by Zach Baker
Genesis 1:26. “In our Image and Likeness”
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.” (NKJV)
- Naáseh ädäm B’tzalmënû Kid’mûtënû
a) Naáseh ( “let us make”) {asah} H6213 -Verb- to do, to make; to be done; to be made.
1) God’s acts of creation: Psalms 115:15. ***asah in contrast with bārā (create, which is
only used of God. Asa can indicate something from which God made something. (Genesis
2:18)
2) God’s right hand does many mighty things (Psalms 118:15-16) and God does whatever
pleases Him. (Psalms 115:3)
3) Manufacturing of Objects (Genesis 8:6; Judges 18:24)
4) Preparation of food / sacrifices (Genesis 18:7; Judges 6:19)
5) Acquisitions (Numbers 24:18; Ecclesiastes 2:8; Proverbs 11:18)
6) Immaterial (Isaiah 27:5; Joshua 11:18)
7) Simple doing/performing of action(s) (Deuteronomy 15:5; Isaiah 30:1)
[William Mounce]
B ) ädäm (man{kind) -noun- H120
1) Man/mankind /human being
2) “Adam” (proper name) the “first man”
3) City in Jordan Valley
*** “ruddy”** -human being(s)- individual or species
William Mounce:
- Plural sense : Isaiah 5:15
- The Lord’s designation for a prophet as “son of man”: Daniel 8:17
- Proper/Personal name : Genesis 3:17
- Created in God’s image : Genesis 5:1-2
- In contrast to the nature of God, ädäm is frail and full of unrighteousness. Ecclesiastes 7:20
C) B’tzalmënû (in our image) (selem) – Noun- H6754. Image, resemblance. May also refer to
idols/heathen gods. Verb: “to shade”. *A phantom (illusion)
- Genesis 5:3
- Genesis 9:6
- Psalms 73:20
- Ezekiel 7:20
- Ezekiel 16:17
- Psalms 39:6
D) Kid’mûtënû (according to our likeness) [d’muth] -Noun- H1823
Likeness, similitude; model, shape, manner, form.
1) Simple comparison
- Psalms 58:4
- 2 Kings 16:10
-describing shape or figure - 2 Chronicles 4:3
- Isaiah 13:4
2) In Visions - Ezekiel 1:10,13,16,22,26,28
- Daniel 10:16
- Revelation 1:13
3) Theological importance - (Genesis 1:26)
- Genesis 1:5
Text observations: Colossians 1:11-17(NRSV)
11) May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from His glorious power, and may
You be prepared to endure everything with patience ….
*(endurance) ύπομονην hypmonēn – Noun- “hypo” (under) “meno” (remain)
“endurance/steadfastness as God enables believers to {endure} under the challenges of
life .”
*(patience) μάκροθυμιαν makrothymian -Noun- makros (long) + thymos
(passion/”anger”)
Counterpart to (English) “ short- temper(ed)”. Slowness in avenging wrongs, fortitude. “
Divinely
Regulated patience which only God produces”
…..(while joyfully )
12) giving thanks to the Father who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in
The light.
*having qualified ίκανωσαντι hikanōsanti -Verb- to make sufficient, render fit (to
qualify),
Reaching the place of sufficiency, adequate, to make competent
*share μερίδα merida -Noun- a part, portion, (may refer to a district/division of a
country) ; an
Assigned part i.e. fellowship/participation with; partaker(s)
13) He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His
Beloved Son,
*transferred μετεστησεν metestēsen -Verb- to {cause to} change/move out of {a} place; to
Lead aside. In a negative sense: to pervert.
14) in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
*redemption απολύτρωσιν apolytrōsin -Noun-a release effected by payment of ransom,
Winning back, buying back. “God’s effective work of grace, purchasing the believer from
the
Debt of sin and bringing them to their new status, i.e. being in Christ. “
Christological Hymn(1:15-17)
15) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;
*image εικών eikōn -Noun- an image, likeness, “bust” [statue, profile]; representation,
Resemblance.
*firstborn πρωτότοκος prōtotokos (protos + tikto) -Adjective- (firstborn; eldest}
16) for in Him all things in heaven and on earth were created , things visible and invisible,
Whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers- all things have been created through Him
And in Him.
*created εκτίσθη ektisthē -Verb- to create, form, shape, make, fabricate (i.e. of God’s
making)
17) He Himself is before all things and in Him all things hold together
. ** συνεστηκεν Synestēken -Verb- to place together, commend, prove, exhibit, to be composed of,
cohere, “to Stand with”
