Genesis 1:26 kjv

And 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 fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Genesis 1:26 nkjv

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

Genesis 1:26 niv

Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

Genesis 1:26 esv

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."

Genesis 1:26 nlt

Then God said, "Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground."

Genesis 1 verses

Genesis 1 26 Meaning

Genesis 1:26 records a momentous divine pronouncement, marking the unique creation of humanity. God declares His intention to make human beings in His own "image" and "likeness," a distinct act setting them apart from all other created life. This statement signifies humanity's elevated status as God's representatives, designed to reflect His character and given a foundational purpose: to exercise benevolent dominion and stewardship over all the earth and its creatures, functioning as vice-regents for the Creator.

Genesis 1 26 Context

Genesis chapter 1 details God's creation of the cosmos in an orderly, seven-day progression. The account systematically builds from chaos to cosmos, culminating in the distinct creation of humanity on the sixth day. Before this verse, God has spoken light, expanse, land, vegetation, celestial bodies, and diverse living creatures into existence. Verse 26, however, introduces a dramatic shift: it is the first time God consults within Himself, using a plural deliberation ("Let Us make"), signaling humanity's supreme significance as the crowning act of creation. It sets the stage for Gen 1:27 where this deliberated plan is actualized and followed by the divine blessing and command to be fruitful and exercise dominion. Historically, this account stood in stark contrast to prevailing Ancient Near Eastern creation myths, which often depicted humans as accidental byproducts of divine conflict, slaves to arbitrary gods, or created merely to toil for divine sustenance. Genesis 1:26 elevates humanity to a unique status as intentional creations bearing the divine imprint and holding delegated authority.

Genesis 1 26 Word analysis

• "Then God said": Hebrew: Wa-yomer Elohim. Signifies direct divine action and sovereign pronouncement. "God" (Elohim) is a plural noun, yet consistently used with a singular verb, hinting at the complexity of God's nature.
• "Let Us make": Hebrew: Na'aseh. This is a first-person common plural cohortative, expressing an intention or proposal involving others. The plural "Us" with "God" (Elohim) has been historically understood in various ways:
  • Divine Council: God addressing heavenly beings or angelic host. However, angels are not creators of humanity in the biblical narrative.
  • Majesty Plural: A way to express ultimate authority, though not common for declarative statements in Hebrew.
  • Trinitarian Hint: The predominant Christian understanding sees this as a profound early indication of the plurality within the Godhead—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—cooperating in creation.
• "man": Hebrew: adam. This term is collective, referring to humankind, both male and female, as confirmed in Gen 1:27. It links humanity to the adamah (ground), from which physical form will be taken, yet highlights a unique spiritual dimension.
• "in Our image": Hebrew: be-tsalmenu. Tselem (image) signifies a resemblance, representation, or a visible form of an unseen reality. It's not necessarily a physical mirroring but denotes inherent qualitative similarities. Humanity reflects God in capacities for intellect, moral discernment, rationality, spiritual communion, and relationality. This image bestows inherent dignity and worth.
• "according to Our likeness": Hebrew: ki-dmutenu. Demut (likeness) often reinforces tselem, further defining or explaining the nature of the image. Some see it as emphasizing qualitative similarity or potential for moral development to truly reflect God. It means to be like God in nature, not to be God. The two terms together amplify the profound resemblance intended by God.
• "and let them rule": Hebrew: we-yirdu. From the root radah, meaning "to rule, to have dominion over, to tread down." This implies a royal authority delegated by God. This is not tyrannical oppression, but rather responsible, benevolent stewardship. It is the role of a vice-regent, one who governs on behalf of the ultimate sovereign, God Himself, exercising care and cultivation over creation.
• "over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth": This exhaustive list defines the comprehensive scope of humanity's assigned dominion. It covers all animate life—aquatic, aerial, domesticated, wild—and implies responsible management of the entire terrestrial ecosystem.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness": This phrase encapsulates humanity's unparalleled position as God's highest creation. It highlights divine deliberation, uniqueness of creation, and humanity's inherent nature as God's representative. The coupling of "image" and "likeness" emphasizes not just a static resemblance, but a dynamic capacity for relationship and reflection of God's character.
• "and let them rule over the fish... and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth": This second part defines humanity's primary function and purpose in the created order. It's a God-given mandate to manage and oversee the earth's resources and creatures. This stewardship is both a privilege and a profound responsibility, intended to extend God's order and care throughout creation.

Genesis 1 26 Bonus section

• The imago Dei is an ontological reality; it is what humanity is, regardless of moral condition. While distorted by sin (the Fall), the image is never completely lost (Gen 9:6, Jas 3:9).
• The renewal of the imago Dei is a central theme in the New Testament. Through redemption in Christ, believers are called to put on the "new self," created "in the likeness of God" in true righteousness and holiness (Eph 4:24) and being "renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him" (Col 3:10). This renewal is a process of becoming more like Christ, who is the perfect Image of God (Col 1:15, Heb 1:3).
• The call to dominion encompasses human culture and civilization. It's about bringing order, beauty, and flourishing to creation through various human endeavors like art, science, technology, and governance—all under God's ultimate authority.
• Understanding this verse profoundly impacts Christian ethics, informing views on human dignity (pro-life stance, combatting injustice, valuing every person), environmental stewardship (caring for creation), and the nature of work (as an act of worship and co-laboring with God).

Genesis 1 26 Commentary

Genesis 1:26 is the pivotal point in the creation narrative, revealing humanity as the pinnacle of God's creative work, infused with divine attributes and entrusted with a divine mandate. The plural "Let Us make" offers a glimpse into the relational nature of God, interpreted by many Christian traditions as an early hint of the Trinity in creative partnership. Humanity, adam, is designed to bear God's image (tselem) and likeness (demut), which sets us apart from all other creatures. This means we are endowed with capacities that reflect God's nature: rationality, morality, spirituality, creativity, and the ability for meaningful relationships. The imago Dei grants inherent dignity, purpose, and infinite worth to every human being. Flowing directly from this identity is the God-given command to "rule" (radah) over creation. This is not a license for exploitation but a call to stewardship—a delegated authority to cultivate, protect, and manage the earth as God's representatives. It signifies that humanity is accountable to God for how they exercise this dominion. This verse establishes the foundational biblical understanding of human nature and purpose, against which all subsequent biblical narrative and human experience are measured, including the Fall's distortion of the image and its restoration in Christ.