Son of man

(1.) Denotes mankind generally, with special reference to their weakness and frailty (Job 25:6; Ps. 8:4; 144:3; 146:3; Isa. 51:12, etc.). (2.) It is a title frequently given to the prophet Ezekiel, probably to remind him of his human weakness. (3.) In the New Testament it is used forty-three times as a distinctive title of the Saviour. In the Old Testament it is used only in Ps. 80:17 and Dan. 7:13 with this application. It denotes the true humanity of our Lord. He had a true body (Heb. 2:14; Luke 24:39) and a rational soul. He was perfect man.

SON OF MAN. Matt 8:20. This title is given to our Saviour eighty times in the N.T. It is also applied to him by Daniel. Dan 7:13. The Jews perfectly understood it to denote the Messiah. It sets forth his peculiar and intimate relation to mankind in his incarnate state, as the phrase "Son of God" denotes his peculiar relation to the divine Being. The phrase "the Son of man," however, does not express simply the humiliation and condescension of Christ, who became bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh, but also his exaltation above the ordinary level of humanity. He calls himself, not a son of man (among other children of men), but the Son of man (above all others) - the ideal, the universal, the perfect Man. So, on the other hand, he calls himself not a, but the, Son of God - the only-begotten and eternal Son of the Father. Compare such passages as John 1:51; Joel 3:13; John 6:53; Matt 9:6; Neh 12:8; Matt 18:11; Mark 2:10, Acts 20:28. The term son of man is applied to Ezekiel and Daniel, meaning merely "man," as it does in Num 23:19; Job 25:6:Ps 8:4, etc.

SON OF MAN. Matt 8:20. This title is given to our Saviour eighty times in the N.T. It is also applied to him by Daniel. Dan 7:13. The Jews perfectly understood it to denote the Messiah. It sets forth his peculiar and intimate relation to mankind in his incarnate state, as the phrase "Son of God" denotes his peculiar relation to the divine Being. The phrase "the Son of man," however, does not express simply the humiliation and condescension of Christ, who became bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh, but also his exaltation above the ordinary level of humanity. He calls himself, not a son of man (among other children of men), but the Son of man (above all others) - the ideal, the universal, the perfect Man. So, on the other hand, he calls himself not a, but the, Son of God - the only-begotten and eternal Son of the Father. Compare such passages as John 1:51; Joel 3:13; John 6:53; Matt 9:6; Neh 12:8; Matt 18:11; Mark 2:10, Acts 20:28. The term son of man is applied to Ezekiel and Daniel, meaning merely "man," as it does in Num 23:19; Job 25:6:Ps 8:4, etc.