The term “Son of Man” has two meanings in the Bible: It deals with Jesus as divine and people as humans. In reference to Jesus, it describes His divine purpose, ministry, authority, and deity. In reference to people, it is used simply as a form of address of individuals such as Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:1) and as an indefinite “someone” (Num. 23:19; Job 35:8;  Psalm 80:17; Isaiah 56:2; Jer. 49:18, etc.). All occurrences of the phrase “son of man” in the New Testament refer to Jesus. However, in Daniel 7:13-14, the phrase refers to the pre-incarnate Christ. Interestingly, Jesus refers to Himself as the Son of Man 77 times.

Following is a list of some of the characteristics ascribed to Him as identified with the phrase “Son of Man.”

 

The following is a list that, more or less, categorizes the use of the term ‘Son of Man’ as it refers to Jesus.

1. He eats and drinks (Matt. 11:19; Luke 7:34).
2. He has the authority to forgive sins (Matt. 9:6; Mark 2:10; Luke 5:24).
3. He will return – referencing His second coming (Matt. 10:23; 16:23; 24:27, 30, 37, 39, 44; 25:31; Mark 13:26; 14:62; Luke 9:26; 12:40; 17:24, 26, 30; 21:27).
4. He will return with His angels (Matt. 13:41; 16:27; Mark 8:38).
5. He is Lord of the Sabbath (Matt. 12:8; Mark 2:28; Luke 6:5).
6. He prophesied that He would suffer at the hands of the ungodly (Matt. 17:12, 22; Mark 9:12, 31, 33).
7. He prophesied His own death (Matt. 20:18).
8. He prophesied His own crucifixion ( Matt. 26:2; John 3:14).
9. He prophesied He would die for three days (Matt. 12:40; Luke 9:22).
10. He prophesied His own resurrection (Matt. 17:9).
11. He gave His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).
12. He came to save His people (Luke 9:56; Luke 19:10).
13. He was spoken of in the Old Testament (Luke 18:31).
14. He will judge people (Luke 21:36; John 5:27).
15. He will be seated at the right hand of God’s power (Luke 22:69; Acts 7:56).
16. He descended from heaven (John 3:13;  6:62).
17. He gives eternal life (John 6:27).
18. He must be received to have life (John 6:53).
19. He does with the Father taught Him (John 8:28).
20. He is glorified (John 13:31).
21. He is to be believed (John 9:35).

More Information about the phrase “Son of Man”

The phrase Son of Man occurs 195 times in the New American Standard Bible, with 107 in the Old Testament and 88 in the New Testament. Interestingly, the phrase occurs 88 times in the book of Ezekiel. The first reference to the phrase in the Bible is found in Numbers 23:19, where it says, “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should repent.” The last occurrence in the Bible is found in Revelation 14:14, which says, “Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.”  In Numbers the phrase refers to this being a normal person. In Revelation, it refers to Christ Jesus in His majestic role.

 

 

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