Understanding Genesis 1:26: Made in God's Image

Context of Genesis 1:26

This verse comes at the peak of creation, right after God shaped light, sky, land, plants, and animals over five days.

On Day One, God created light. On Days Two and Three, He formed the sky, seas, and dry land. On Days Four and Five, He filled the heavens with lights and the waters and skies with living creatures. Then on Day Six, after creating land animals, God says, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness' - a unique statement not used for any other creature. This divine council language suggests humanity is being crafted to represent God Himself, not merely to exist.

The next verse confirms it: 'So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them,' showing that both genders equally reflect God’s nature and share in His mission.

The Meaning of Being Made in God's Image

This verse explains who we were made to be - representatives of God in His creation - not merely how humans were made.

The phrase 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness' stands out because God doesn’t speak this way when creating anything else. The plural 'us' and 'our' has led many to see an early hint of the Trinity - God speaking within Himself, a mystery later revealed in passages like Matthew 28:19 where Jesus speaks of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the Ancient Near East, kings were often called 'images' of their gods, placed to rule on their behalf. But here, *all* people - male and female - are given this royal status, not merely rulers or priests. The Hebrew words *tselem* (image) and *demut* (likeness) suggest both a physical representation and a functional role - like a statue that also carries the authority of the one it represents. So being made in God’s image means we reflect His presence and act with His delegated power.

This isn’t about physical appearance - God is spirit, so we don’t look like Him in body - but about qualities like moral reasoning, creativity, relationship, and the ability to choose good. We see this reflected in Ephesians 4:24, which speaks of being renewed in knowledge 'after the image of its creator,' and in Colossians 3:10, where believers are 'renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.' These New Testament verses show that while sin damaged the image of God in us, it wasn’t erased - through Christ, we can grow back into who we were truly meant to be.

To be made in God’s image isn’t about looking like Him - it’s about reflecting His character and carrying His authority in the world.

The immediate link between image and dominion is clear: because we bear God’s image, we are given the responsibility to rule over creation - carefully, wisely, and in a way that honors Him. This role isn’t a license to exploit, but a sacred trust to steward the earth as God’s representatives.

The Dignity and Responsibility of Being Made in God's Image

This truth shapes how we live today, calling us to honor both human dignity and our duty to care for the world, and is not merely ancient history.

Because every person is made in God’s image, no one is without worth - this is why James 3:9 warns us not to curse people who are 'made in the likeness of God,' showing that our words reveal whether we truly respect the divine stamp in all humanity.

Every person carries God’s image - so how we treat others and care for creation reflects how we value Him.

We’re also called to steward the earth wisely, not as owners but as caretakers under God’s authority. This mission connects directly to Genesis 2:15, where Adam is placed in the garden 'to work it and keep it,' a task that still belongs to us. When we neglect creation or exploit people, we fail our role as God’s representatives. But when we act with justice, kindness, and care, we reflect His character and fulfill our purpose in the world.

The Image of God from Creation to Redemption: How Genesis 1:26 Points to Jesus

This original design of being made in God's image didn't stay intact - but the story doesn't end there, because Jesus, the 'Last Adam,' came to restore what was lost.

When sin entered the world, the image of God in humanity became marred - our relationships fractured, our stewardship corrupted, and our moral likeness to God distorted. But the Bible reveals that Jesus, the Son of God, is the perfect image of the invisible God, fully showing us what God is like in human form. As Colossians 1:15 says, 'He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.' This means He *is* God, living among us to show the fullness of divine love, truth, and authority, rather than merely reflecting God.

Jesus reverses the failure of the first Adam: where Adam disobeyed and lost dominion, Christ obeyed and reclaimed it. In 1 Corinthians 15:45-49, Paul calls Jesus 'the last Adam,' who brings life and resurrection to all who belong to Him, transforming our broken image into His glorious likeness. Revelation 5:10 declares that through Christ's sacrifice, we 'shall reign on the earth,' echoing the original mandate of Genesis 1:26 and showing that our royal purpose is restored. And in Revelation 22:5, we see the final fulfillment - God’s people reigning forever in the new creation, fully reflecting His light and authority, just as we were meant to from the beginning.

Jesus is the true Image of God who restores what was broken and re-enthrones humanity in His kingdom.

Because of Jesus, we are being remade in God's image, not merely reminded of it. This is the heart of the gospel: restoration to our true identity and mission as image-bearers under Christ’s rule, not merely forgiveness.

Application