How people are like God

The Bible says that people are made in the image and likeness of God. The words “image” and “likeness” mean that humans are similar to God and or they can represent God, like a photo can represent a person. The phrase does not mean God has a physical body like ours. Rather, it means humans were created to resemble and represent God in the world.

What Genesis says

The fact that mankind was made in the image of God is stated three times in the first chapter of the Bible This shows that people were in the image of God from the beginning of everything.

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.” So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them [Adam and Eve]; male and female He created them. (Gen.1:26-27NIV).

Verse 26 indicates that the words “image” and “likeness” are synonyms.

Genesis 5 also mentions that mankind was made in the image of God.

“When God created mankind [Adam and Eve], He made them in the likeness of God (Gen. 5:1b). 

And Genesis 9 also mentions after the flood that mankind was made in the image of God. So, this is also true when the world changed after Adam and Eve rebelled against God (Gen. 3).

“Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind” (Gen. 9:6).

So, mankind was uniquely created in the image of God, distinct from all other creatures.

What does it mean?

What did this mean to the Israelites in Moses’ day? They used the term to describe a likeness between parents and children—Seth was described as being in Adam’s likeness (Gen. 5:3). Also, pagan idols were represented as images (Lev. 26:1).

To answer this question, we will see what Adam and Eve did that is unique to humanity.

Representative

In the ancient Near East, kings would place images (statues) of themselves in distant parts of their realm to signify their authority and rule. Similarly, humanity is placed in creation to represent God’s rule. And they exercise this when they rule over the rest of creation.

Dominion and stewardship

First, the statement that is made twice with respect to humanity but to no other creature is that they will “rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground” (v.26, 28). For example, Adam was to tend and care for the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:15). So, mankind was to rule over the rest of creation and manage the world on God’s behalf, reflecting His wisdom, care, and generosity. We share some of God’s dominion attributes.

People are the link between God and creation (Ps. 8:5-8; Heb.2:6-8a).

“You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas” (Ps. 8:5-8)

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor and put everything under their feet” (Heb.2:6-8a).

But due to sin “at present we do not see everything subject to them” (Heb. 2:8b). Nevertheless, we have great power and responsibility over the rest of creation.

God gave people a special honor which He did not give to the rest of creation. Because they are made in the image of God, people are different and superior to animals. Animals are not made in the image of God. The animals are unaware of God. They do not seek or worship their Maker. So, the idea of biological evolution of people (who are in the image of God) from animals (who are not in the image of God) is not consistent with the Bible.

Because they are made in God’s image, people have dominion over the rest of creation, but not over other people. This is why murder was prohibited (Gen. 9:6). And it is extremely important in deciding bioethical questions. For example, activities such as slavery, abortion, euthanasia, human embryonic stem cell research and artificial human cloning are all evil because they all involve dominion over others made in God’s image.

Morality

Second, Adam and Eve were prohibited from eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:16). People are conscious of moral values: we call some things good and others evil. This moral nature of mankind is different to the instincts of the animal world.

Humans have the capacity to understand right from wrong, to exercise free will (or choice), and to act with justice and mercy. We share some of God’s moral attributes.

Creativity

Third, Adam named the animals (Gen. 2:19-20). Mankind is creative and inventive: this involves imagination, the ability to think in conceptual terms (abstract thinking), and the ability to see a thing with the eye of the mind and then create it physically.

God has blessed us with our capacity to think abstractly, reason, and create, innovate, and bring order out of chaos. We share some of God’s creative attributes.

Relationships

Fourth, Adam and Eve talked with God (Gen. 3:8-13). People can communicate and use language to convey ideas and discuss issues. In particular we can communicate with God.

Humans, unlike animals, are created with the capacity for deep personal relationships with God and with one another. We share some of God’s communicative and relationship attributes.

Dignity

Every person — regardless of age, ability, ethnicity, gender, status, or moral state — possesses inherent worth because they bear God’s image. We all have inherent worth, value, and dignity. All humans have equal status before God. So, we must treat everyone with honor and respect and protect their lives including the unborn, disabled, elderly, and marginalized. All lives matter, not just black ones!

The Bible addresses how we treat each other when we are hypocritical,

“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be” (Jas. 3:9-10).

Because they are made in His image, God wants us to honor and respect all people (1 Pt. 2:17; Rom. 12:14) and not look at others with contempt or take vengeance on them.

And the biblical text highlights that both male and female are created in God’s image (Gen. 1:27). This established the equal dignity of men and women in the highly patriarchal ancient world.

The damaged image

When Adam and Eve sinned, they marred the image of God within themselves and passed that damaged likeness on to all their descendants (Rom. 5:12). Today, we still bear the image of God (Jas. 3:9), but we also bear the scars of sin. Mentally, morally, socially, and physically, we show the effects of sin.

The perfect image

The New Testament introduces Jesus as the ultimate resolution to this problem. It explicitly calls Jesus “the image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15). He is the perfect image of God (2 Co. 4:4; Heb. 1:3) and what humanity was meant to be. He is the only person who was always holy and always acted righteously.

The renewed image

Though the image of God has been damaged by sin, it has not been erased, and through Christ it can be progressively restored. Through Christ alone we can be made right before God and conform to the image of His Son that we were originally created to be. Through Christ, people can be renewed and transformed to more accurately reflect God’s character.

Becoming a Christian is like being recreated in the likeness of God (Rom. 8:29; Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10). This is a process of restoration by the Holy Spirit. The goal of the Christian life is described as being progressively changed and restored to look like Jesus—rebuilding the original, uncracked image of God in human character. Through Christ in our lives, believers are becoming more Godlike (2 Cor. 3:18) until “when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 Jn. 3:2).

Lessons for us

Adam and Eve were the climax of creation. They were made in the image of God to rule the rest of creation. They were also creative, with a moral nature and the ability to communicate with God. Even though our world has been spoilt by sin, people still bear the image of God. Human beings are special because they have a unique dignity that enables them to have a relationship with God.

Through Christ, people can be renewed and transformed to more accurately reflect God’s character. This gives them an identity and great significance, which is described in the song, “In His mage” (Appendix).

How we are created reflects God’s character and nature. Though we might feel unimpressive, each of us has intrinsic value and purpose crafted by God.

Do we think and act like an image of God? Like an image of Christ? Are we using our personality and spirituality like God? Are we behaving in His likeness? Is our life day by day becoming more like the Lord Jesus Christ?

Appendix: “In His image”

A song by Nicky Chiswell (2003)

1. From the dust of the ground we were formed
   You breathed life into us, we were born
   Man and woman you made us to be
   In your image we have dignity

In His image we have been made
Though we see shattered remains
In His image, Jesus our Lord
One day soon we’ll be restored
In His image

2. Through one man [Adam] there came darkness and strife
   Through one man there came sin’s dreadful stain
   Through one man [Jesus] there came hope of new life
   Through one man we shall live again
3. Jesus came in the flesh to this world
   The exact, perfect picture of God
   Entered into the mess from the fall
   He was shattered that we might be whole

Reference

Sarfati JD, 2015, The Genesis account, Creation Book Publishers.

Also see: In the beginning. Part 1: The first week

Written, June 2026