What is meant by "the world to come" in this passage?

Here “the world to come” means the new order that began when God brought in the good news about Jesus. It is not mainly about heaven after death, but about the renewed world that starts with Christ’s kingdom. The earlier order, marked by the law and its ceremonies, was helped by angels and has grown old. In this new order, God has not put things under angels, but under his Son. This includes the church now and the final, perfected state that will be seen when all enemies are put down and his rule is clear to everyone.

Why does the writer say the world to come is not in subjection to angels?

The point is to show that Jesus is far higher than angels. In the old order, angels had a role in giving the law and serving God’s people. But God did not hand over the rule of the new, gospel world to them. He gave that place to his Son. The creation of the church, its growth, its care, and its final judgment and perfection are all in Jesus’ hands. Angels are servants, but Christ is the king. So no angel should compete in our hearts with the honour and obedience that belong to him alone.

How does the question "What is man, that thou art mindful of him?" fit with Jesus?

In the original song, the question first marvels that God cares so much for weak human beings, giving them honour and rule over creation. But humans lost that full right through sin, and creation no longer fully obeys them. This passage shows that the deepest answer to that question is found in Jesus. God was mindful of Christ for us from eternity, and visited him for our sake. In him, as true man, God’s care for humanity appears most clearly, and in him the honour and rule first given to man are restored and raised higher.

What does "made him a little lower than the angels" mean here?

This line has been read in more than one way. In this passage it mainly points to Christ’s humiliation. The eternal Son of God took on our weak human nature. He shared our frailty, pain, and even death, so in that sense he was for a little time lower than angels, who do not die. The words also echo the honour first given to mankind, placed just beneath angels. In Jesus both ideas meet: he became truly human and lowly, yet as man he is now raised and crowned, and in him humanity is lifted up to share in his honour.

What is the meaning of "Thou crownedst him with glory and honour"?

First, this speaks of the honour God gave to man in creation, with a noble soul, a well-ordered body, and rule over the creatures. But as used here it especially points to Jesus. In his earthly life, his human nature was crowned with glory through perfect holiness and the fullness of the Spirit. After he suffered and died, God raised him and set him at the highest place, giving him open glory and honour in heaven. This is the reward of his suffering, and it shows that his lowliness was not the end but the path to his royal dignity.

What does it mean that God put all things in subjection under his feet?

This means that God has given Jesus full authority over everything he has made. Nothing is outside that rule. Things in heaven and on earth, present and future, are under him. The passage stresses that when God subjected all things to him, he left nothing out. This includes both spiritual blessings and everyday things that serve our bodies. Even though many creatures seem wild and many powers seem to resist him now, in God’s plan they are under Christ, and in the end his rule over them will be seen openly by everyone.

Why does the passage say we do not yet see all things put under him?

We are told that everything is already placed under Christ, yet we look around and still see enemies, suffering, resistance, and disorder. The wording faces this tension honestly. Jesus now rules, but he chooses to let many enemies remain until the final day. He is not weak or unsure. Rather, he is carrying on a wise war, using this time to test and train his people. We already see him crowned with glory and honour in heaven. The full, visible peace of his kingdom will appear when he has finished putting every enemy down.

How does this passage connect humanity’s lost dominion with Christ?

At creation, God set man over the works of his hands. But by turning from God, man lost the right to that rule, and creation now often resists him. This passage shows that for that first gift to be enjoyed again, it must be restored through Christ. God has made Jesus, as the head of a new humanity, heir of all things. When we are joined to him, we share in this restored right. Even now, food and all good things are received through faith in him, and in the age to come, his people will fully share his rule and honour.

What does this teach about God’s care and grace toward people?

The question “What is man?” shows how small and frail we are. Yet God is mindful of us and visits us. This is not because we deserved it, but because of his free grace. Before we were born, he had thoughts of mercy toward us. That grace appears above all in his gift of Christ, who was made low for our sake and tasted death. God did not trust angels with the rule of the new world, but gave it to his Son for us. This shows both our unworthiness and the depth of God’s kindness toward those who belong to Christ.

Heb.2.5

Hebrews 2:5

KJV

For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.

Earth Subject to Man

For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.

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?

Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.