You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
Man was created with high dignity. He is not God and remains a created being, yet he has a special place within creation. The phrase “You crowned him with glory and honor” refers to the calling of being created in the image of God. Man is called to know the Creator, to govern the created world responsibly, and to reflect His goodness. Sin damaged that calling, yet it did not completely erase the God-given value of man. This word is also fulfilled more fully in Jesus Christ, who, by becoming man, humbled Himself for a time and, after the suffering of death, was crowned with glory and honor (Hebrews 2:9). In Him the human calling reaches its perfect fulfillment. For the believer, this word is a foundation for both humility and dignity. We must not deify man, but we also must not despise him, because every person bears the image of the Creator.