SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:26
¶ Y dijo Dios: Hagamos al hombre a nuestra imagen, conforme a nuestra semejanza; y seoree en los peces del mar, y en las aves de los cielos, y en las bestias, y en toda la tierra, y en toda serpiente que se anda arrastrando sobre la tierra.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Genesis 1:26
Verse 26. And God said, Let us make man] It is evident that God intends to impress the mind of man with a sense of something extraordinary in the formation of his body and soul, when he introduces the account of his creation thus; Let US make man. The word da Adam, which we translate man, is intended to designate the species of animal, as wtyj chaitho, marks the wild beasts that live in general a solitary life; hmhb behemah, domestic or gregarious animals; and mr remes, all kinds of reptiles, from the largest snake to the microscopic eel. Though the same kind of organization may be found in man as appears in the lower animals, yet there is a variety and complication in the parts, a delicacy of structure, a nice arrangement, a judicious adaptation of the different members to their great offices and functions, a dignity of mien, and a perfection of the whole, which are sought for in vain in all other creatures. See chap. iii. 22. In our image, after our likeness] What is said above refers only to the body of man, what is here said refers to his soul. This was made in the image and likeness of God. Now, as the Divine Being is infinite, he is neither limited by parts, nor definable by passions; therefore he can have no corporeal image after which he made the body of man. The image and likeness must necessarily be intellectual; his mind, his soul, must have been formed after the nature and perfections of his God. The human mind is still endowed with most extraordinary capacities; it was more so when issuing out of the hands of its Creator. God was now producing a spirit, and a spirit, too, formed after the perfections of his own nature. God is the fountain whence this spirit issued, hence the stream must resemble the spring which produced it. God is holy, just, wise, good, and perfect; so must the soul be that sprang from him: there could be in it nothing impure, unjust, ignorant, evil, low, base, mean, or vile. It was created after the image of God; and that image, St. Paul tells us, consisted in righteousness, true holiness, and knowledge, Eph. iv. 24 Col. iii. 10. Hence man was wise in his mind, holy in his heart, and righteous in his actions. Were even the word of God silent on this subject, we could not infer less from the lights held out to us by reason and common sense. The text tells us he was the work of ELOHIM, the Divine Plurality, marked here more distinctly by the plural pronouns US and OUR; and to show that he was the masterpiece of God's creation, all the persons in the Godhead are represented as united in counsel and effort to produce this astonishing creature.
Gregory Nyssen has very properly observed that the superiority of man to all other parts of creation is seen in this, that all other creatures are represented as the effect of God's word, but man is represented as the work of God, according to plan and consideration: Let US make MAN in our IMAGE, after our LIKENESS. See his Works, vol. i., p. 52, c. 3.
And let them have dominion] Hence we see that the dominion was not the image. God created man capable of governing the world, and when fitted for the office, he fixed him in it. We see God's tender care and parental solicitude for the comfort and well-being of this masterpiece of his workmanship, in creating the world previously to the creation of man. He prepared every thing for his subsistence, convenience, and pleasure, before he brought him into being; so that, comparing little with great things, the house was built, furnished, and amply stored, by the time the destined tenant was ready to occupy it.
It has been supposed by some that God speaks here to the angels, when he says, Let us make man; but to make this a likely interpretation these persons must prove, 1. That angels were then created. 2. That angels could assist in a work of creation. 3. That angels were themselves made in the image and likeness of God. If they were not, it could not be said, in OUR image, and it does not appear from any part in the sacred writings that any creature but man was made in the image of God. See the note on ""Psalm viii. 5"".
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 26-28 - Man was made last of all the creatures: this was both an honour and favour to him. Yet man was made the same day that the beasts were; his body was made of the same earth with theirs; and while he is in the body, he inhabits the same earth with them. God forbid that by indulging the body, and the desires of it, we should make ourselve like the beasts that perish! Man was to be a creature different from all that had been hitherto made. Flesh and spirit, heaven and earth must be put together in him. God said, "Let us make man." Man, when he was made, was to glorify the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Into tha great name we are baptized, for to that great name we owe our being. It is the soul of man that especially bears God's image. Man was mad upright, Ec 7:29. His understanding saw Divine things clearly an truly; there were no errors or mistakes in his knowledge; his wil consented at once, and in all things, to the will of God. Hi affections were all regular, and he had no bad appetites or passions His thoughts were easily brought and fixed to the best subjects. Thu holy, thus happy, were our first parents in having the image of God upon them. But how is this image of God upon man defaced! May the Lor renew it upon our souls by his grace!
Original Hebrew
ויאמר 559 אלהים 430 נעשׂה 6213 אדם 120 בצלמנו 6754 כדמותנו 1823 וירדו 7287 בדגת 1710 הים 3220 ובעוף 5775 השׁמים 8064 ובבהמה 929 ובכל 3605 הארץ 776 ובכל 3605 הרמשׂ 7431 הרמשׂ 7430 על 5921 הארץ׃ 776
