### Introduction to the "Son of Man" The term "Son of Man" is a central and distinctive title used by Jesus in the Gospels. Jesus often referred to Himself as the "Son of Man,", in fact it seems to have been His favorite term, it is used around 80 times in the New Testament. In the Hebrew Bible, "Son of Man" generally refers to a human being or mortal, as seen in the Psalms and Ezekiel. In Ezekiel, the term "Son of Man" (Hebrew: בן־אד׎, ben-adam) is used extensively and is typically understood as a way of addressing the prophet Ezekiel himself. However, the most significant and debated usage of "Son of Man" is found in Daniel 7:13-14. Here, the "Son of Man" appears in a vision as a heavenly figure coming with the clouds of heaven, approaching the Ancient of Days, and receives dominion, glory, and a kingdom that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve. [@Swanson2015-le]@{{dfs}} ### The "Son of Man" Passage In Daniel In Daniel 7:13-14, the "Son of Man" is described in a vision as coming with the clouds of heaven and approaching the Ancient of Days. He is given authority, glory, and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worship him. His dominion is everlasting and will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. > œI saw in the night visions, > > and behold, with the clouds of heaven > there came one like a son of man, >and he came to the Ancient of Days > and was presented before him. >And to him was given dominion > and glory and a kingdom, >that all peoples, nations, and languages > should serve him; >his dominion is an everlasting dominion, > which shall not pass away, >and his kingdom one > that shall not be destroyed. <p style ="text-align:right;"> Daniel 7:13“14 (ESV) This figure has been interpreted in various ways. In Jewish thought, it often represents an idealized Israel or a messianic figure who plays a role in the eschatological (end times) redemption. This second thought can be seen in additional Jewish texts, like the Book of Enoch from the Second Temple period, that depicts the "Son of Man" as a heavenly being (Enoch 46:1-3, Enoch 62:5-9, Enoch 69:26-29). Ezekiel's visions (Ezekiel 1:26 and 8:2) describes a figure akin to "the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD," further implying a divine aspect. Daniel Boyarin observes that the phrase œriding in the clouds, is used roughly 70 times in the Hebrew Bible (Such as Deuteronomy 33:26-27 or Psalm 104:3), consistently refers to God. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, including Jewish thought, cloud imagery was often associated with divinity. Furthermore, Boyarin points out that the dominion, glory, and kingship given to the "Son of Man" in Daniel's vision are attributes typically reserved for God. The everlasting nature of his dominion and the universal scope of his authority suggest a role far beyond that of a mere human leader or king ()[Daniel Boyarin](https://paperpile.com/app/p/51392f36-abfc-076f-ba12-ea572009e22f 'The Jewish Gospels: The Story of the Jewish Christ'). The mention of "thrones" in Daniel 7:9 (ESV) is significant. Multiple thrones in heaven suggest a shared divine authority. The Ancient of Days, depicted on one throne, implies that occupying these thrones signifies a divine status. This supports the interpretation of the "Son of Man" as a divine figure within a binitarian framework. ### Is the "Son of Man" Divine? Without the context of Daniel 7 and the actions/claims of Jesus in the Gospels, it's easy to miss just what Jesus is saying about himself when he calls himself the "Son of Man". The trial of Jesus, as narrated in Mark 14:60-64, show us the most famous use of the title. >"And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, œHave you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you? But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, œAre you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, œI am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven. And the high priest tore his garments and said, œWhat further witnesses do we need? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision? And they all condemned him as deserving death." <p style ="text-align:right;">Mark 14:60-64 (ESV) When confronted by the high priest about His messianic identity, Jesus not only confirms it but also claims that He will be seen œsitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven. This reference to Daniel 7:13 is perceived as a divine claim, leading to accusations of blasphemy by the high priest, a term in Judaism defined as cursing God (according to myjewishlearning.com). This response indicates that Jesus's claim was interpreted as an assertion of divinity, given the exclusive association of such imagery with God in Jewish thought. ### Jesus showed us the Son of Man is Divine In the New Testament, Jesus' uses of the title "Son of Man" to show His divine authority. For example, in Mark 2:10-11, while healing a paralytic, Jesus says: > œBut so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”he said to the paralytic”I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home. This act and statement assert his divine role, as forgiving sins is traditionally exclusive to God. In Matthew 25:31-32, he describes the Son of Man's role in judgment: > œWhen the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations... Jesus references Psalm 110:1 to emphasizing his divine identity. The context is a conversation with the Pharisees, where Jesus poses a critical question about the Messiah™s lineage: >Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, saying, œWhat do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he? They said to him, œThe son of David. He said to them, œHow is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, > >œ˜The Lord said to my Lord, œSit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet™? > >If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son? And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions. By referring to Psalm 110:1, where David calls the Messiah 'Lord,' Jesus challenges the conventional understanding of the Messiah as merely a descendant of David. He implies that the Messiah, while a physical descendant of David, possesses a higher, divine status, transcending typical lineage-based expectations. Additionally, events like the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9), where the Son of God is also called the Son of Man that would rise from the dead, or his teachings in Mark 8:31 further show his authority over life and death. Jesus™ use of "Son of Man" is a deliberate claim to divine authority, connecting with Jewish messianic expectations. The Hebrew word "elohim" (usually translated as "God") is grammatically a plural form. However, when it refers to the true God, it takes singular verbs and pronouns. The fact that "elohim" can refer to a single pagan god (1 Kings 11:5, 33) shows that it can denote a single deity. The Greek Old Testament (Septuagint) consistently translates "elohim" with the singular noun "theos" ("God"), and the New Testament also employs the singular form "theos."Therefore, the plural form "elohim," even when referring to an individual pagan deity, should not be regarded as evidence of the Trinity.