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?

HEBREWS 2:6KJV
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Hebrews 2:6 (KJV)

What does Hebrews 2:6 mean?

Hebrews 2:6 asks why God gives human beings such attention and care. By quoting a question from an earlier song, the writer draws attention to the contrast between the greatness of God and the smallness of human beings.

The words come from Psalm 8:4, where the speaker addresses God. Hebrews introduces the quotation as testimony from “one in a certain place,” without naming the psalm or its writer. The two parts of the question, “man” and “the son of man,” speak of human beings in parallel.

The Greek behind Hebrews 2:6

  • “man” — ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos): This word can mean a human being or humanity. Here, it helps show that the question concerns people generally, not only adult males.
  • “mindful” — μιμνῄσκῃ (mimnēskē): This word carries the sense of remembering or keeping someone in mind. The question pictures human beings as receiving God’s attention.
  • “visitest” — ἐπισκέπτῃ (episkeptē): This word can mean looking upon someone with concern or attending to them. The KJV word “visitest” here suggests more than simply stopping by.

Why Hebrews 2:6 matters

  • The question prepares for a discussion of humanity’s place in God’s world. Verse 5 raises the subject of the world to come, and the quotation continues in verses 7–8 with words about human beings being given honor and authority.
  • The passage later brings the quotation into connection with Jesus. Hebrews 2:9 names Jesus after the words about being made “a little lower than the angels” in verse 7.

Where else these words appear

“mindful” Greek G3403 · used in 2 verses

  • Hebrews 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

“place” Greek G4225 · used in 3 verses

  • Romans 4:19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
  • Hebrews 4:4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

“visitest” Greek G1980 · used in 11 verses

  • Matthew 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
  • Luke 1:78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
  • Acts 7:23 And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.

“testified” Greek G1263 · used in 15 verses

  • Luke 16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
  • Acts 18:5 And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
  • Acts 28:23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.