In the Bible, “Son of Man” is a rich term. At its most basic, “son of man” means a human being, highlighting Jesus’s humanity. Yet in a deeper sense, it’s also a messianic title that Jesus used for Himself to reveal His identity and mission. Let’s explore this term’s biblical context and significance in both the Old and New Testaments.

What Does Son of Man” Mean in the Old Testament?

To be human

In the Old Testament, the phrase “son of man” (Hebrew: ben adam) is often a poetic way to say “human being”. For example, God addresses the prophet Ezekiel as “son of man” over 90 times, simply to mean “mortal man”. This general usage emphasizes someone’s humanity or frailty. We see it in verses like:

“What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him?”, where “son of man” parallels the word for humanity ( Psalm 8:4 Explore this verse )

Greater prophetic meaning

However, one Old Testament passage gives “Son of Man” a greater, prophetic significance. In the Book of Daniel, the prophet describes a vision:

“Behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man… And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him…” (Daniel 7:14)

Unlike the ordinary “son of man” meaning mortal, this “Son of Man” is a heavenly figure. Daniel sees this figure coming with the clouds into God’s presence and receiving an everlasting kingdom. Ancient Jewish readers understood this as a Messianic prophecy – a promise of an anointed ruler from God who, though appearing human, is given divine authority to rule forever. By the time of Jesus, the term “Son of Man” carried this strong Messiah-King connotation from Daniel’s vision.

Why Did Jesus Call Himself The Son of Man?

Humanity and Humility

Moving to the New Testament, we find that Jesus frequently referred to Himself as “the Son of Man.” In fact, this was His favourite self-designation, appearing about 80 times in the Gospels. At first glance, calling Himself “Son of Man” emphasized that Jesus truly became human. Unlike titles such as “Son of God,” which highlight Jesus’ divinity, “Son of Man” points to Jesus’ humanity and humility. By using this title, Jesus identified with us. He experienced ordinary human life – hunger, fatigue, sorrow, and ultimately death. For example, He said

“the Son of Man has no place to lay His head,” ( Matthew 8:20 Explore this verse )

stressing that He lived a humble life with no earthly luxuries. Jesus used “Son of Man” to show that He came as a servant and could relate to our struggles and suffering.

Claiming to be the Messiah

Yet, Jesus’s use of “the Son of Man” was far from just modest self-description. It was also a subtle claim to be the Messiah. Those familiar with the Scriptures would have recognized that Jesus was alluding to Daniel’s prophecy when He spoke of the Son of Man. In conversation, Jesus often hinted at this deeper meaning. For instance, He said:

“Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” ( Matthew 9:6 Explore this verse )

By choosing this title, Jesus revealed His identity gradually. It allowed Him to connect with people on a human level while “quietly” pointing to His Messiahship. Instead, Jesus spoke of Himself as the Son of Man who must suffer and rise again – combining the humble role of a servant with the exalted role of the Saviour.

Crucially, Jesus explicitly claimed to be the Son of Man from Daniel’s vision. The climax came at His trial before the Jewish council. When asked about His identity, Jesus replied,

“From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven”. This was a direct reference to Daniel 7:13-14. The meaning was not lost on His accusers. The council called this statement blasphemy and condemned Jesus to death.

“Son of Man” is a profoundly meaningful title for Jesus. It shows us that Jesus is one of us – fully human, able to understand and relate to us. And also hinting that Jesus is the promised divine Messiah who fulfils prophecy and reigns forever.