What the Bible Says About the Image of God (Imago Dei)
- Bible Believing Christian
- Jul 28
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 1
What the Bible Says About the Image of God (Imago Dei)
Introduction: More Than a Mirror
What does it mean to be made in the “image of God”? That phrase—Imago Dei in Latin—has fueled centuries of theological reflection. But for many today, it has become little more than a vague compliment: “You matter.” While human dignity is central to this truth, Scripture’s doctrine of the Image of God is far more profound, stretching from Genesis to Revelation and shaping our understanding of creation, sin, salvation, and our eternal purpose.
This article unpacks the biblical teaching on the Image of God—what it means, what it doesn’t, and why it is foundational for a biblical worldview.
1. The Beginning: Image and Likeness
“Then God said, ‘Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us...’ So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:26–27, NLT)
Hebrew Terms:
צֶלֶם (tselem) — “image,” from a root meaning to cut or carve; implies representation or resemblance
דְּמוּת (demuth) — “likeness,” emphasizing similarity, not equality
Context Note (Genesis 1):This is not symbolic language or myth. The creation account distinguishes humanity from the animals by divine decree. To be made in God's image is to be like God in certain ways, yet distinct from Him in nature. The dual terms (“image” and “likeness”) reinforce this idea without redundancy—humans are both a reflection and a representative of God.
2. What the Image of God Is—and Isn’t
The Image Is Not:
Mere intelligence or consciousness
Physical form (God is spirit — John 4:24)
Moral perfection (the Fall came after this declaration)
The Image Is:
Representative function — ruling and stewarding creation (Genesis 1:28)
Relational capacity — communion with God and others
Moral and rational ability — able to reflect God’s justice and truth
Embodied — male and female together reflect the fullness of the image (Genesis 1:27)
The image includes both essence and calling. Humans are not divine—but we are created to mirror God’s character and represent His rule.
3. The Image After the Fall
“If anyone takes a human life, that person must be put to death. For God made human beings in his own image.” (Genesis 9:6, NLT)
Context Note (Genesis 9):This verse is spoken after the Fall, after the flood, and after widespread violence. Yet God still affirms that every human bears His image. The image is marred, not erased. This passage is also the biblical foundation for the value of human life—including opposition to murder, abortion, and dehumanization.
4. Psalm 8: The Dignity of Humanity
“What are mere mortals that you should think about them... Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.” (Psalm 8:4–5, NLT)
Context Note (Psalm 8):David marvels at the seeming insignificance of humans in light of creation—yet affirms that we are given glory and authority. The phrase “a little lower than God” (Hebrew: Elohim) can mean heavenly beings or God Himself. In either case, it affirms a unique status and role: royal image-bearers.
5. The Image and the Tongue
“With it [the tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, who are made in God’s likeness.” (James 3:9, NLT)
Greek Term:
ὁμοίωσις (homoiōsis) — “likeness,” parallel to Hebrew demuth
Context Note (James 3):James offers a severe rebuke: to curse another human being is to insult someone made in the image of God. This is a moral implication of the doctrine: how we speak, treat, or think about others reflects what we believe about the divine image in them. Racism, slander, dehumanization—these are not minor infractions. They are idolatrous denials of God's imprint on His creation.
6. Christ: The True Image
“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.” (Colossians 1:15, NLT)“Who is the image (εἰκών / eikōn) of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” (Colossians 1:15, LEB)
Greek Term:
εἰκών (eikōn, G1504) — image, exact representation; not just resemblance but full expression
Context Note (Colossians 1):Paul calls Christ the true and perfect image—not merely of man, but of God Himself. Where Adam failed to reflect God, Christ is the perfect reflection and the agent of new creation. He is the model of restored humanity and the standard by which all image-bearing will be judged and renewed.
7. Restoration of the Image in Salvation
“Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.” (Colossians 3:10, NLT)
“...who is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created him.” (Colossians 3:10, LEB)
Context Note (Colossians 3):In Christ, believers undergo a renewal of the image. Salvation is not just forgiveness—it is restoration to true humanity. The “new self” is patterned after Christ, the true image, and gradually remade by the Spirit (see also 2 Corinthians 3:18).
8. Common Errors Refuted
False View | Biblical Correction |
Only Christians bear God’s image | Genesis 9:6, James 3:9 make clear: all humans bear the image, even post-Fall |
The image of God is just mental ability | The image includes relational, moral, spiritual, and embodied elements (Genesis 1:27) |
The image was lost after sin | It was damaged, not destroyed (Genesis 9:6; Colossians 3:10) |
The image is unrelated to the body | Scripture affirms the embodied nature of image-bearing—male and female, physical stewardship, the resurrection body (Romans 8) |
9. Modern Implications
Abortion: Every unborn child bears God’s image from conception (Psalm 139; Genesis 9:6)
Euthanasia: Life is sacred not because of usefulness, but because of divine imprint
Racism and Ethnic Superiority: All humans bear God’s image—partiality is rebellion
Gender and Sexuality: Male and female reflect God together (Genesis 1:27); gender confusion distorts the image, not expresses it
Pride and Self-Worship: Even as image-bearers, we are not God—idolatry of self is the root of much cultural decay
10. Final Word: Keep the Image Untarnished
The Bible ends with a renewed creation, where God's people will "see His face" (Revelation 22:4)—restored fully into what they were always meant to be. But between Eden and the New Jerusalem, the call remains clear:
“Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.” (1 John 5:21, NLT)
Christ came not only to forgive our sins, but to restore the divine image in us—to make us true humans again, children in the likeness of their Father.
