In this article, I will review the meaning of the phrase “Son of Man” according to the interpretation and understanding of the Bible by the Jews, and according to the interpretation, and understanding of the Bible and the four Gospels by those who believe in Yeshua the Messiah.
According to the Jews, the meaning of the phrase: Son of man = Flesh and blood human.
According to believers in Yeshua the Messiah, the meaning of the phrase: Son of man = heavenly Savior.
In Daniel Chapter 7 verses 9-13 and 17:
“As I looked,
“thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow;
the hair of his head was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheels were all ablaze.
10 A river of fire was flowing,
coming out from before him.
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
and the books were opened.
11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. 12 (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)
13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,[a] coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
15 “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me. 16 I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this.
“So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth.
Therefore, according to the understanding and interpretation of the Jews, the verses are about flesh and blood man.
On the other hand – according to the understanding and interpretation of those who believe in Yeshua the Messiah, this is not a simple person of flesh and blood but a heavenly savior.
The gospel of Mark chapter 2: 23-28 tells us what happened on the Sabbath:
23 One Sabbath Yeshua was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
The Pharisees were upset with Yeshua, because He allowed the disciples to pick heads of grain on the Sabbath, since work is forbidden on the Sabbath. As stated in Exodus 31, 14: “Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people”
Yeshua answers them and reminds them what King David did. The word “Messiah” is often written in the Bible in regards to David. That is, David in his authority as a Messiah fed his people with bread that was intended for the priests, which is also contrary to the laws of the Torah. It is interpreted from the words of Yeshua to the Pharisees that He compares himself to David. Meaning, Yeshua is the Messiah, and therefore in His authority, which transcends the laws of the Torah, He did what he did. When He says, “The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath,” He clearly means Himself. It is therefore clear that: man = Messiah = Yeshua.
It should also be remembered, that in the Gospels Yeshua usually speaks of Himself in the third person.
Going back to Daniel 7:26, “But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever”. I.e., at first, the prophesy here is of the destruction of the temple.
In the gospel according to Mark Chapter 13 verses 1-27:
13 As Yeshua was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”
2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Yeshua. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
3 As Yeshua was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?”
5 Yeshua said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
9 “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
12 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 13 Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
14 “When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. 16 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 17 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 18 Pray that this will not take place in winter, 19 because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again.
20 “If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. 21 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.
24 “But in those days, following that distress,
“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
25 the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’[c]
26 “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
Yeshua speaks, prophesies, and explains about the destruction of the Temple (as Daniel explains) – but it is clearly understood from his words that He, Yeshua, is – the Son of Man, the Messiah, and Savior.
In the Gospel of Matthew chapter 26, beginning with verse 59: Yeshua was interrogated by the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin accuses Him of predicting that He would destroy the Temple and rebuild it within 3 days. In verse 63 the high priest asks Yeshua:
63” But Yeshua remained silent.
The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
Yeshua answers in verse 64:
64 “You have said so,” Yeshua replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”[
In verse 65 we understand that even the High Priest in his own right understands that when Yeshua says: The Son of Man – He refers to Himself, as well as that the Savior Christ sits at the right hand of the Father.
This, of course, goes against Jewish belief. That is why the High Priest is so angry with Yeshua:
“ 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. 66 What do you think?”
“He is worthy of death,” they answered.
In conclusion: the Jews, as they understand it, understand that according to the book of Daniel the Son of Man is a human figure of flesh and blood.
Believers in Yeshua the Messiah understand that according to the book of Daniel the Son of Man is the Messiah. According to the four gospels, we learn that Yeshua identifies Himself as the heavenly man in the book of Daniel and therefore Yeshua is: the Son of Man, the Messiah, and the Savior!
