The creation of male and female in the
image of God was an act issuing from a divine resolve: “Let us make man [as[
our image [ṣelem], [as] our likeness [dēmût]” (Gen. 1:26a). God, in
the act of creation, demonstrated his sovereign intent and produced his cosmic
kingdom. Mankind is an essential part of this created domain. But only mankind
is created in a loving, vital, and binding relationship to God. The concepts of
“image” and “likeness” express this uniquely relationship (cf. Gen. 5:1-2;
9:6). Image and likeness sress a dimension of identity. As God is personal, so
mankind is. As God has certain specific characteristics, so mankind has. But
the term image and likeness also contain an essential dissimilarity.
An image (or statue) of a deceased national hero is essentially different
from the actual hero: the image is made of stone, while the hero consists of flesh
and blood. (Gerard Van Groningen, Messianic Revelation in the Old
Testament, 2 vols. [Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 1990 repr.,
Eugene, Oreg.: Wipf and Stock, 1997], 1:100-1)
