According to many interpreters, everything in subjection to him
refers to Jesus. But the application to Jesus is made by the author only in verse 9 (ton de [but him who]; this introduction proves that the author truly makes a change here so that verse 8 is really about man[kind]). This is still in the future, also for Christ (Hebrews 1:13; Hebrews 10:13). The surprising turn in verse 9 becomes more pronounced when we read this extract from Psalm 8 (in verses 7–8) in the Old Testament anthropological sense. The earth is subjected to man(kind). Reading this from a purely Christological perspective fails to do justice to the blessings for man.1
8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.”Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.