For a little while lower may also mean “a little lower” in place or in status, as in King James Version, Knox, Phillips. This is certainly what the phrase means in the psalm. However, verses 8-9 strongly suggest that the writer of Hebrews is more interested here in time than place: (a) for a little while in the past, Jesus was made lower than the angels; (b) now … we see Jesus crowned with glory and honor; (c) in the future, we shall see Jesus (or man; see discussion on verses 8-9) as ruler over all things. There is thus a contrast between verse 7a and 7b. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch brings out the meaning of the passage as the writer of Hebrews understands it: “You lowered him for a short time, made him lower than the angels; but then you gave him fame and honor….” Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch first edition also replaced the metaphor crowned by a simile: “like a king.”

As in verse 6, it may be necessary to translate him as “people,” since this is a reference to mankind and not to one specific individual. Lower than the angels must often be expressed as “less important than the angels” or “with less power than the angels.” In some cases the hierarchical nature of man’s position may be expressed in terms of authority; for example, “with less authority than the angels.”

You crowned him with glory and honor must often be recast, since the concept of “crowning” may be relatively meaningless. You crowned him with glory may be expressed as “you made him wonderful” or more literally “you gave him glory.” And honor must often be expressed as a verb; for example, “and you caused him to have honor” or “… be honored.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Letter of the Hebrews. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .