IN THE IMAGE OF GOD

Passage: Genesis 1:26-31

Key verse: 27

NIV

26 Then God said, “Let us(A) make mankind(B) in our image,(C) in our likeness,(D) so that they may rule(E) over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky,(F) over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

27 So God created(G) mankind(H) in his own image,(I)
    in the image of God(J) he created them;
    male and female(K) he created them.(L)

28 God blessed them and said to them,(M) “Be fruitful and increase in number;(N) fill the earth(O) and subdue it. Rule over(P) the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.(Q)”

29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.(R) 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life(S) in it—I give every green plant for food.(T)” And it was so.

31 God saw all that he had made,(U) and it was very good.(V) And there was evening, and there was morning(W)—the sixth day.

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Footnotes
  1. Genesis 1:26 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text (see Syriac); Masoretic Text the earth
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

26 Then God said, (A)“Let us make man[a] in our image, (B)after our likeness. And (C)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.”

27 So God created man in his own image,
    in the image of God he created him;
    (D)male and female he created them.

28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, (E)“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.” 29 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. (F)You shall have them for food. 30 And (G)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. 31 (H)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.

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Footnotes
  1. Genesis 1:26 The Hebrew word for man (adam) is the generic term for mankind and becomes the proper name Adam
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

On the sixth day, God made mankind in his own image. Each and every person bears the image of God. Whether one is a man or woman, Jew or Palestinian, conservative or liberal, Black or White, straight or gay, rich or poor, or any other variety of human being, each person bears the image of God that cannot be taken away from them.

When we choose to see each and every person as a child of God, rather than a stereotype, we can begin to seek that which is holy and worthy of love and respect in each person. We can start listening to each other with empathy, collaborating, and caring for those in need. Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Mt 25:40).

God is love, and each person is made to love and be loved. In God’s love, he entrusted us with the beauty and riches of the earth to grow and fill the earth and be good stewards of all of His creation.

Prayer: Creator God, I am your child and image bearer whom you love and delight in. Help me to love all your creation with your love bestowed on me.

One Word: It was very good.