What Does Genesis 1:26-31 Mean?
Genesis 1:26-31 describes God creating human beings in His image, male and female, and giving them the responsibility to rule over the earth and all living things. This moment marks the peak of creation, where God entrusts humanity with stewardship, blessing them to be fruitful, fill the earth, and care for every living creature. It shows that people are not accidents, but intentional creations with purpose and dignity.
Genesis 1:26-31
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth." And God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Key Facts
Book
Author
Moses
Genre
Narrative
Date
Approximately 1440 BC
Key Takeaways
- You bear God’s image and have inherent worth.
- We are called to steward creation with care.
- Male and female equally reflect God’s glory.
The Climax of Creation: Humanity Made in God's Image
This passage marks the high point of the creation week, where everything before it sets the stage for the arrival of human beings.
Over the first five days, God forms light and darkness, sky and sea, dry land and vegetation, then fills the sky and waters with sun, moon, stars, birds, and fish, and finally creates land animals - each step preparing a home for the rulers He is about to appoint. By the sixth day, the world is ready. It is beautifully ordered, waiting for those who will represent God's presence and authority. With majestic intention, God says, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness,' signaling a unique relationship between Him and humanity unlike anything else in creation.
God creates humans male and female, blesses them, and gives them a shared mission: to multiply, fill the earth, and steward all living things, showing that our value and purpose come straight from the Creator.
What It Means to Be Made in God's Image: Dominion, Dignity, and Divine Purpose
This passage describes human origin. It also reveals our identity and mission at the heart of God’s created order.
The phrase 'image of God' (Hebrew: *tselem Elohim*) would have stood out sharply in the ancient Near East (ANE), where kings alone were seen as divine representatives - often claiming to rule on behalf of the gods. Here, every human, including rulers, bears God’s image, giving all people inherent dignity and value. This radical idea means we are not advanced animals or cosmic accidents. We are beings designed to reflect God’s wisdom, creativity, and moral character. The plural language in 'Let us make man' may echo divine council imagery known in ANE cultures, but in Scripture, it points to the fullness of God’s own being - later illuminated by the New Testament’s revelation of Father, Son, and Spirit (see 2 Cor 4:6, where God’s light shines in our hearts through Christ, the ultimate image-bearer).
The commands to 'be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth, subdue it, and have dominion' are not licenses to exploit, but royal responsibilities to steward creation under God’s authority. 'Subdue' (Hebrew: *kabash*) and 'have dominion' (Hebrew: *radah*) imply active management - like a good king caring for his land - not harsh domination. This reflects God’s own loving rule, calling us to cultivate, protect, and bring order to the world, similar to how He brought order to the formless earth in Genesis 1:2.
Being made in God’s image isn’t about physical appearance - it’s about being entrusted with His authority and reflecting His character in the world.
These roles are given equally to 'male and female,' showing that both fully reflect God’s image and share in this mission - neither is secondary in value or purpose. This foundational truth shapes how we view gender, relationships, and human worth throughout Scripture.
Human Dignity, Responsibility, and Equality: Living Out the Image of God Today
This truth about being made in God's image is not ancient history. It shapes how we see people, purpose, and responsibility right now.
God’s command to 'have dominion' means we’re to care for the earth like a wise gardener, not a harsh boss - protecting creation, not polluting or wasting it. At the same time, our dignity comes not from what we do or who we are, but because we reflect God.
Every person carries God’s image - male and female, young and old, of every nation - giving all of us equal worth and a shared calling.
Male and female together bear God’s image - equal in value, dignity, and calling - showing that no one is more 'image-bearing' than another. This truth challenges any culture or mindset that devalues women or elevates men as superior. It also points forward to the New Testament, where Paul says in Galatians 3:28 that in Christ, all these human divisions are healed, and we stand together as one family under God.
The Image of God Fulfilled in Christ: A Biblical Journey from Creation to Redemption
This original design of being made in God's image didn't stay intact, but the Bible shows how that image is repaired and fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Throughout Scripture, the idea of humans reflecting God's image continues - even when we fail to live like it. James 3:9 reminds us that since we're all made in God's image, we shouldn't curse others, showing that this dignity remains even after sin enters the world. And in Colossians 3:10, believers are told they are being renewed in knowledge after the image of their Creator, pointing to a restoration process that began with Christ.
Fulfillment comes in Jesus, who is called 'the image of the invisible God' in Colossians 1:15. He not only reflects God but reveals Him perfectly. Hebrews 2:6-9 quotes Psalm 8, marveling that God crowned humanity with glory and honor, yet sees that 'we do not yet see everything in subjection to them.' But then it says, 'But we see Jesus... crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death' - showing that Jesus fulfills what real human rule was meant to be. Unlike us, He never exploited creation or failed in His mission. Instead, He served, sacrificed, and rose again, reclaiming the dominion we lost. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus becomes the true human, the perfect image-bearer, restoring the way for us to live as God intended.
Jesus is the perfect image of God, restoring what was broken and showing us what true humanity looks like.
Because of Jesus, we don't have to try to earn our worth or misuse our role - we are being renewed and called to reflect God's character in a broken world. This sets the stage for understanding how new life in Christ transforms not only individuals but also relationships, purpose, and our care for creation.
Application
How This Changes Everything: Real Life Impact
Imagine waking up each morning to a calling, not merely a to-do list. Know that you are not here by accident, but placed by God as His representative on earth. That single truth reshapes everything. When you feel overlooked or insecure, you can remember: your worth isn’t earned. It’s built in, because you bear God’s image. When you’re tempted to exploit time, resources, or people for personal gain, you’re reminded you’re meant to steward, not dominate. One mom shared how this changed her view of daily chores - folding laundry, packing lunches - not as mindless tasks, but as acts of care for God’s world and people made in His image. It turns routine into worship, and responsibility into honor.
Personal Reflection
- Where am I treating others - especially those different from me - as less than fully bearing God’s image?
- In what areas of my life am I failing to steward God’s creation well, either through waste, neglect, or selfishness?
- How can I live today as someone crowned with God-given dignity and purpose, rather than merely surviving?
A Challenge For You
This week, choose one practical way to honor God’s creation - like reducing waste, caring for a garden, or serving someone in need - and do it as an act of worship. Also, look for one moment each day to affirm the dignity of someone else, whether through a kind word, listening well, or standing up for fairness.
A Prayer of Response
God, thank You for making me in Your image, with purpose and worth. Forgive me for the times I’ve treated others or Your creation carelessly. Help me to live today as Your representative - caring, creating, and honoring the life You’ve given. Renew my sense of calling, and help me reflect Your love in everything I do. Amen.
Related Scriptures & Concepts
Immediate Context
Genesis 1:24
Sets the stage for humanity’s creation by introducing land animals, highlighting the order of creation.
Genesis 1:31
Concludes the sixth day by affirming creation as 'very good,' emphasizing humanity’s place in God’s plan.
Connections Across Scripture
Colossians 3:10
Shows believers being renewed in the image of their Creator, linking back to Genesis 1.
Galatians 3:28
Echoes the equality of male and female in Christ, rooted in creation’s design.
Hebrews 2:6-9
Applies Psalm 8 to Jesus, showing how He fulfills humanity’s lost dominion.