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 1:26KJV
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Genesis 1:26 (KJV)

What does Genesis 1:26 mean?

Genesis 1:26 describes God announcing the intention to create human beings in God’s own image and likeness, giving them authority over all other living creatures on earth. This verse highlights the unique status of humans within creation and their responsibility to oversee and care for the world.

In this verse, God is speaking—using plural language (“Let us make”)—about making humanity distinct from the rest of creation. The setting is the sixth day of creation, just before humans are formed. The verse emphasizes both the special relationship between humans and God (“in our image, after our likeness”) and the role humans are given to rule over animals, birds, and all living things on earth.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 1:26

  • God (אֱלֹהִים, ’elohim): This word is grammatically plural but often used for the singular God of Israel, which may explain the “Let us” phrasing. It hints at a richness or fullness in God’s nature.
  • Image (צֶלֶם, tselem): This word means a likeness or representation. Here, it suggests that humans are made to reflect certain qualities of God, though not in a physical sense.
  • Likeness (דְּמוּת, demuth): This word means resemblance or similarity. Paired with “image,” it underlines that humans share something essential with God, but not equality or identity.
  • Dominion (רָדָה, radah): This means to rule or have authority over. The word carries the sense of stewardship or responsible oversight, not exploitation.

Why Genesis 1:26 matters

  • Genesis 1:26 clarifies that humans are set apart from other creatures by being made in God’s image, which is a foundational idea for human dignity and worth.
  • The verse shows that humans are given a role of responsibility, not just privilege, over the rest of creation, shaping how people understand their relationship to the environment and animals.
  • The plural language (“Let us make”) has sparked much discussion and points to the complexity of God’s nature, setting the stage for later theological reflection.

Where else these words appear

“fish” Hebrew H1710 · used in 13 verses

  • Genesis 1:28 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.
  • Deuteronomy 4:18 The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth:
  • Ezekiel 29:5 And I will leave thee thrown into the wilderness, thee and all the fish of thy rivers: thou shalt fall upon the open fields; thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered: I have given thee for meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven.

“image” Hebrew H6754 · used in 15 verses

  • Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
  • 1 Samuel 6:5 Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.
  • Psalms 73:20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.

“thing” Hebrew H7431 · used in 17 verses

  • Genesis 1:24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
  • Genesis 7:23 And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.
  • Psalms 104:25 So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.

“creepeth” Hebrew H7430 · used in 17 verses

  • Genesis 1:21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
  • Genesis 7:21 And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:
  • Leviticus 11:46 This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: