King James Version

What Does Genesis 1:26 Mean?

Genesis 1:26 in the King James Version says “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... — study this verse from Genesis chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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 1:26 · KJV


Context

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.

25

And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

26

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.

27

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

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. moveth: Heb. creepeth


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the ... This verse is part of the creation account that establishes God's sovereign power and purposeful design. The structured pattern of the seven days reveals divine order, intentionality, and progressive development from formless void to a world prepared for human habitation.

The recurring phrases "And God said," "and it was so," "And God saw that it was good" create a liturgical rhythm emphasizing: (1) creation by divine decree, (2) immediate fulfillment of God's word, and (3) divine evaluation of creation's goodness. This pattern refutes both polytheistic chaos-and-conflict creation myths and modern materialistic chance-based origins.

Each stage builds toward the climax of human creation in God's image. The theological themes include divine transcendence and immanence, purposeful design, creation's inherent goodness, and humanity's unique role as God's image-bearers and stewards. The creation account provides the foundation for understanding work and rest (Sabbath), male and female relationships (marriage), human dominion (stewardship), and moral accountability to the Creator. These opening chapters establish the worldview framework for all subsequent biblical revelation.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Genesis 1 stands in stark contrast to ancient Near Eastern creation accounts like the Babylonian Enuma Elish, Egyptian creation myths, and Ugaritic texts. While these portrayed creation resulting from conflicts between deities or sexual generation of gods, Genesis presents a sovereign monotheistic God who creates effortlessly by divine decree. This would have been revolutionary to ancient readers accustomed to polytheistic cosmogonies.

The Hebrew text's literary structure (seven days, recurring formulas) suggests careful composition as theological proclamation rather than primitive mythology. Archaeological discoveries of creation tablets from Mesopotamia (2000-1500 BCE) reveal that Genesis addresses similar questions but provides radically different answers about the nature of God, humanity, and the cosmos. The absence of theogony (origin of gods) and theomachy (conflict between gods) distinguishes Genesis from its ancient Near Eastern context.

For Israelites emerging from Egyptian bondage or later facing Babylonian captivity, this truth that Yahweh created everything would have been profoundly liberating and countercultural. The gods of Egypt and Babylon were mere creations, not creators. Genesis 1 establishes that Israel's God alone is supreme, rendering pagan deities powerless and their worship futile.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does understanding this verse shape our doctrine of humanity, sin, or salvation?
  2. How should this truth about Sabbath Rest shape our daily decisions and priorities?
  3. How does this verse fit into the broader biblical story culminating in Christ?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר1 of 19

said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֱלֹהִ֔ים2 of 19

And God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

נַֽעֲשֶׂ֥ה3 of 19

Let us make

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

אָדָ֛ם4 of 19

man

H120

ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)

בְּצַלְמֵ֖נוּ5 of 19

in our image

H6754

a phantom, i.e., (figuratively) illusion, resemblance; hence, a representative figure, especially an idol

כִּדְמוּתֵ֑נוּ6 of 19

after our likeness

H1823

resemblance; concretely, model, shape; adverbially, like

וְיִרְדּוּ֩7 of 19

and let them have dominion

H7287

to tread down, i.e., subjugate; specifically, to crumble off

בִדְגַ֨ת8 of 19

over the fish

H1710

fish

הַיָּ֜ם9 of 19

of the sea

H3220

a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif

וּבְע֣וֹף10 of 19

and over the fowl

H5775

a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively

הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם11 of 19

of the air

H8064

the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r

וּבַבְּהֵמָה֙12 of 19

and over the cattle

H929

properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)

וּבְכָל13 of 19
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הָאָֽרֶץ׃14 of 19

and over all the earth

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

וּבְכָל15 of 19
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הָרֶ֖מֶשׂ16 of 19

and over every creeping thing

H7431

a reptile or any other rapidly moving animal

הָֽרֹמֵ֥שׂ17 of 19

that creepeth

H7430

properly, to glide swiftly, i.e., to crawl or move with short steps; by analogy to swarm

עַל18 of 19
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

הָאָֽרֶץ׃19 of 19

and over all the earth

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Genesis. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Genesis 1:26 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Genesis 1:26 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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