Genesis 1:26

keeperoftheprison said:

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

I run into alot of people that do not recognize the pronouns used in this verse. My belief is that "Us" is referring to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Most believe that God is alone and was alone in the beginning. I disagree, but would like to hear other viewpoints.

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That's a royal pronoun there. It's God making his formal address to the Angel's. You also have to take in account to the next verse.

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." Genesis 1:27
Where God says he created man in HIS OWN IMAGE thats a singular pronoun usage right their. If Moses had the understanding of the Trinity he would have put Their Image instead, but Moses knew that God was one and not three seperate parts that are the same part.

Also take into account these old testament verses.
"Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." Isaiah 44:6
"Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any." Isaiah 44:8
"Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;" Isaiah 44:24

There more examples of God as a singular Pronoun.

The “us” is Elohim which you are correct BUT has nothing to do with the doctrine of the trinity but is one of the many names of God; this word is used all though out the Bible.

It spelling or interpreted in scripture and Elohim is spelled both “god” and “God”.

There is no mention of the word trinity in the word Elohim; Elohim

The name of God “Elohim” The only name used in the first chapter of Genesis, is GOD, or Elohim. This is the name we need to know before all others. And I declare, His children would have more peace if they knew it! Elohim, in the Hebrew, means "to swear." It describes One who stands i n a covenant-relationship ratified by an oath. Psalm 110:4 says, "The Lord sware and will not repent. . . "and this was prior to creation. So, before He even made man, God made a covenant concerning him! Under this name we see God, according to His own will, working on a dark and ruined creation till, by His Word, all is set in order and made very good. He brings back His light and life and then His image into the creature. In virtue of His own nature and covenant-relationship to His creation, He can never leave it, fallen as it is, till all again is very good.

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. . . " Gen. 1:26. This was God’s covenant with man. This was His purpose for making man — to have a visible expression of Himself!" "But," you may object, "the fall changed all that! Now man is but a fallen creature." I must answer that when God made covenant it was not dependent upon man’s keeping any part. It was strictly made on God’s part —an act of His will. This is proven by the statement: "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things. . . but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundations of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you" I Peter 1:20. God knew that man would fail and fall and had made provision for that before it happened! Elohim is God in covenant. His people may not know it, but God has said ,My covenant will I not break, nor alter the word that is gone out of My lips" Psa.89:34.

When He assures us that He will be "our God" (Isa.40:1), He means: "For this is the covenant . . . I will put my laws into their minds, and in their heart will I write them; and I will be unto them a God and they shall be to Me a people" Heb. 8:10. God has sworn — pledging His Word both for Himself and for His creation. God promises for both parts — saying "I will" and "I shall." He loves, first of all, in virtue of relationship, which does not even consider our sinful condition. "For while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
If we are not children (sons) of God; then what are we? (Who are the morning stars; note plural. Jesus was called the Bright and morning star; that would be my answer Job 38:6-8 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? I understand this does not fit a lot of old wine skins; but there is something here.

Son’s of God mentioned eleven times in the Bible without hardly digging past all the bad interpretations. You would have to do a pretty deep and lengthy study on the word Elohim; which I admit would be deep and fascinating. Sons of Elohim; son’s of God; yes that is what the scripture is saying; note Job 1:6.

Look a little deeper at Ps. 82 and notice how the word Elohim was used with both a capital G and lower case; same word same meaning both Strong’s 430 and this has happen all thought out the KJV and who know what other translation.

Ps 82:6-8 6 "I said, 'You are "gods"; (Elohim) you are all sons of the Most High.' 7 But you will die like mere men; you will fall like every other ruler." 8 Rise up, O God (Elohim) , judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance.

Job1:6
Now there was a day when the sons of God (Sons of Elohim) came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.



Son: Heb. OT:1121

ben (bane); from OT:1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., [like OT:1, OT:251, etc.]):

God:

OT:430

elohiym (el-o-heem'); plural of OT:433; 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 deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:

keeperoftheprison said:

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

I run into alot of people that do not recognize the pronouns used in this verse. My belief is that "Us" is referring to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Most believe that God is alone and was alone in the beginning. I disagree, but would like to hear other viewpoints.

Click to expand...

I think that the "US" could have been the Aliens that came down and discovered humans. They then mated with human women and created a "likeness" to their kind.

You have a point... The spiritual Word is very alien to the natural carnal and religious man/women.

There is no life to choose spiritual things when you are dead in trespasses and sin; have you ever seen a dead man choose anything; he is dead and cannot hear, see, touch anything.

This is so much more true when it comes to being spiritually dead. Notice what 1 Corinthians 2:14 tells us about the man with out the spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:14 (New King James Version)

14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:14 (New International)

14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:14 (WE)

14The person who does not have the Spirit does not receive the blessings of the Spirit of God. He thinks they are foolish. He cannot understand them because only people who have the Spirit of God can test them.
1 Corinthians 2:14 (NIRV)


14 Some people don't have the Holy Spirit. They don't accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. Things like that are foolish to them. They can't understand them. In fact, such things can't be understood without the Spirit's help.

Dezzie said:

I think that the "US" could have been the Aliens that came down and discovered humans. They then mated with human women and created a "likeness" to their kind.

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Us has to be referring to what and who existed prior to God creating Man and Earth. There obviously were angels prior to us all being created. So the us is God, Christ, The Holy Spirit and possibly the Angels.

keeperoftheprison said:

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

I run into alot of people that do not recognize the pronouns used in this verse. My belief is that "Us" is referring to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Most believe that God is alone and was alone in the beginning. I disagree, but would like to hear other viewpoints.

Click to expand...

I think that is the crux of what being in the image of God is about. God is a plurality and He made man a plurality. God also gave them dominion which is in the image of God's dominion.

Genesis 1:26:

lets see what the meaning of "Our Image" "Our likeness"

The Likeness of God is not of the physical appearance, but rather having the knowledge of Good and Evil. This is clearly stated in Bible

"..And you will be like Gods(Elohim), knowing(plural) good and Evil" [Genesis 3:5]

"..See the the man has become like one of us(plural), knowing good and Evil" [Genesis 3:22]

"..Created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness" [Ephesians, 4:24]

"..I have made you(Moses) like God to Pharaoh.." [Exodus 7:1]

"..And the house of David will be like God.." [Zechariah, 12:8]

No one like of God...

"Tomorrow," Pharaoh said. Moses replied, "it will be as you say, so that you may know there is NO ONE LIKE THE LORD OUR GOD" [Exodus 8:10]

"..I am God, and there is none like me"[The Bible, isaiah 46:9]

"Our Likeness" only and only means knowing Good and Evil in Bible.

"But After they had moved it, THE LORD'S HAND WAS AGAINST THAT CITY..."[1 Samuel, 5:9]

The Verse obviouly are not talking about Gods physical Arm, Hand and fingers

"...How should WE answer these people who say to me.."[2 chronicles, 10:9]

"..That WE may return answer to this people.." [2 chronicles, 10:9 from Kjv]

See Solomon referred himself as "WE" because Old days King to refer to himself and only Himself as "WE" Its Plural royalite.

"in the beginning God (Elohim, plural) created the heavens and the earth" [Genesis 1:1]

God used as Plural in Genesis 1:1

"..And God said, let us(Plural) make man in our(plural) our Image, after our(plural) Likeness.." [Genesis 1:26]

Read Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:26 both used as plural.

The Hebrew word usually translated God, Elohim, is in Plural, and The plural pronoun "us" is used.

Note: El is God in Hebrew, its singular. Elohim is Gods in Hebrew, its Plural. Many times God referred himself as Elohim. Its plural royality. There have nothing about Trinity.

In several languages, there are two type of plurals, one is a plural of numbers to refer to something that occurs in a quantity of more than one. The other plural is a plural of respect.

EXAMPLE: in the English Language, the Queen of England refers to herself as "We" instead of "I". THIS IS KNOWN AS THE "ROYAL PLURAL"

Similarly when Jahovah refers to Himself in Genesis, He often uses "Us" and "Elohim". It does not indicate plural of number but plural of respect.

keeperoftheprison said:

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

I run into alot of people that do not recognize the pronouns used in this verse. My belief is that "Us" is referring to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Most believe that God is alone and was alone in the beginning. I disagree, but would like to hear other viewpoints.

Click to expand...

keeperoftheprison,
There is much more to your question than you might think.
When God said : Let's make them in our image, it was not THE beginning, it was a beginning of the creation of mankind.
In the first verse of Genesis, where it is translated; In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, the word THE really means A, because it was not the beginning of God's creation.
We are told in other scriptures that Jesus was the very first of God's creations. After Jesus was created, he took part in the creation of every other thing, John 1:1-3, Col 1:15, Rev 3:14. It is accepted by most theologians that Prov 8:22-31, also tells about Jesus creation and subsequent assistence in the creation of the earth.
When God said; Let us make man in our image, He was definitely talking to Jesus, but He was not talking to the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is not a person, but is the force that God uses to accomplish whatever He wants. Since God is SPIRIT He does not move physical matter as we do.
At Pentecost. which was fifty days after Jesus was resurrected, the Bible tells about the Holy Spirit looking like tongues of fire, and filling the disciples, Acts 2:1-4. When Jesus was baptized the spirit came down from heaven as a dove and stayed with Jesus, Matt 3:13-17. At Genesis 1:2 God's spirit is called His active force in some Bibles, or His spirit. Also at Ps 33:6, shows that God's spirit is what causes work to be done.
When Paul spoke to Cornelius and his family the Holy Spirit FELL on all of them, also being poured out on people of the nations, Acts 10:44,45.
If you consider 1Cor. chapters 12-14, you will see that God pours out His spirit on whatever He wants and it can accomplish anything He wants it to. If you notice several verses say that all the things accomplished were done by the same spirit, 1Cor 12:4, 7,8, 9-11, 13. The spirit caused these people to have certain unusual powers.
There are some places mentioned in the Bible that seem to indicate that the spirit is a person, but the Bible also talks about other things, auch as Wisdom, in the same way, Prov 8:1.
At John 14:26,the Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit would help the disciples to remember all the thing that Jesus had taught them, just as the spitit helped others to do unusual things.
Today, we do the same thing by calling our cars femine names,our guns by names, our boats by names. None of these things are people.
Someday someone will dig up a newspaper that says a man shot his wife with ole Betsey, and someone will wonder how he shot her with another person.

keeperoftheprison said:

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

I run into alot of people that do not recognize the pronouns used in this verse. My belief is that "Us" is referring to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Most believe that God is alone and was alone in the beginning. I disagree, but would like to hear other viewpoints.

Click to expand...

Ever since the idea was introduced to me, I'm surprised by how much in the Old Testament lines up with the idea that it was the product of a culture that was originally henotheistic rather than monotheistic. This passage fits that viewpoint to a T: "us" can be taken as the pantheon of gods, of which "God" is just one member. Maybe the most important member for the Jews, but still the god of a single nation just as other nations had gods of their own.