Psalm 8:4-5 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 8:3-9

David here goes on to magnify the honour of God by recounting the honours he has put upon man, especially the man Christ Jesus. The condescensions of the divine grace call for our praises as much as the elevations of the divine glory. How God has condescended in favour to man the psalmist here observes with wonder and thankfulness, and recommends it to our thoughts. See here, I. What it is that leads him to admire the condescending favour of God to man; it is his consideration of the lustre... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 8:4

What is man, that thou art mindful of him ?.... That is, the psalmist, while he was considering the greatness and glory of the celestial bodies, thought this within himself, and so expressed it; which is to be understood, not of man in general, nor of Adam in a state of innocence; he could not be called "Enosh", the word here used, which signifies a frail, weak, sickly mortal man; nor could he with any propriety be said to be the son of man, as in the following clause: nor of fallen man, or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 8:5

For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels ,.... Than Elohim, "than God", as this word usually signifies: and could it be interpreted of man, as made by God, it might be thought to refer to the creation of him in the image and likeness of God; but as it must be understood of the human nature of Christ, it may regard the wonderful union of it to the Son of God, on account of which it is called by the same name, Luke 1:35 ; and so made but a little lower than God, being next unto... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 8:4

What is man - אנוש מה mah enosh , what is wretched, miserable man; man in his fallen state, full of infirmity, ignorance, and sin? That thou art mindful of him? - That thou settest thy heart upon him, keepest him continually in thy merciful view. And the son of man - אדם ובן uben Adam , and the son of Adam, the first great rebel; the fallen child of a fallen parent. See the note on Job 7:17 . Some think eminent men are here intended. What is man in common; what the most... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 8:5

Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels - The original is certainly very emphatic: מאלהים מעט ותחסרחו vattechasserchu meat meelohim , Thou hast lessened him for a little time from God. Or, Thou hast made him less than God for a little time. See these passages explained at large in the notes on Hebrews 2:6 ; (note), etc., which I need not repeat here. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 8:5

Verse 5 5.Thou hast made him little lower. The Hebrew copulative כי , ki, I have no doubt, ought to be translated into the causal particle for, seeing the Psalmist confirms what he has just now said concerning the infinite goodness of God towards men, in showing himself near to them, and mindful of them. In the first place, he represents them as adorned with so many honors as to render their condition not far inferior to divine and celestial glory. In the second place, he mentions the external... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 8:1-9

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 8:1-9

Lord what is man? This is a song of praise equally adapted for men of every nation, country, colour, and clime. Its author was David, £ who, as a shepherd-boy, had cast an observant eye on the works of God, both in the heavens above and the earth beneath; and the habit of doing this reverently and devoutly grew with his growth; so that, though we are entirely ignorant as to what period of his life it was in which he penned this psalm, it is manifestly an echo of the thoughts which, in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 8:1-9

God the glorious Creator. It is midnight. The sky is bright with stars. As the psalmist muses, the fire burns, and he bursts into song. The psalm is not for Israel alone, but brings before the mind such a vision of the glory of God as the great Creator, as binds all people of every land and age in a brotherhood of worship. I. GOD 'S GLORY REVEALED IN NATURE . The heavens have a purpose. The outward glory images the inward and spiritual glory. The stars are silent witnesses... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 8:1-9

God's glory revealed. "The great spiritual truth contained in the first passage of Scripture, that God made man in his own image, flashes forth in this psalm in true lyric grandeur, a ray of light across the dark mystery of creation" God is the most wonderful thought of the human mind, and this thought retains its hold upon us in spite of all atheistic influences. Here the thought is that God's glory is celebrated— I. BY CHILDHOOD . Putting to silence the clamour of the atheist.... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 8:3-9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 8:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 8:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 8:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 8:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 8:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 8:1-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 8:1-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 8:1-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 8:1-9

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