So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
27. The reiteration of the principal words in the clauses of this verse has something of the rhythm of poetry. Repetition and love of detail are characteristics of the Priestly Code. “Created,” cf. Gen 1:1 ; Gen 1:21 (see notes).
male and female ] The distinction of the sexes, which is here given, has been omitted, probably for brevity’s sake, in the mention of the animals.
When, in view of the discoveries of the science of Anthropology, the question is asked whether there was one original pair of human beings, or whether each of the different races, Caucasian, Mongolian, Negro, Red Indian, Australian, &c., originated from one pair, or from groups of pairs, we must answer that such questions do not come within the horizon of thought in our passage. They are to be solved not by Revelation in Holy Scripture, but by the exercise of the gifts of patient enquiry, accurate observation, and sound reasoning. The Hebrew writer has in view a population drawn from a single stock. His account of the origin of Man, applicable to one race, is symbolical of all, if a plurality of origin is to be assumed.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Not both together, as some of the Jews have fabled, but successively, the woman after and out of the man, as is more particularly related, Gen 2:21, &c., which is here mentioned by anticipation. Albeit the woman also seems to have been made upon the sixth day, as is here related, and as the following blessing showeth, which is common to both of them, though the particular history of it is brought in afterwards, Gen 2:1-25, by way of recapitulation or repetition.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
So God created man in his own image,…. Which consisted both in the form of his body, and the erect stature of it, different from all other creatures; in agreement with the idea of that body, prepared in covenant for the Son of God, and which it was therein agreed he should assume in the fulness of time; and in the immortality of his soul, and in his intellectual powers, and in that purity, holiness, and righteousness in which he was created; as well as in his dominion, power, and authority over the creatures, in which he was as God’s viceregent, and resembled him. The Jerusalem Targum is,
“the Word of the Lord created man in his likeness;”
even that Word that was in the beginning with God, and was God, and in time became incarnate, by whom all things were made, Joh 1:1
in the image of God created he him; which is repeated for the certainty of it, and that it might be taken notice of, as showing man’s superior glory and dignity to the rest of the creatures,
1Co 11:7
male and female created he them; not that man was created an hermaphrodite, or with two bodies, back to back united together, and afterwards cleaved asunder, as the Jews fabulously say; but first God made man, or the male, out of the dust of the earth, and infused a rational soul into him; and then out of one of his ribs made a female, or woman, who was presented to him as his wife, that so their species might be propagated; and only one male and one female were created, to show that hereafter a man was to have at a time no more wives than one; see Mal 2:15 for all that is said in the following chapter, concerning the formation of man out of the dust of the earth, and the making of woman out of his rib, and presenting her to him, and his taking her to be his wife, were all done on this sixth day, and at this time. It is a tradition among the Heathens, that man was made last of all the creatures; so says Plato k; and this notion the Chinese also have l. The Jews give these reasons why man was made on the evening of the sabbath, to show that he did not assist in the work of creation; and that if he was elated in his mind, it might be told him that a fly was created before him, and that he might immediately enter on the command, i.e. of the sabbath m.
k Protagor. p. 320, 321. l Martin. Sinic. Hist. l. 1. p. 4. m T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 38. 1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
27. So God created man The reiterated mention of the image of God is not a vain repetition. For it is a remarkable instance of the Divine goodness which can never be sufficiently proclaimed. And, at the same time, he admonishes us from what excellence we have fallen, that he may excite in us the desire of its recovery. When he soon afterwards adds, that God created them male and female, he commends to us that conjugal bond by which the society of mankind is cherished. For this form of speaking, God created man, male and female created he them, is of the same force as if he had said, that the man himself was incomplete. (94) Under these circumstances, the woman was added to him as a companion that they both might be one, as he more clearly expresses it in the second chapter. Malachi also means the same thing when he relates, (Gen 2:15,) that one man was created by God, whilst, nevertheless, he possessed the fullness of the Spirit. (95) For he there treats of conjugal fidelity, which the Jews were violating by their polygamy. For the purpose of correcting this fault, he calls that pair, consisting of man and woman, which God in the beginning had joined together, one man, in order that every one might learn to be content with his own wife.
(94) “ Acsi virum dixisset esse dimidium hominem.”
(95) On this difficult passage see Lowth, Archbishop Newcome, and Scott, who confirm in the main the interpretation of Calvin. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(27) Created.This significant verb is thrice repeated with reference to man. It indicates, first, that man has that in him which was not a development or evolution, but something new. He is, in fact, the most perfect work of the creative energy, and differs from the animals not only in degree, but in kind, though possessing, in common with them, an organised body. And next, it indicates the rejoicing of the Deity at the completion of His purpose.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.’
Now man’s privilege is stressed. He is created in God’s own image. Notice the stress on the fact that he is ‘created’, deliberately repeated three times in the verse. Three represents completeness. Again this is something totally new which does not come from what existed before. While his body is of the earth, his essential being is made in the likeness of God and the angels. However the link with the ‘sons of God’ in the previous verse shows that we must not read this as the ‘divine spark’ in man. Man does not share divinity. He shares the spiritual nature of the ‘elohim’, which they share with God.
Yet, in order that God’s intimate concern and interest may be shown, the writer in this verse stresses that man is made in God’s own image. The warning has been given that we must not apply this too rigidly, but he nevertheless wants us to recognise the privilege that is ours. We are on the heavenly side rather than the earthly side.
Note also the mention of the female. Both were made to share the task of dominion. Both share in the image, the privilege and the responsibility. So from the beginning it is stressed that the woman is not inferior to the man, and they are equally instructed by God. The fact that man’s new nature is ‘created’ demonstrates that we must not see this as a receiving divine life. Note that there is really no ground for arguing that they were both necessarily created ‘at the same time’ in contrast with Gen 2:1-25, any more than we need see all the animals as made at the same time. The point is that He made them, not when they were made.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Gen 1:27. Male and female created he them Man is but half himself without his partner woman. From this original pair descend the numerous generations of men that have overspread the earth. How foolish and vain then is the pride of pedigree, when the beggar on the dunghill can claim the most ancient and ennobled extraction, as the son of Adam, who was the son of God! Luk 3:38. We have, in the literal sense, one Father; we are brethren of one family, the same blood runs in our veins, and therefore brotherly affection should be in our hearts one to another. O when shall it be, that we shall practise this great duty, to love one another out of a pure heart fervently!
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Reader! mark the peculiarity of expression. Here is not, as before, a command to create, but a council is first called. The Holy Persons of the Godhead consult, as it were, before the formation of man. ‘Let us make man in our image:’ What image? what likeness? I desire to speak with all possible reverence while I propose the question. I do not presume to say what that image or likeness is, but only most humbly to enquire. Not the likeness of the invisible God, I conceive. For what likeness can man, even in a state of perfection and innocency, bear to God? What likeness hath a body to a Spirit? What similitude is there between a creature and his Almighty Creator? But doth not the Holy Ghost, by his servant, the Apostle, give some information to this most interesting inquiry, when, speaking of the human nature of Christ, he saith, ‘he is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature:’ Col 1:15 . Supposing, then, Adam to have been created in this likeness of the first-born, what a sweet and delightful view is then opened to our meditation on this subject. And when we call to mind what other scriptures have said concerning Jesus as set up from everlasting, and the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, it should seem that here, as in all things, Jesus hath the pre-eminence. Pro 8:22-23 ; Rev 13:8 ; Mic 5:2 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Ver. 27. So God created man in his own image. ] There is a double image of God in the soul. One in the substance of it, whereof I have spoken in the former verse. The other in the qualities and supernatural graces, of knowledge in the understanding, rightness or straitness in the will, and holiness in the affections. In all these, man, when he came first out of God’s mint, shone most gloriously. O! quantum haec Niobe, &c. But now, Oh, think of this burnt temple, and mourn, as they in Ezra Ezr 3:12 Ebur candidissimum, adhibito igne, nigrescit.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
God. The Hebrew accent (Pasek) places the emphasis on God, the Carrier-out of His purpose.
created: i.e., when He did create. The description of the act postponed till Gen 2:7, Gen 2:21-24. See note on Gen 1:26. The Tosephta (contemporary with the Mishna, about A.D. 200) translate Sanhedrin, viii. 7: “Why was man created last? That the heretics might not say there was a companion with Him in the work”: i.e. lest man should have claimed a share in it.
man. Here the Hebrew ‘adam has the article, and the demonstrative Hebrew. ‘eth, to indicate that the man Adam created in Gen 2:7 was the “man” here purposed.
own. Wrongly supplied by Authorized Version and Revised Version.
image. Figure of speech Anadiplosis (App-6) for emph.
him. Emphasized by Hebrew accent (Athnach).
them. Emph. Here, in purpose. But, Gen 2:7, Gen 2:21-24, in historical act and fact.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Gen 1:26
in the image: Psa 139:14, Isa 43:7, Eph 2:10, Eph 4:24, Col 1:15
male: Gen 2:21-25, Gen 5:2, Mal 2:15, Mat 19:4, Mar 10:6, 1Co 11:8, 1Co 11:9
Reciprocal: Gen 5:1 – in the likeness Gen 9:6 – in Jdg 21:22 – each man Psa 8:5 – thou Psa 17:15 – with Ecc 7:29 – God Isa 45:12 – made the earth Jer 29:6 – Take ye Eze 28:15 – till iniquity Luk 3:38 – of God Joh 2:1 – a marriage 1Co 11:7 – he is Col 3:10 – after 1Ti 2:13 – General Heb 13:4 – Marriage Jam 3:9 – made
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 1:27. So God created man in his own image In his natural, but especially in his moral image, with an habitual conformity of all his powers to the will of God, his understanding clearly discerning, his judgment entirely approving, his will readily choosing, and his affections cordially embracing his chief good; without error in his knowledge, disorder in his passions, or irregularity or inordinancy in his appetites; his senses also being all inlets to wisdom and enjoyment, and all his faculties of body and mind subservient to the glory of God and his own felicity! But man being in honour did not abide, but became like the beasts that perish! What cause we have for thankfulness that this image of God may be restored to our souls, and how earnestly ought we to pray for, and how diligently to seek this most important of all attainments! Male and female created he them Not at once, or both together, as some have unscripturally taught, but first the man out of the earth, and then the woman out of the man.
They seem both, however, to have been made on the sixth day, as is here related, and as the following words, promising they should be fruitful, manifest: but the particular history of the womans creation is brought in afterward by way of further elucidation, and to introduce the account of the institution of marriage. God formed the woman from the man, and caused the whole race of mankind to descend from one original pair, that all the families and nations of men, being made of one blood, and proceeding from one common stock, might know themselves to be brethren, and might love and assist one another to the uttermost of their power: but, alas! what a sad reverse of this do we daily see exemplified before our eyes!