Paul the Poke

Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Verse 26: “Let Us make”… translated is the Hebrew `asah. At issue is the plurality of the verb. According to Strong’s Concordance, the verb means to do, work, make, or produce. The verb is a qal stem or a simple action verb. Translating the plural form and its meaning has caused many a debate. Some think the plural nature is a hint of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Spirit). Others state it speaks to the majesty and greatness of God.

In comparison, look at the verb “create” or bara’ in the Hebrew in verse 27. Bara’ means to shape, fashion, or create. The verb is used in relation to heaven and earth, man, new conditions and circumstances, and transformations. As noted by Strong, God is always the subject of this verb.

Man is made in the image of God (see above verses). This is also restated in Genesis 5:1b …In the day when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. Man was made with a physical body, a soul with the ability to reason with intellect, and a spirit with the ability to communicate with his Creator. James 3:9b …who (man) have been made in the likeness of God…

Man’s purpose is to “rule” or radah in the Hebrew. Radah is a simple action verb. It means: to rule, have dominion, dominate, tread down, to have dominion, or subjugate. Man is to radah not part of the earth but all, kol in the Hebrew, of the earth. Kol defined means: all, the whole, any, each, every, anything, totality, everything. Man is to rule over the earth and the creatures of the earth. Rule and dominion do not mean exploit and plunder out of selfishness. Responsibility, stewardship are expected.

Psalms 8:5-9 Yet You have made him (man) a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field, The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!

This entry was posted on October 8, 2011 at 6:12 PM and is filed under Creation with tags apologetics, creation, Genesis. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.