What Does It Mean to Be Made in the Image of God?
What Does It Mean to Be Made in the Image of God? Being made in God's image means humans reflect God's character through rationality, morality, creativity, relationality, and spiritual capacity.
Key verse: Genesis 1:26 (KJV)
Being made in God's image means humans reflect God's character through rationality, morality, creativity, relationality, and spiritual capacity.
Being made in God's image means humans reflect God's character through rationality, morality, creativity, relationality, and spiritual capacity.
"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." — Genesis 1:26 (KJV)
Meaning
Plain-language explanation
In Context
Surrounding KJV scripture
Related Verses
Cross-reference scriptures
The Biblical Answer
The 'image of God' (Latin: imago Dei) is a foundational concept in Genesis 1:26-27. While theologians discuss its precise meaning, it includes several aspects: intellectual capacity (reasoning and language), moral awareness (knowing right from wrong), creative ability (art, music, invention), relational nature (designed for community), spiritual capacity (ability to know God), dominion over creation (stewardship), and emotional depth (love, compassion, joy). The image was marred by the Fall but not destroyed (Genesis 9:6, James 3:9). Christ is the perfect image of God (Colossians 1:15), and believers are being conformed to His image (Romans 8:29). This doctrine establishes the inherent dignity and worth of every human being.
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Key Scripture References
"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."
"Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature."
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
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What Is the Trinity?
The Trinity is the doctrine that God exists as three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — in one divine being.
Who Is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity — fully God, who indwells, guides, and empowers believers.
Deep Dive Commentary
For a more in-depth study, read our verse-by-verse commentary:
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Genesis 1:26-27 Commentary
In-depth study • Image of God
Image (צֶלֶם (Tselem))
An image or likeness — humanity created in the image of God.
Read it in context
The answer above sits inside Genesis. The 365-day chronological plan reads it in the order the events happened.
Read Genesis on day 11 of the chronological Bible reading planKeep the verses to hand
Every verse quoted in “What Does It Mean to Be Made in the Image of God?” comes from the King James Version, free to download and print.
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