Recently a Facebook application (StudyLight.org) wrote a Scripture on my FB page, "Today's Power Verse: Hebrews 1:3 (NIV): 'The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.'"
I noticed what could be a play on words between Son and Radiance b/c Son and Sun (in English) are homophones; they sound the same but have different meaning. I wanted to see if it was possible that there could be a wordplay in the original text and opened the BlueLetterBible.Org site and looked up the word translated "Son" in Heb 1:2. It didn't appear to be a wordplay as the Greek was the word, "huios". I did find the comments within the definition to of interest and would like to share it here:
1) a son
2) son of man
It just seems remarkable to me that the term "Son of Man" can be used of our Lord to designate himself (in humility) both as our Messiah, the Promised answer and as the Head of the Human family. Whereas "Son of God" can be used of Adam as well as the brothers and sisters of Jesus. How beautiful is our God!
I noticed what could be a play on words between Son and Radiance b/c Son and Sun (in English) are homophones; they sound the same but have different meaning. I wanted to see if it was possible that there could be a wordplay in the original text and opened the BlueLetterBible.Org site and looked up the word translated "Son" in Heb 1:2. It didn't appear to be a wordplay as the Greek was the word, "huios". I did find the comments within the definition to of interest and would like to share it here:
1) a son
a) rarely used for the young of animals
b) generally used of the offspring of men
c) in a restricted sense, the male offspring (one born by a father and of a mother)
d) in a wider sense, a descendant, one of the posterity of any one,
1) a pupilb) generally used of the offspring of men
c) in a restricted sense, the male offspring (one born by a father and of a mother)
d) in a wider sense, a descendant, one of the posterity of any one,
1) the children of Israel
2) sons of Abraham
e)) used to describe one who depends on another or is his follower2) sons of Abraham
2) son of man
a) term describing man, carrying the connotation of weakness and mortality
b) son of man, symbolically denotes the fifth kingdom in Daniel 7:13 and by this term its humanity is indicated in contrast with the barbarity and ferocity of the four preceding kingdoms (the Babylonian, the Median and the Persian, the Macedonian, and the Roman) typified by the four beasts. In the book of Enoch (2nd Century) it is used of Christ.
c) used by Christ himself, doubtless in order that he might intimate his Messiahship and also that he might designate himself as the head of the human family, the man, the one who both furnished the pattern of the perfect man and acted on behalf of all mankind. Christ seems to have preferred this to the other Messianic titles, because by its lowliness it was least suited to foster the expectation of an earthly Messiah in royal splendour.
3) son of Godb) son of man, symbolically denotes the fifth kingdom in Daniel 7:13 and by this term its humanity is indicated in contrast with the barbarity and ferocity of the four preceding kingdoms (the Babylonian, the Median and the Persian, the Macedonian, and the Roman) typified by the four beasts. In the book of Enoch (2nd Century) it is used of Christ.
c) used by Christ himself, doubtless in order that he might intimate his Messiahship and also that he might designate himself as the head of the human family, the man, the one who both furnished the pattern of the perfect man and acted on behalf of all mankind. Christ seems to have preferred this to the other Messianic titles, because by its lowliness it was least suited to foster the expectation of an earthly Messiah in royal splendour.
a) used to describe Adam (Lk. 3:38)
b) used to describe those who are born again (Lk. 20:36) and of angels and of Jesus Christ
c) of those whom God esteems as sons, whom he loves, protects and benefits above others
b) used to describe those who are born again (Lk. 20:36) and of angels and of Jesus Christ
c) of those whom God esteems as sons, whom he loves, protects and benefits above others
1) in the OT used of the Jews
2) in the NT of Christians
3) those whose character God, as a loving father, shapes by chastisements (Heb. 12:5-8)
d) those who revere God as their father, the pious worshippers of God, those who in character and life resemble God, those who are governed by the Spirit of God, repose the same calm and joyful trust in God which children do in their parents (Rom. 8:14, Gal. 3:26 ), and hereafter in the blessedness and glory of the life eternal will openly wear this dignity of the sons of God. Term used preeminently of Jesus Christ, as enjoying the supreme love of God, united to him in affectionate intimacy, privy to his saving councils, obedient to the Father's will in all his acts2) in the NT of Christians
3) those whose character God, as a loving father, shapes by chastisements (Heb. 12:5-8)
Phl 4:8 said:
It just seems remarkable to me that the term "Son of Man" can be used of our Lord to designate himself (in humility) both as our Messiah, the Promised answer and as the Head of the Human family. Whereas "Son of God" can be used of Adam as well as the brothers and sisters of Jesus. How beautiful is our God!