God addressed Ezekiel with an unusual title which will later become Jesus’ favorite way of referring to himself. The title is “son of man.” In the original Hebrew language, it’s literally ben Adam or “son of Adam” since Adam means “humans.”

“Mortal” is how some Bible versions translate it.

It seems easy to understand why God would address Ezekiel this way. It’s to remind the prophet who is the mighty God revealed in the visions, and who is not.

But why would the divine Son of God pick up where Ezekiel leaves off and adopt the title for himself?

Some Bible experts say it’s one way Jesus emphasized his humanity. He came to suffer and die. And he put glory on hold until he accomplished that.

One the other hand, Jesus may also have had a certain Bible passage in mind. It’s one that he figured his followers would notice after he was dead, risen from the grave, and preparing a second coming:

“I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. . . . .He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal-it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed” (Daniel 7:13-14).