Man

Narrator: Chris Genthree
 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 7
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Various Hebrew words are frequently translated “man.”
In some passages these different Hebrew words are used in contrast: as in Genesis 6:44There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. (Genesis 6:4), “The sons of God came in unto the daughters of men,¹ and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men (gibbor) which were of old, men³ of renown.” In Psalm 8:44What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? (Psalm 8:4): “What is man,³ that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man,¹ that thou visitest him?” “God is not a man² that he should lie” (Num. 23:1919God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? (Numbers 23:19)).
Man was God’s crowning work of creation (see Adam), and He set him in dominion over the sphere in which he was placed. It is impossible that man could by evolution have arisen from any of the lower forms of created life. God breathed into Adam’s nostrils the breath of life, and man is responsible to Him as his Creator; and for this reason he will be called to account, which is not the case with any of the animals. “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)). All have descended from Adam and Eve: God “hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord [or God]” (Acts 17:26-2726And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: (Acts 17:26‑27)).
The soul of man being immortal, he still exists after death, and it is revealed in scripture that his body will be raised, and he will either be in eternity away from God in punishment for the sins he has committed; or, by the grace of God, be in an eternity of happiness with the Lord Jesus through His atoning work on the cross.
In the New Testament the principal words are:
1. ἄνθρωπος, man in the sense of “humanity,” irrespective of sex. “Man shall not live by bread alone” (Matt. 4:44But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)). In a few places it is used in a stricter sense in contrast to a woman: as “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife?” (Matt. 19:33The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? (Matthew 19:3)).
2. ἀνήρ, man as distinguished from a woman. “The head of the woman is the man” (1 Cor. 11:33But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. (1 Corinthians 11:3)). It is thus the common word used for “husband:” a woman’s man is her husband. “Joseph the husband of Mary” (Matt. 1:16, 1916And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. (Matthew 1:16)
19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. (Matthew 1:19)
). The words τις, μηδείς, οὐδείς, are often translated “man,” “no man,” “any man,” which would be more correctly translated “one,” “no one,” “any one.” In “men [and] brethren,” (Acts 1:1616Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. (Acts 1:16); Acts 2:2929Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. (Acts 2:29), and more), there are not two classes alluded to, but “men who are brethren,” or, in our idiom, simply “brethren.” So in Acts 7:22And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, (Acts 7:2) and Acts 22:11Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defence which I make now unto you. (Acts 22:1), not three classes, but two: “men who are brethren, and fathers.” See NEW MAN and OLD MAN.