The Meaning of Hebrews 2:6 Explained

Hebrews 2:6

KJV: But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?

YLT: and one in a certain place did testify fully, saying, 'What is man, that Thou art mindful of him, or a son of man, that Thou dost look after him?

Darby: but one has testified somewhere, saying, What is man, that thou rememberest him, or son of man that thou visitest him?

ASV: But one hath somewhere testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man, that thou visitest him?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  one  in a certain place  testified,  saying,  What  is  man,  that  thou art mindful  of him?  or  the son  of man,  that  thou visitest  him? 

What does Hebrews 2:6 Mean?

Context Summary

Hebrews 2:1-9 - The Author Of Our Salvation
Drifting away, Hebrews 2:1-4. The r.v. gives this solemn rendering. Unless we watch, the strong currents of the world will drift us away from God's great harbor of Salvation; and sins against His offered love are even more to be dreaded than those under the ancient Law. To neglect is the equivalent of to reject. Notice in Hebrews 2:4 how God co-operates with His messengers. See John 15:27; Acts 5:32.
Jesus crowned, Hebrews 2:5-9. How can Jesus be greater than angels? He did for man what they could not do. It is through His death that humanity may be lifted to a supreme position in the universe of being. Man failed to realize his original Magna Charta in Genesis 1:26; but the divine purpose could not be frustrated, and there was a needs-be for the manger, the Cross and the Ascension mount. As we look around, Psalms 8:1-9 seems a mockery; as we look up, we discover in Jesus the psalmist's dream more than realized. They who are one with Him will share His glory and honor. [source]

Chapter Summary: Hebrews 2

1  We ought to be obedient to Christ Jesus;
5  and that because he condescended to take our nature upon himself;
14  as it was necessary

Greek Commentary for Hebrews 2:6

But one somewhere [δε που τις]
See Hebrews 4:4 for a like indefinite quotation. Philo uses this “literary mannerism” (Moffatt). He quotes Psalm 8:5-7 and extends here to Hebrews 2:8. Hath testified First aorist middle indicative of διαμαρτυρομαι — diamarturomai old verb to testify vigorously (Acts 2:40). What Neuter, not masculine τις — tis (who). The insignificance of man is implied. The son of man Not ο υιος του αντρωπου — ho huios tou anthrōpou which Jesus used so often about himself, but literally here “son of man” like the same words so often in Ezekiel, without Messianic meaning here. Visited Second person singular present indicative middle of επισκεπτομαι — episkeptomai old verb to look upon, to look after, to go to see (Matthew 25:36), from which verb επισχοπος — episcopos overseer, bishop, comes. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Hebrews 2:6

Hebrews 4:4 Somewhere on this wise [που ουτως]
See Hebrews 2:6 for που τις — pou tis for a like indefinite allusion to an Old Testament quotation. Here it is Genesis 2:2 (cf. Exodus 20:11; Exodus 31:17). Moffatt notes that Philo quotes Genesis 2:2 with the same “literary mannerism.” Rested First aorist active indicative of καταπαυω — katapauō intransitive here, but transitive in Hebrews 4:8. It is not, of course, absolute rest from all creative activity as Jesus shows in John 5:17. But the seventh day of God‘s rest was still going on (clearly not a twenty-four hour day). [source]

What do the individual words in Hebrews 2:6 mean?

Has testified however somewhere someone saying What is man that You are mindful of him or [the] son of man You care for him
διεμαρτύρατο δέ πού τις λέγων Τί ἐστιν ἄνθρωπος ὅτι μιμνῄσκῃ αὐτοῦ υἱὸς ἀνθρώπου ἐπισκέπτῃ αὐτόν

διεμαρτύρατο  Has  testified 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: διαμαρτύρομαι  
Sense: to testify.
δέ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
πού  somewhere 
Parse: Adverb
Root: πού  
Sense: where?, in what place?.
τις  someone 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
λέγων  saying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
ἄνθρωπος  man 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
μιμνῄσκῃ  You  are  mindful 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Singular
Root: μιμνῄσκομαι  
Sense: to remind.
αὐτοῦ  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
υἱὸς  [the]  son 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: υἱός  
Sense: a son.
ἀνθρώπου  of  man 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
ἐπισκέπτῃ  You  care  for 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἐπισκέπτομαι  
Sense: to look upon or after, to inspect, examine with the eyes.