Son of Man
The Son of Man is a biblical term frequently used by Jesus in the New Testament as a self-designation. In the Old Testament, the expression generally denotes “man” or “human being.” In Hebrew, it is ben ʾadam (בֵּן־אָדָם), meaning “son (ben, בֵּן) of man (ʾadam, אָדָם).” In Aramaic, the equivalent expression bar ʾenash (בַּר אֱנָשׁ), used notably in the book of Daniel, combines bar (“son”) with ʾenash (“man”).
In the Old Testament
Man
In most Old Testament contexts, “son of man” simply refers to a human being.
- “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19)
- What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? (Psalm 8:4)
God also addressed the prophet Ezekiel as “son of man.”
- “He then said to me: ‘Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them.’ ” (Ezekiel 3:4)
Prophecy of the Messiah
The prophet Daniel saw in a vision “one like a son of man” coming with the clouds of heaven, a prophecy concerning the Messiah.
“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 (a kingdom, KJV); 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.”
The one who received authority, glory, and a kingdom from God is understood to be Jesus Christ.[1][2][3] Daniel’s vision of the “son of man” coming with the clouds anticipated Christ’s coming in human form.
In the New Testament
Jesus Christ
Although Jesus is God in nature, He came into the world in the likeness of humanity.[4] In humility, He referred to Himself as the “Son of Man.”
- Lord of the Sabbath
- “For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:8)
- Authority to Forgive Sins
- “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” (Mark 2:10) “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
- Savior
- “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)
Prophecy of the Second Coming Christ
Jesus also used the title “Son of Man” in His prophecy concerning His second coming:
“At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”
In biblical prophecy, “clouds” symbolize human beings in the flesh.[5][6][7] Thus, the statement that the Son of Man will come on a cloud means that he will come in human form. Just as Jesus Christ, foretold as the Son of Man in Daniel 7, did not literally descend on literal clouds but was born as a man,[8] so too at His second coming Christ will appear in human form to gather His chosen people and bring salvation.