Son of Man

proper noun

A Christian title of Jesus Christ, referring to his status as a celestial being who presides as an eschatological judge.

OriginMiddle English Sone of man ← Old English mannes Sunu ← Ancient Greek υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου →
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Meanings

proper noun

alternative Son of man

  1. ChristianityA Christian title of Jesus Christ, referring to his status as a celestial being who presides as an eschatological judge.

Origin

  1. Aramaicבַּר אֱנָשׁ“bar ʾĕnāš”
  2. Ancient Greekυἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου
  3. Old Englishmannes Sunu
  4. Middle EnglishSone of man
  5. EnglishSon of Man

From Middle English Sone of man, sone of man (also Mannes sone, Monnes Sune, man sone, man sun, etc.), meaning "mortal man, human being; the Messiah, the Christ", a reanalysis of Old English mannes Sunu (literally “man's son”), equivalent to Son + of + Man. Calque of Ancient Greek υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου (huiòs toû anthrṓpou), itself a calque of Aramaic בַּר אֱנָשׁ (human being, “bar ʾĕnāš”, literally “Son of man”), used in Daniel 7:13 for an apocalyptic figure.

More words from Middle English, Old English, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Afrikaans Menseseun
  • MenseseunJesus Christ
Ancient Greek υἱὸς τοὺ ἀνθρώπου
  • υἱὸς τοὺ ἀνθρώπου (huiòs toù anthrṓpou)Jesus Christ
Arabic اِبْنُ الإنْسان
  • اِبْنُ الإنْسان (ibnu l-ʔinsān)Jesus Christ
Chinese Cantonese 人子
  • 人子 (jan⁴ zi²)Jesus Christ
Chinese Mandarin 人子
  • 人子 (Rénzǐ)Jesus Christ
Danish Menneskesønnen
  • MenneskesønnenJesus Christ
Dutch Mensenzoon, Zoon des mensen
  • MensenzoonJesus Christ
  • Zoon des mensenJesus Christ
Finnish Ihmisen Poika
  • Ihmisen PoikaJesus Christ
French Fils de l'homme
  • Fils de l'hommeJesus Christ
German der Menschensohn, des Menschen Sohn
  • der MenschensohnJesus Christ
  • des Menschen SohnJesus Christ
Hindi मनुष्य का पुत्र
  • मनुष्य का पुत्र (manuṣya kā putra)Jesus Christ
Indonesian anak manusia
  • anak manusiaJesus Christ
Italian figlio dell'uomo
  • figlio dell'uomoJesus Christ
Japanese 人の子
  • 人の子 (hito no ko)Jesus Christ
Korean 사람의 아들, 인자
  • 사람의 아들 (saramui adeul)Jesus Christ
  • 인자 (inja)Jesus Christ
Latin Filius hominis
  • Filius hominisJesus Christ
Norwegian Bokmål Menneskesønnen
  • MenneskesønnenJesus Christ
Polish Syn Człowieczy
  • Syn CzłowieczyJesus Christ
Portuguese filho do homem
  • filho do homemJesus Christ
Russian Сын челове́ческий
  • Сын челове́ческий (Syn čelovéčeskij)Jesus Christ
Spanish hijo de hombre
  • hijo de hombreJesus Christ
Swahili Mwana wa Mtu
  • Mwana wa MtuJesus Christ
Swedish Människosonen
  • MänniskosonenJesus Christ
Ukrainian Син людськи́й, Син чолові́чий
  • Син людськи́й (Syn ljudsʹkýj)Jesus Christ
  • Син чолові́чий (Syn čolovíčyj)Jesus Christ
Vietnamese Con Người
  • Con NgườiJesus Christ
Cite this entry
APA

Son of Man. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Son%20of%20Man

MLA

“Son of Man.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Son%20of%20Man. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Son of Man,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Son%20of%20Man.

Source: Son of Man on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.