‘Son of Man’ or ‘Human Being’?
Most Bibles use the term ‘Son of Man’ in these linked locations.
However, ‘son of man’ is a common Semitic idiom (Aramaic: bar ‘enash; Hebrew: ben-'adam; Greek: huios anthrōpou). Literally meaning ‘son of humanity’, it often simply refers to ‘a human being’ or ‘someone’.
In the Old Testament, God frequently addresses the prophet Ezekiel as ‘son of man’, emphasizing his human status and mortality in contrast to the divine. In Psalm 8, it refers to mankind in general.
So this expression just means a ‘human’ or a ‘human being’. It’s not a special title. You too, are a ‘son (or daughter) of man’.
For this reason, our translation uses ‘human’ or ‘human being’.
When applied to Jesus
However, in Daniel chapter 7, the term takes on special significance. Daniel sees a figure ‘like a son of man’ (meaning, having a human appearance) coming on the clouds. He approaches God and receives everlasting dominion and authority over all nations.
Later, in the Gospels, Jesus frequently refers to himself as ‘the Son of Man’, leading many to conclude that this was a deliberate reference to the figure from Daniel 7.
So, while the basic meaning is simply ‘human’, this phrase can have profound theological weight.
Why important to say ‘human’
Despite Jesus’ use of the phrase, translating it as ‘Son of Man’ often misleads readers.
You see, it’s remarkable to read a prophecy that says a human will come and do something miraculous or impressive. Normally, one may expect prophecies to say that God or some powerful angel or other spirit creature will come and perform some great work, but no, these prophecies are saying that a human will do it!
Obviously, Christians would answer is that it’s supposed to be Jesus. Jews would say it’s some future Messiah.
Yet if we forget the basic meaning of human, then ‘Son of Man’ becomes an odd title, divorced of the original (remarkable) meaning. Readers may be left with the (mistaken) impression that ‘Son of Man’ is some special title reserved only for divine beings, rather than an ordinary word to describe a human being.
Indeed, the ordinary sense is what makes it so remarkable… So translating it into English as the very unique title ‘Son of Man’ would entirely erase what makes it special.
For this reason, we view ‘Son of Man’ as a misleading mistranslation. Not because it is literally incorrect, but because they’ve turned an ordinary expression for humans into a special divine title, missing the entire point of it!