exegetical · Gen 1:26–28 · ✓ Approved

Let Us, the image, and dominion (Genesis 1:26–28)

Says נַעֲשֶׂה is Qal imperfect, first person plural; the suffixes on בְּצַלְמֵנוּ and כִּדְמוּתֵנוּ match it. Verse 27 returns to the singular (וַיִּבְרָא, בְּצַלְמוֹ). אָדָם has no article. BSB “Let Us” and “Our” are English house style.

Uncertain Whom us addresses. No lean is taken here. (1) A plural of majesty or self-deliberation. (2) Address to the heavenly court (1 Kgs 22:19; Isa 6:8; Gen 3:22; 11:7), while 1:27 keeps creating and the image with God alone. (3) A plurality within the one God, beside 1:27’s singular verb. (4) Address to the earth, a minority reading.

Says Image and likeness take בְּ and כְּ. The prepositions swap in Gen 5:1, 3; image stands alone in 9:6.

Uncertain What the image is. No lean is taken here. (1) Capacities such as reason and moral nature. (2) Relationship with God and one another, including male and female. (3) Royal representation, linked to rule. (4) A historic distinction of image from likeness; see the historical note. Whether the nouns differ or are near synonyms is open (Gen 5:1, 3).

Says וְיִרְדּוּ is and let them rule (BSB “to rule”). וְכִבְשֻׁהָ is subdue it. Both follow the image words, inside the blessing.

Implies The rule is delegated and accountable to God: spoken by God, after the image words, and under the blessing. Alternatively, the verbs say only that humans rule.

Uncertain Stewardship, a royal-priestly vocation, and a cultural mandate are readings of how the commission is lived; no lean is taken.

Claims

SaysNaaseh is Qal imperfect, first person plural; the suffixes on “our image” and “our likeness” match it. Verse 27 returns to the singular. Adam has no article. BSB “Let Us” and “Our” are English house style; “to rule” renders “and let them rule.” Image and likeness take different prepositions that swap in Gen 5:1, 3; image stands alone in 9:6. Both rule-verbs follow the image words, inside the blessing.
ImpliesThe rule is delegated and accountable to God: spoken by God, after the image words, and under the blessing. Alternatively, the verbs say only that humans rule.
UncertainWhom us addresses is open, with no lean: a plural of majesty or self-deliberation; address to the heavenly court (1 Kgs 22:19; Isa 6:8; Gen 3:22; 11:7), while 1:27 keeps creating and the image with God alone; a plurality within the one God, beside 1:27’s singular verb; or address to the earth, a minority reading.
UncertainWhat the image is is open, with no lean: capacities such as reason and moral nature; relationship with God and one another, including male and female; royal representation, linked to rule; or a historic distinction of image from likeness. Whether the nouns differ or are near synonyms is open (Gen 5:1, 3). Stewardship, a royal-priestly vocation, and a cultural mandate are readings of how the commission is lived; no lean is taken.

Citations

BSB public domain Gen 1:26–30; 3:22; 5:1, 3; 9:6; 11:7; 1 Kgs 22:19; Isa 6:8; Ps 8:6
OSHB CC BY 4.0 Gen 1:26–28 (WLC/OSHB)

Sources Bible Scholarship & Tool CC BY 4.0 BSB public domain OSHB CC BY 4.0

2026-11-10

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