What does Genesis 1:27 mean?
“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
‘God created mankind in his own image… male and female’—every human bears God’s image and so has inherent dignity and worth.
To be made in God’s image sets humanity apart from the rest of creation, reflecting God in relationship, reason, creativity, and moral responsibility.
‘Male and female he created them’ affirms that both equally bear God’s image, grounding the worth of every person.
What does it mean to be made in God’s image?
It means humans uniquely reflect God and have God-given dignity, value, and a capacity for relationship with him.
Hebrew word studies — original-language background to the verse.
Original BibleDawn explanation · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.