Biblical Commentary:What does Psalm chapter 8 mean?
Chapter Context
This psalm is closely related to Genesis 1, which relates the account of God's creation of the heavens and the earth as well as every living thing. God's final creation, according to Genesis 1, was Adam and Eve, the first human beings, whom He created in His own image and placed in authority ''over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth'' (Genesis 1:28). Psalm 144:3 repeats Psalm 8:4, and Hebrews 2:5–9 applies Psalm 8:4–6 to Jesus. First Corinthians 15:45–47 names Adam as the first man, a man of dust, and refers to Jesus as the last Adam, a man from heaven.
What does Psalm chapter 8 mean?
Psalm 8 is cited early in Hebrews (Hebrews 2:5–9) to defend the idea that God would send a human Savior. This passage praises God for His amazing power and creation, while marveling at the idea that such a being would give any further thought to something as frail and limited as man.
The Psalmist, David, notes the incredible power God displays in nature. This echoes comments from Psalm 19:1 and even Romans 1:18–20. God's influence on the natural world is obvious, and it should lead people to recognize Him. Here in Psalm 8, a comparison is made between the scope of God's vast creation and the nature of humanity. The same God who made massive stars, an immense cosmos, and innumerable planets also made us. It's this contrast which amazes David, who is awed to think that God would care about insignificant people when He has also made such mighty things.
David is also amazed at the fact that God would grant such limited beings such an important role. These frail, limited beings are the ones God has chosen to superintend His creations (Genesis 1:28). Paul echoes a similar thought when explaining how God chose fragile human beings to carry the immense power of His gospel (2 Corinthians 4:7).
The awe this contrast inspires leads David to proclaim that God's name is truly "majestic," using a Hebrew term that means "excellent, exalted, or great."
