Image of God

The image of God is the likeness in which human beings were created. Christ is the image of God, and believers are renewed after that image.

Created in the image of God

• Genesis 1:26-27
  ²⁶And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.” ²⁷So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
  Show context · Read Genesis 1 →
• Genesis 5:1-2
  ¹This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in His own likeness. ²Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.Male and female He created them, and He blessed them. And in the day they were created, He called them “man.”
  Show context · Read Genesis 5 →

Given dominion over creation

• Psalm 8:4-6
  ⁴What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?what is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him? ⁵For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor. ⁶Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:You made him ruler of the works of Your hands; You have placed everything under his feet:
  Show context · Read Psalm 8 →
• Genesis 1:28
  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.”
  Show context · Read Genesis 1 →

The value of human life

• Genesis 9:6
  Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind.
  Show context · Read Genesis 9 →
• James 3:9
  Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.
  Show context · Read James 3 →

Christ the image of God

• 2 Corinthians 4:4
  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
  Show context · Read 2 Corinthians 4 →
• Colossians 1:15
  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
  Show context · Read Colossians 1 →
• Hebrews 1:3
  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;The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
  Show context · Read Hebrews 1 →

Renewed after his image

• Romans 8:29
  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.
  Show context · Read Romans 8 →
• 2 Corinthians 3:18
  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
  Show context · Read 2 Corinthians 3 →
• Ephesians 4:24
  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
  Show context · Read Ephesians 4 →
• Colossians 3:10
  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
  Show context · Read Colossians 3 →

Bearing the image of the heavenly

• 1 Corinthians 15:49
  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so also shall we bear the likeness of the heavenly man.
  Show context · Read 1 Corinthians 15 →
• 1 John 3:2
  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.
  Show context · Read 1 John 3 →

See also

• Creation
• Gender
• Abortion
• Sanctification

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.