Please explain this verse, if you can?

Question

"And God said, Let us make man in our image. after our likeness..............." Genesis 1:26 Of course there is more, but the first part is what I don't understand. What do the "us" and "our" mean? There are several verses where "God" says "us" and "our" after this. Please, if you know, or even think you know, why "us" and "our", and not "me" and "my"?

Answer 1

It is just an old way of treating yourself with respect.
European kings used to say such things too.

It kinda comes from polite form of adress in many European languages, when you talk to a single person as if they were a crowd. In English, "you" can mean one or several people, so this is completely lost.

Answer 2

The verse is partially mistranslated. The word "God" is actually the word Elohim which means "Gods". It is the plural of the word Eloi or Eli. You may remember that while on the cross Jesus cried out "Eli, Eli. Lama sabach thani." The verse should read, "The Gods said, Let us make man in our own image." Many people will try to explain it as the "royal" us. The way a British monarch will refer to himself as "We." There is, however, no evidence that the ancient Hebrews used this affectation. I believe that it is the first of many proofs of the plural nature of God that the Bible contains.

Answer 3

BECAUSE HE IS WITH SOMEONE! AND WHO WAS THAT? READ THESE FOLLOWING VERSES:

I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

Proverbs 8:12

the wisdom is speaking in this verse then continue...

The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

Proverbs 8:22

so it means that the wisdom is already with GOD in the beginning of HIS ways... continue..


That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

Proverbs 8:21

The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

Proverbs 8:22

I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

Proverbs 8:23

When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

Proverbs 8:24

Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:

Proverbs 8:25

While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

Proverbs 8:26

When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

Proverbs 8:27

When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

Proverbs 8:28

When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

Proverbs 8:29

Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

Proverbs 8:30


Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

Proverbs 8:31

and who was that wisdom that is already with GOD since the everlasting? read this verse...

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

I Corinthians 1:24
King James Version

so who was that? it is CHRIST!
in the first place the word "GOD" there is translated as
EL-O-HEEM and it denotes plurality...

i hope these information really helps you... it is just a preview.. link on these sites to continue ...

Answer 4

It is very simple, and you ask a very good question. Christianity is based in part on those versus. God is 3 manifestations, yet He is One entity. I will try and give you the best human example I know to clarify: We need the Sun...The Sun is an object (A Star) It is Light, and it is Heat. One Object, three manifestations. God is this same way 1John 1:1 makes it very clear, that Jesus Christ and God the Father, were together during the creation, scripture also refers to the Holy Spirit having an active role as well. One God, three separate manifestations.

Answer 5

Because the pronouns used are translated as plural. Showing us early in the Word, that God is a triune being. Even the name use in Genesis "Elohim" designates a God who is more than one. God has revealed himself as the Father - The Son and the Holy Spirit. There is but one God, yet we have three distinct persons not just personalities but individual Persons in the Godhead. This is the mystery of God beyond our comprehension. God is God we have to take Him as He has revealed Himself in His word.

Answer 6

Haven't you read genesis 1:27 it switches from the plural tense to singular in one verse. Verse 27 it says God created them in his own image.....

What it comes down to is before judism the religion of egpyt was a polytheism. The belief in multi Gods! The people that created judism couldn't help but think in polytheistic terms from time to time! Even the Christian have polytheism in their ideas because of this trinity idea. 3 Gods but there is really only 1.

However there is really NO GOD!!!

Answer 7

This is the first indication that God is not quite sane, He's talking to Himself as He does things.

For the dim bulbs who talked about the "Royal 'We' ", they got that from the Bible, not the other way around!


Seriously though, in the Hebrew in which the Bible was originally written, there are a number of words for God, and one of them is 'Elohim'. If you know anything about Hebrew, then you know that this is a plural word - - - the 'gods'; seraph = angel, seraphim = the angels; cherub = lesser angel, cherubim = the lesser angels.......

So the gods in these verse are talking to each other.

Answer 8

There are three members of the Godhead. God the Father, God the Son(Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit. God was talking to Jesus and the Holy Spirit when He made that statement. All are eternal and all have the same eternal nature.

Answer 9

It can be interpreted in a number of ways but the one most consistent with Christianity is the concept of the Trinity. As support for this, Jesus makes references in the New Testament to himself as being there before creation.

Answer 10

because the ancient hebrews who wrote genesis conceived of the heavens as containing not only G-d, but the angelic hosts as well, who were also made in G-d's image. according to ancient jewish traditions, G-d was worried that the angels would become jealous if he made another species in his image. therefore he consulted with them and acknowledged their important role before creating mankind. its supposed to be a lesson of humility - even G-d shows care for the feelings of his creation. but in order to make sure there was no confusion of G-d referring to other gods in heaven with him, the bible makes it clear in the following lines that G-d made mankind, all by himself, in his own image and nobody else's.