OET interlinear HEB 2:7

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular

ἠλάττωσας αὐτὸν, βραχύ τι & ἐστεφάνωσας

˱you˲_made_less him little something & ˱you˲_crowned

Since the author of the quotation is speaking to God, the word you in this verse is singular.

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations

αὐτὸν & αὐτόν

him & him

Just as in 2:6, the word him could primarily refer to: (1) humans in general. Alternate translation: “him or her … him or her” (2) Jesus. Alternate translation: “him … him”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἠλάττωσας αὐτὸν, βραχύ τι παρ’ ἀγγέλους

˱you˲_made_less him little something than /the/_angels

Here the quotation refers to how humans are lower than the angels. While he may have believed that this was true in terms of spatial placement, since angels live in heaven “above” and humans live on earth “below,” the point is primarily about status and power. Being lower means that humans have less status and power than angels. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable idiom or a phrase that describes how humans have less status and power than angels. Alternate translation: “You have given him a little less status than the angels” or “You have made him a little less important than the angels”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

βραχύ τι

little something

Here, the phrase a little could refer primarily to place or to time. The author eventually applies the phrase to how Jesus was lower than the angels for a little time (See: 2:9). However, the quotation itself suggests that humans have a place that is a little lower. If that is true, then the author later uses a little to refer to time in a play on words. You could express a little so that it refers to: (1) place. Alternate translation: “a little bit” (2) time. Alternate translation: “for a little while”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

δόξῃ καὶ τιμῇ ἐστεφάνωσας αὐτόν

˱with˲_glory and honor ˱you˲_crowned him

Here the quotation refers to the glory and honor that God gave to humans as if, together, they formed a crown to be placed on the head of a king to signify his power and authority. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “you gave him great glory and honor”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

δόξῃ καὶ τιμῇ

˱with˲_glory and honor

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of glory and honor, you could express the ideas by using adjectives such as “glorious” and “honorable,” or you could use verbal phrases. Alternate translation: “so that he is glorious and honorable”

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

δόξῃ καὶ τιμῇ

˱with˲_glory and honor

Here, the words glory and honor mean almost the same thing. The quotation uses both words to emphasize how much glory and honor God gave to humans. If you do not have two words that express this particular meaning, and if the repetition would be confusing, you could use one word or phrase here. Alternate translation: “with glory” or “with glorious honor”

Note 8 topic: translate-textvariants

τιμῇ

honor

After the word honor, many ancient manuscripts add the clause “and you have put him over the works of your hands.” This clause is in the psalm that the author quotes from (See: Psalm 8:6). However, most likely the author did not include this clause because it was not important to the point he is making. Later, scribes probably added the clause because they knew that it was in the Psalm. If possible, do not include the clause here.