambridge University Press
| isbn = 978-1-139-42980-1
| url       = https://books.google.com/books?id=uAvQeGSbTJMC
}}
* {{Cite book
|last       = Collins
|first      = John J.
|author-link = John J. Collins
|title      = Daniel: With an Introduction to Apocalyptic Literature
|year       = 1984
|publisher  = Eerdmans
|isbn = 978-0-8028-0020-6
|url        = https://books.google.com/books?id=9r_Zs7T1nCMC&q=Daniel:+with+an+introduction+to+apocalyptic+literature
}}
*  {{cite book
| last      = Higgins
| first     = A.J.B.
| title     = Jesus and the Son of Man
| year      = 2002
| publisher = James Clarke & Co
| isbn = 978-0-227-17221-6
| url       = https://books.google.com/books?id=TU84zgrtpIsC&q=%22to+believe+that+Jesus+called+himself+the+son+of+man%22%22has+never+been+a+criterion%22&pg=PA13
}}
*  {{cite book
| last      = Hurtado
| first     = Larry W.
| title     = Lord Jesus Christ: Devotion to Jesus in Earliest Christianity
| year      = 2005
| publisher = Eerdmans
| isbn = 978-0-8028-3167-5
| url       = https://books.google.com/books?id=k32wZRMxltUC&q=%22is+used+only+by+Jesus%22&pg=PA292
}}
*  {{cite book
| last      = McGrath
| first     = Alister E.
| title     = Christian Theology: An Introduction
| year      = 2011
| publisher = John Wiley & Sons
| isbn = 978-1-4443-9770-3
| url       = https://books.google.com/books?id=bus5TyjTfxYC&q=%22son+of+man%22%22three+main+contexts%22&pg=PA270
}}
*  {{cite book
| last      = Slater
| first     = Thomas
| title     = Christ and Community: A Socio-Historical Study of the Christology of Revelation
| year      = 1999
| publisher = A&C Black
| isbn = 978-1-85075-939-3
| url       = https://books.google.com/books?id=dJICha5Rl-oC&q=%22The+Danielic+son+of+man+has+become+an+individual+man%22&pg=PA71
}}

==External links==
*[http://jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=965&letter=S Jewish Encyclopedia: Son of Man]
*[https://www.hearthymn.com/lord-jesus-son-of-god.html Is the Lord Jesus the Son of God?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209063051/https://www.hearthymn.com/lord-jesus-son-of-god.html |date=2018-02-09 }}
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14144a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Son of Man]

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[[Category:Biblical phrases]]
[[Category:Judaism-related controversies]]
[[Category:Judeo-Christian topics]]
[[Category:Book of Daniel]]
[[Category:Judaism in the New Testament]]
[[Category:Christian terminology]]