So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Parallel translations
- WEB God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.
- KJV So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
- NKJV So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
- NASB So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
- NLT So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God makes humanity — male and female together — in his own image, giving every person dignity and a calling to represent him.
Overview
The verse's poetry triples "image/created" and lands on "male and female." Both sexes equally bear the image; the dignity is not earned and not erased by the fall. To be the image is to represent God's rule and reflect his character — a vocation the New Testament says is perfected in Christ and restored in those united to him.
Cross-references & the web
Theme
- Image & GloryHumanity made in God's image.
Cross-references · 13
- Matt 19:4Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’
- Gen 5:1–2This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in His own likeness.
- Eph 2:10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.
- Mark 10:6However, from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’
- Gen 2:21–25So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, and while he slept, He took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the area with flesh.
- Eph 4:24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
- Ps 139:14I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and I know this very well.
- Isa 43:7everyone called by My name and created for My glory, whom I have indeed formed and made.”
- Col 1:15The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
- Gen 2:18The LORD God also said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a suitable helper.”
- 1 Cor 11:7–9A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man.
- Mal 2:15Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.
- Col 1:26the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Lay
A six-minute primer that makes the imago dei click — what it meant in the ancient world and why it matters now.
The single best free starting point for Genesis 1–11 — clear, visual, and faithful to the literary design.
Pastoral
The beloved devotional-pastoral classic, free and public domain — warm, quotable, verse by verse.
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 1:27 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.