Genesis 1:26a English Standard Version (ESV) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”

Some have different expressions of what God meant when He declared His desire to create mankind. Perhaps it is in His creative process that we want to see the need for our relationship with God. Let us revisit that moment one more time,

God said let us, meaning God was the Trinity, all three in one form, one purpose, united in the creative process. Man became a focal point for the outpouring of all that God is in purpose and character. Beyond creator, His secondary expression is love. Love wants an object to pour itself out upon, like casting a light.

But why the image of His likeness? Why that expression?

The Hebrew word for image here is tseh’-lem; from an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, i.e. (figuratively) illusion, resemblance; hence, a representative figure, especially an idol:—image, vain shew.

Light shines on an object and creates a shadow. The shadow is cast upon the ground. The object of affection is not the source of light, nor the source of love, but the shadow is a sign that the light, the love, has been cast upon man.

Look to the last description, a vain show. Once again we turn to scripture to explain scripture.

Romans 8:20-21 English Standard Version

²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

God subjected us to futility, that vain show, in order that some of us might obtain the freedom we gave up when man gave in to sin.

Hebrews 1:1-3 English Standard Version

The Supremacy of God’s Son

¹ Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. ³ He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 

Hebrews 1:1-3 King James Version

¹ God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

² Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

³ Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

Which version we first learned from leaves an impression upon our minds in the way the words are expressed. Looking at two expressions of the same lines of scripture can reveal that.

“the exact imprint of his nature” vs “the express image of his person”

Which version reminds us of God’s creative process?

Genesis 1:26a King James Version (KJV) And God said, Let us make man in our image

Genesis 1:26a English Standard Version (ESV) Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.”

It is image verses likeness.

Looking like is not the same as acting like.

So what have we missed here? What is the difference in these expressions?