“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.

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

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” — Genesis 1:26–28 (KJV)

Genesis 1:26–28 is one of the foundational passages for understanding human identity, purpose, authority, marriage, stewardship, and our relationship to God.

Something changes in the language of creation.

Previously we repeatedly heard:

“Let there be...”

“Let the earth bring forth...”

“Let the waters bring forth...”

But when God comes to mankind, He says:

“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”

Humanity is not merely another creature added to creation.

Human beings are uniquely created in the image and likeness of God and given a God-appointed assignment upon the earth.

“And God Said, Let Us Make Man”

The Hebrew word translated “man” is:

אָדָם — adam

At this point, adam refers to mankind/humankind, though it will also become the personal name Adam.

The wording is striking:

“Let us make man...”

God does not say:

“Let the earth bring forth man.”

Although man's physical body will later be described as formed from the dust of the ground in Genesis 2:7, Genesis 1 emphasizes something unique about humanity:

God deliberately purposes mankind to bear His image.

“Let Us”

The words:

“Let us make man...”

have generated considerable theological discussion.

Christians have traditionally understood this language in light of the fuller revelation of Scripture concerning Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Genesis itself does not provide a complete doctrine of the Trinity in this verse alone, so we should avoid making the verse say more than it explicitly reveals.

Yet the plural language is significant and should not simply be ignored.

The New Testament later reveals that creation involves the Father, the Word/Son, and the Spirit.

John says concerning the Word:

“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” — John 1:3

Colossians says concerning Christ:

“For by him were all things created...” — Colossians 1:16

And Genesis 1:2 has already introduced:

“the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

Therefore, Christians read Genesis 1:26 within the fuller revelation of the Triune God given throughout Scripture.

“In Our Image”

The Hebrew word translated “image” is:

צֶלֶם — tselem

It means image, representation, or likeness.

Human beings are created to represent God within His creation.

This does not mean that humans are gods.

It means mankind has been given a unique relationship and representative role under God.

Immediately after mentioning the image of God, Scripture speaks of dominion.

That connection is important.

Humanity is to represent God's rule upon the earth while remaining under God's rule.

“After Our Likeness”

The Hebrew word translated “likeness” is:

דְּמוּת — demuth

It carries the idea of likeness, resemblance, or similarity.

The words image and likeness together emphasize humanity's unique relationship to the Creator.

Humans possess characteristics that enable relationship with God and responsible stewardship under Him, including capacities such as:

moral awareness,
reason,
communication,
relationship,
responsibility,
creativity,
and delegated authority.

Yet mankind remains creation.

We bear God's image; we are not God Himself.

“Let Them Have Dominion”

God says:

“and let them have dominion...”

The Hebrew verb is:

רָדָה — radah

It carries the idea of ruling, governing, or exercising dominion.

Notice carefully:

God creates mankind in His image and then gives them dominion.

The authority is delegated.

Human beings do not possess independent sovereignty.

God is the sovereign King.
Humanity governs under the King.

This is stewardship.

Dominion Is Not Ownership

There is an important distinction between dominion and ownership.

God gives humanity dominion over creation, but Scripture never says that God surrendered ownership of creation.

Psalm 24:1 declares:

“The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”

Therefore:

God owns.
Humanity stewards.

Biblical dominion is not permission to abuse creation.

It is responsibility to govern what belongs to God according to the purposes of God.

The Scope of Humanity's Dominion

Genesis 1:26 identifies the areas of human stewardship:

the fish of the sea,
the fowl of the air,
the cattle,
all the earth,
and every creeping thing.

Human beings are placed within creation but also given responsibility over other earthly creatures.

However, notice something important.

God gives mankind dominion over creation.

He does not give mankind dominion over God.

Human authority always remains subordinate to divine authority.

“So God Created Man in His Own Image”

Genesis 1:27 is beautifully structured:

“So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God created he him;
male and female created he them.”

The word created appears three times.

The word image appears twice.

The repetition emphasizes the importance of what is happening.

Human identity begins with:

God created us.

Human worth begins with:

God's image.

Human purpose begins with:

God's intention.

Before occupation, wealth, social status, ethnicity, nationality, education, or achievement enters the story, humanity already possesses dignity because mankind is created in God's image.

“Male and Female Created He Them”

Genesis 1:27 makes another foundational declaration:

“male and female created he them.”

Both male and female bear the image of God.

The verse does not say that only the man bears God's image.

It says:

“male and female created he them.”

Therefore, male and female share equal dignity as God's image-bearers.

Yet Genesis also presents them as distinct.

Equality of value does not require sameness of distinction.

Both are created by God.

Both bear God's image.

Both receive God's blessing.

Both participate in the creation mandate.

The Image of God Establishes Human Dignity

Because every human being bears God's image, human life possesses unique value.

Genesis 9:6 later connects the sanctity of human life directly to this truth:

“Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.”

Human dignity is therefore not something society grants.

It does not come from:

wealth,
ability,
education,
age,
physical strength,
social position,
or usefulness.

Human worth is rooted in God's creative act.

“And God Blessed Them”

Genesis 1:28 says:

“And God blessed them...”

The first explicit blessing in Scripture appeared in Genesis 1:22 when God blessed the sea creatures and birds.

Now God blesses humanity.

Again, blessing is immediately connected with purpose.

God does not merely bless them and leave them without assignment.

The blessing is followed by commands:

Be fruitful.
Multiply.
Replenish the earth.
Subdue it.
Have dominion.

God's blessing equips humanity for God's assignment.

“Be Fruitful”

The first command is:

“Be fruitful...”

Fruitfulness includes the capacity to produce offspring.

God intends human life to continue beyond the first man and woman.

The earth is not to remain inhabited by only two people.

Humanity is designed for continuation and multiplication.

“And Multiply”

God continues:

“and multiply...”

Fruitfulness becomes multiplication.

The blessing of God is designed to extend life throughout the earth.

Notice again the progression:

Blessing → Fruitfulness → Multiplication → Filling → Stewardship

God's blessing carries responsibility.

“Replenish the Earth”

The KJV says:

“replenish the earth.”

This wording can cause confusion because modern English often uses replenish to mean refill something that was previously full.

However, the Hebrew word is:

מָלֵא — maleʾ

It means to fill or become full.

Therefore, Genesis 1:28 is commanding humanity to:

“Fill the earth.”

The verse does not require the idea that the earth had previously been populated by humans and now needed to be refilled.

The command is for mankind to multiply and fill the earth.

“And Subdue It”

The Hebrew verb translated “subdue” is:

כָּבַשׁ — kabash

It carries the idea of bringing something under control or exercising mastery over it.

Humanity is not placed upon the earth merely as a passive observer.

There is work to accomplish.

There is development.

There is cultivation.

There is stewardship.

There is responsible management.

Genesis 2:15 will give a more specific picture when God places Adam in the garden:

“to dress it and to keep it.”

Dominion involves responsible service.

“And Have Dominion”

God repeats the command:

“and have dominion...”

The repetition emphasizes humanity's royal stewardship.

Mankind is created in the image of the King and appointed to govern the earthly creation under His authority.

This is one reason the image of God and dominion appear together.

Human beings function as God's representatives within creation.

But representative authority only remains legitimate when it stays submitted to the One being represented.

Dominion Must Remain Under God's Authority

This is crucial.

Humanity's authority is delegated authority.

The moment mankind attempts to exercise dominion independently of God, dominion becomes distorted.

This prepares us for Genesis 3.

The serpent's temptation will involve humanity attempting to determine good and evil independently:

“ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” — Genesis 3:5

The temptation is essentially toward autonomy—life and judgment independent of God's authority.

Genesis 1 establishes the proper order:

God rules mankind.
Mankind rules creation under God.

Sin attempts to reverse that order.

Humanity as God's Representative

A helpful way to understand Genesis 1:26–28 is:

God

The Sovereign Creator and King

↓

Humanity

Created in God's image to represent His rule

↓

Earthly Creation

Entrusted to humanity's stewardship

Humanity is not the highest authority.

We stand between the Creator and the creation entrusted to us.

Our authority is accountable authority.

The Image of God After the Fall

The fall in Genesis 3 damages humanity's relationship with God and corrupts human life, but Scripture continues to speak of humanity as bearing God's image.

Genesis 9:6 still says:

“in the image of God made he man.”

James 3:9 likewise speaks of human beings:

“which are made after the similitude of God.”

The image has not disappeared.

Yet the New Testament reveals God's redemptive purpose of conforming believers to the image of Christ.

Christ — The Perfect Image

The New Testament brings the theme of God's image into its fullest revelation in Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:15 calls Christ:

“the image of the invisible God...”

Hebrews 1:3 describes Him as:

“the express image of his person...”

Humanity was created in God's image.

But Christ is presented uniquely as the perfect revelation of the invisible God.

Therefore, if we want to understand what humanity restored under God's rule should look like, we must look to Christ.

Being Conformed to the Image of Christ

Romans 8:29 says believers are:

“predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son...”

This gives Genesis 1:26 profound redemptive significance.

The Bible begins with humanity created:

in God's image.

Sin corrupts humanity.

Christ comes as:

the image of the invisible God.

Through redemption, believers are being transformed:

into the image of Christ.

Paul says:

“But we all...are changed into the same image from glory to glory...” — 2 Corinthians 3:18

God's redemptive work is restoring His people to reflect Him rightly.

Spiritual Application — Whose Image Are You Reflecting?

Genesis 1:26 raises a deeply personal question.

If we were created to bear God's image:

What are our lives reflecting?

Our lives can begin to reflect:

culture,
the world,
fear,
pride,
bitterness,
selfish ambition,
or the character of Christ.

God's purpose is that His people increasingly reflect His Son.

The goal of Christianity is not merely attending church or accumulating biblical information.

It is transformation into Christ's likeness.

Blessing Comes With Assignment

Genesis 1:28 also corrects a shallow understanding of blessing.

God blessed humanity and immediately gave humanity work.

Therefore, blessing does not mean the absence of responsibility.

Sometimes the assignment itself is part of the blessing.

God blessed them:

to be fruitful,
to multiply,
to fill,
to subdue,
and to exercise dominion.

The question is not simply:

“How has God blessed me?”

We should also ask:

“What responsibility accompanies what God has entrusted to me?”

Observation Questions

What did God say before creating mankind?
In whose image was mankind created?
What does the Hebrew word tselem communicate?
Who received dominion over the earthly creatures?
How many times does the word created appear in Genesis 1:27?
Who bears God's image according to verse 27?
What did God do before giving humanity its assignment?
What five commands or responsibilities appear in Genesis 1:28?
What does the Hebrew word translated “replenish” mean in this context?
Who ultimately owns the earth?

Reflection Questions

How does being created in God's image affect the way you understand your identity?
How should the image of God affect the way you treat other people?
What is the difference between dominion and ownership?
What happens when human authority operates independently of God's authority?
What does Genesis 1:27 teach about the dignity of both male and female?
What has God entrusted to your stewardship?
Are you using your gifts and authority to represent God's character or merely advance yourself?
What areas of your character need to be increasingly conformed to the image of Christ?
What responsibility may be connected with a blessing God has placed in your life?
Whose image is your life presently reflecting?

Personal Application

Before Genesis tells us what mankind is commanded to do, it tells us who mankind was created to be:

“in the image of God.”

Identity comes before assignment.

God did not create humanity merely to work.

He created humanity to represent Him while carrying out His work upon the earth.

Therefore, our greatest question is not merely:

What am I accomplishing?

But:

Whom am I reflecting while I accomplish it?

You can exercise authority without reflecting God.

You can build something without reflecting God.

You can become successful without reflecting God.

You can even perform religious work without reflecting God's character.

The purpose is deeper.

Paul says:

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son...” — Romans 8:29

God is working in His people so that the image we were created to bear becomes increasingly visible through Christ formed in us.

Ask yourself:

Does my character resemble Christ?

Does the way I exercise authority resemble Christ?

Does the way I treat people recognize that they bear God's image?

Am I faithfully stewarding what God has placed under my care?

Key Truth

Genesis 1:26–28 reveals humanity's God-given identity and assignment. Male and female were created in the image and likeness of God, blessed by God, and entrusted with delegated dominion over the earth. Humanity was created to represent the Creator while remaining under His authority. Through Christ, God's redemptive purpose is bringing His people into conformity to the image of His Son.

Scripture to Remember