Can biblical literalists please explain this verse?

Question

Genesis 1:26
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness...

Dose that mean God has a body that looks like man?

And if so what exactly dose it look like?

also dosent this contradict verses like Job 11:7-9 that say God is imesurable?

Answer 1

Jesus had his picture taken,
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Answer 2

If you read Daniel 7:9-14, you'll see that the prophet was given a vision of the "Ancient of Days" (whom Christians call God the Father) and the "Son of Man," (whom we call God the Son, Jesus). It's clear from Daniel's description that God has a head with hair, can speak and can sit (so He presumably has legs and a ... um ... back end).

There is a dispute among Christians as to whom Ezekiel saw in Chapter 1 of his book. Some say God the Father and some say God the Son. But, as Jesus told us, if you've seen the Son, you've seen the Father. However, none of us (except the Son) have ever seen the Father's face.

As for Job 11, verse 6 clarifies that Zophar is speaking to Job about the wisdom of God, not about our ability to see or experience Him if He chooses to let us.

Answer 3

In Genesis 1:26
the word translated image is from a root word meaning a phantom, illusion, resemblance
and the word translated likeness literally means model or shape
So we are a phantom resemblance to God. We are in his likeness. We were made to model God's shape.
Job 11
7 "Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
8 They are higher than the heavens—what can you do?
They are deeper than the depths of the grave [a] —what can you know?
9 Their measure is longer than the earth
and wider than the sea.
It does not contradict Genesis. In fact it is entirely out of context.
In Job 11:1 we find that it is one of Jobs 'friends' telling him that he could never know any of God's secrets or know him intimately.
So what does God look like. God made Adam not Eve so God is not a woman. Adam was full grown so God is not a child. I cannot tell you exactly what God looks like. Unfortunately they hadn't invented photographs at that time.

Answer 4

God is a spirit and does not have a physical body. In all my years as a Christian and study of the Bible I have never really found an explanation of what man being in God's image means that really makes sense to me. I'm content to wait until eternity to find out. Sorry I can't be of more help than that.

Answer 5

Just to let you know that Jews, even the most devout, are not literalists. We understand that the Written Torah and the Oral Torah were given simultaneously to Moses on Mt. Sinai.

Only non-Jews read the bible literally without the aid of the Oral Law.

Check Rashi on that verse.

Answer 6

I am not sure how literal I am but I will tell you how I look at it. By "our image" would be more on the spiritual and intellectual. We can create after a fashion, we care and desire fellowship. I think you see where I am going with this.

This does not conflict with Job and saying that God is unmeasurable. Since God mad "Man" in his image you would have to know all mankind past present and future to measure God. Also, God is pure spirit and spirit is not tangible to a tape.

Answer 7

Different people interpret that differently.

I never imagined God in a physical sense so I figured the verse referred to man's soul rather than his body, being patterned after God.

I encountered a male chauvinist who thought it pointed to man being superior over women.

But I haven't taken Genesis literally since junior high! It always struck me as a metaphor.

Answer 8

Our image is talking about God the father,God the son and God the Holy Spirit.yes God does have a body like ours if we are made like Him. When we get to heaven we will have new spiritual bodies. What that will look like I don't know.

Answer 9

In what ways are we made in God's image? God obviously did not create us exactly like himself because God has no physical body. Instead, we are reflections of God's glory. Some feel that our reason, creativity, speech, or self-determination is the image of God. More likely, it is our entire self that reflects the image of God. We will never be totally like God because he is our supreme Creator. But we do have the ability to reflect his character in our love, patience, forgiveness, kindness, and faithfulness.

Knowing that we are made in God's image and thus share many of his characteristics provides a solid basis for self-worth. Human worth is not based on possessions, achievements, physical attractiveness, or public acclaim. Instead it is based on being made in God's image. Because we bear God's image, we can feel positive about ourselves. Criticizing or downgrading ourselves is criticizing What God has made and the abilities he has given us. Knowing that you are a person of worth helps you love God, know him personally, and make a valuable contribution to those around you.

Answer 10

I'm not a Bible literalist but I think G-d was speaking to the angels when he said so, and as angels are considered celestial beings G-d said "our" and "we" so we're actually in angels' images, which are sort of like G-d's image...I don't know how to explain it exactly. But no, I don't think G-d has a body that looks like a man.

Answer 11

There are many references to multiple gods so our God was probably speaking to his fellow gods.

Exod.33 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

So God does have a body, back parts, hand, and a face, pretty much like a man.