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Answer
The term “Son of Man” is used in various ways in Scripture. Jesus is indeed referred to as the Son of Man in the New Testament—88 times, to be exact. The term “son of man” is also found in the Old Testament. The prophet Ezekiel is called “son of man” over 90 times. Thus, both Jesus and Ezekiel can rightly be called “Son of Man”; but there is something unique about the way the title is applied to Christ.
In the Gospels, Jesus often refers to Himself as the Son of Man (e.g., Matthew 16:27; Mark 14:21; Luke 7:34; John 3:13). Jesus’ use of this title links Him to Daniel 7:13–14, a passage describing the coming Messiah: “There before me was one like a Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. . . . He was given authority, glory, and sovereign power; all peoples, nations, and men 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.” The teachers of the Law during Jesus’ time on earth would have readily understood Jesus’ meaning when He applied the title Son of Man to Himself. Jesus’ use of the phrase points to His exalted state as a person of the Godhead and the fact that He will fulfill Daniel’s prophecy.
Furthermore, only in the Gospels do we find the term “Son of Man” associated with the definite article, “the.” Jesus always called Himself “the Son of Man,” as in the only one there is. In using the definite article, Jesus contrasts Himself with other personalities in the Bible associated with the same term. Ezekiel is never called “the Son of Man”; he is always just a “Son of Man,” as in one among many.
Son of Man is a rather common term in the Bible, and it simply means “man.” It emphasizes the humanity of a person. In the case of Ezekiel, who was often referred to as “soIn the case of Ezekiel, God probably chose this direct address to emphasize the contrast between Ezekiel’s human condition and God’s transcendent majesty. In the first chapter of his book, Ezekiel describes a vision of God’s glory—a scene filled with wheels, eyes, storms, fire, and strange angelic creatures. In the following chapter, God addresses Ezekiel as the “son of man.” This title made the prophet keenly aware of his own human frailty and limitations in the presence of God’s unsurpassable glory. God is divine, while Ezekiel is merely a “son of man.”
Regarding Jesus, the use of the title Son of Man also underscores His humanity. The distinction lies in the fact that He is the Son of Man, the embodiment of humanity. Jesus is the Sinless One, the perfected human, the one who ultimately reconciles God and humanity.
