Why in Genesis 1:26 does God say "Let us make man in our image"?

Question

The exact verse as taken from the Catholic Study Bible:
"Then God said, "And now we will make human beings: they will be like us and resemble us. They will have power over the fish, the birds and all animals, domestic and wild,, large and small"."

I've compared this to other versions of the bible too (you know the ones that belong to other religious sects) and the differences are in grammar only. God was talking to someone else, and it was not the animals..was it the Snake (Satan)?



How can there be only one God if the very first thing in the bible about God making man is God collaborating w/ other people on making man in THEIR image? You cannot have it both ways..

Answer 1

This is an example of the Trinity. The angels were part of creation, not witnesses to.

The two most frequently used words that refer to God in the Old Testament are almost always plural.

This concept of ONE God that is THREE persons should not be entirely foreign to you. After all, man leaves his mother and father to take a wife and the TWO become ONE flesh to God.

"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." Gen 2:24

"And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." Mat 19:4-6

Not only that, but all believers are one body.

"So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." Rom 12:5

The Christian doctrine of the Trinity has its origin in a careful study of the Scriptures. This concept was basically hidden to Old Testament Jews just as the mystery of the Church was hidden. When Christ came in the flesh was when the Scriptures became possible to understand.

When you encounter the throne of God you will see seraphims there shouting not once, not twice, but THREE TIMES HOLY!

“In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isa 6:1-3

“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for US? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.” Isa 6:8-9

"Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me." Isaiah 45:11

Read Psalms 2 for another great example of a dialog between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Psa/Psa002.html#top


God the Father is forever, but he is omnipresent, has no locality and cannot be seen by man. God the Father is a true GOD in every since of the word and as such needs a High Priest, which is a FOREVER TITLE, enter the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a WITNESS to all that the Father and Son are doing, God the Father who intends to redeem man from sin in order to justify man unto himself needs a redeemer, enter Christ the Son.


“Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?” Proverbs 30:4

Christ is both God and man, being a kinsman of both, therefore his blood can redeem us.

Answer 2

Well I understand why the Godhead would be peoples first response. But I think most overlook Proverbs 8.22-31.

22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24 When [there were] no depths, I was brought forth; when [there were] no fountains abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
27 When he prepared the heavens, I [was] there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
30 Then I was by him, [as] one brought up [with him]: and I was daily [his] delight, rejoicing always before him;
31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights [were] with the sons of men.

Wisdom was with God in genesis. I'm not sure why, but some people get mad when you say wisdom is an actual spirit. I think it has to do with that God describes that spirit as a women. Solomon describes wisdom as an actual person. So that's how I see it. That view can always change, as studying Gods word will always correct you in due time.

Answer 3

I have no idea what Niguayona is talking about. I'm a Christian, and I'm totally confused by what he is saying. God consists of himself, the Holy Spirit and Jesus. It's called the Trinity. Think of it as the shell of an egg, the white of the egg, and the yolk of the egg. Three different parts, but they make up one thing. It's the same with God, three different parts, but they make up one God. When God said "Let us make man in our image..." he wanted to make man in the image of Him, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. God didn't collaborate with other people on this, it was the Trinity that he wanted man to be made of.

Answer 4

God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son. He didn't give himself. They are one in purpose.

They are not all one big blob thingy.

He was talking to His Son Jesus Christ.

Also who was Jesus Praying to when he suffered for our sins in the garden and on the cross. Exactly who He addressed--His Heavenly Father.

Study about the council of Nicea. Catholics held a vote and the greater majority decided to come up with the trinity. No prophet ever taught That the God Head (Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are three separate beings an one in PURPOSE) were literally one being.

We are made in His image. Except we have mortal bodies until we're resurrected like Jesus Christ. He made this possible.

Answer 5

Good question.

The English word "God" in this passage comes from the Hebrew word "Elohim", which is a Plural form, which suggests a Plurality of Beings under the name "God" (in English).

They are considered ONE in their UNITY to accomplish a common Idea of Growth and Evolution of Humanity. They are all in agreement with ONE Idea, which makes them, in essence ONE as a collective.

The Hon. Elijah Muhammad taught us that this is actually the wisest of the Original People agreeing to produce a "new" people on the Planet, who would later be cast out from among the Righteous due to their rebellion/disobedience.

Very good question.

RM

Answer 6

Christians normally interpret this as a reference to the Trinity (note that the Hebrew word for God is in plural form in many places in Genesis).

Jews think that God was talking to the angels when he says "us". They don't accept the trinity.

Answer 7

None of this makes any sense. God is the lone creator....there are no Angels....thus, for Him to say, "our" likeness.....brings questions as to who is, "our"....none of the explanations make sense....but, trying to excuse that here were more than one God...but, a race....

Answer 8

Genesis 1:26 says, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’” Genesis 3:22 states, “And the LORD God said, ‘The man has now become like one of us.’” There are other passages in the Old Testament in which God refers to Himself using plural constructions. It is also interesting to note that Elohim, one of the primary titles of God in the Old Testament (occurring over 2,500 times), is in the plural form.

Some people have used these verses to hypothesize that there are more than one God. However, we can rule out polytheism (belief in multiple gods), because that would contradict countless other Scriptures that tell us that God is one and that there is only one God. Three times in Isaiah 45 alone, God states, “I am the LORD, and there is no other; there is no God besides Me” (vv. 5, 6, 18).

A second possible explanation for God’s referring to Himself in the plural is that God was including the angels in His statement. In saying “us” and “our,” God was speaking of all the heavenly host, Himself included. However, the Bible nowhere states that angels have the same “image” or “likeness” as God (see Genesis 1:26). That description is given to humanity alone.

Since the Bible, and the New Testament especially, presents God as a Trinity (three Persons but only one God), Genesis 1:26 and 3:22 can only represent a conversation within the Trinity. God the Father is having a “conversation” with God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The Old Testament hints at the plurality of God, and the New Testament clarifies this plurality with the doctrine of the Trinity. Obviously, there is no way we can fully understand how this works, but God has given us enough information to know that He does exist in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Answer 9

This is a poser that I've wrassled with for many years and
have come to the conclusion that it was the Host of Angels
(which he had created before mankind)

Answer 10

I think ,My opinion is that's word and phase were add or remove or change to pacify the Church and Government. I believe My GOD is a jealous God. I also think that the number 1 means GOD. GOD BLESS