Question about Genesis 1:26

[Taylor]

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

Why does it say "us".... and "our"?   If it's just God creating everything, why isn't it "Let me make"... "in my image"...or "in my likeness"...?

Anybody?

[RabbiKnife]

God the Father
God the Son
God the Holy Spirit

[Taylor]

Ah....so The Trinity.   That explains it.

Thanks!

[agnostic]

Outlying interpretations are "us" is used as a deliberative figure of speech (like an individual saying "let's do this" to mentally prepare themselves for a task), the royal we (generally thought not to be a wide-enough used mode of speech for the time, though we find Artaxerxes using it in Ezra-Nehemiah), or the trinity (honestly a view taken only by the most theologically conservative Christian scholars, that is, the minority view).

From what I've found, most of scholarship identifies it as God speaking to the "divine council," an element originating in near eastern polytheism that lingered within Judaism as its theology evolved. The divine council was identified as the community of angels in heaven who serve God, witness his works, and carry out his commands. God creates, they participate by watching the act, and they likewise share God's image since they are also sapient creatures. Compare Job 15:7-8, where "the council of God" is mentioned in connection to "the firstborn of humanity." Examples of other glimpses of this council in Hebrew thought are seen in Genesis 11, Isaiah 6, 2 Kings 22, and Daniel 7. There is more evidence of it, but this is the summary.

[RandyPNW]

The "Divine Council" idea sounds reasonable. It also could be, in my limited knowledge of the language, the product of choosing equivalent words in the culture. Since the culture was polytheistic, it may have been natural to use polytheistic-like terminology to express things about God. When God speaks about Himself, He could just be using a form of the divine plural, albeit applied to a single God.

As I understand it, Elohim refers to God in the plural.

[Taylor]

Thanks, guys.   Your answers make a lot of sense.   Much appreciated.

[Fenris]

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

Why does it say "us".... and "our"?   If it's just God creating everything, why isn't it "Let me make"... "in my image"...or "in my likeness"...?

Anybody?

The Pluralis Majestatis.

[theMadJW]

God, his son, and the other spirit beings (who are later called "angels/messengers") were there. Obvious Satan was too!

[theMadJW]

Job 38:6- Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof,
7- When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

[Athanasius]

God, his son, and the other spirit beings (who are later called "angels/messengers") were there. Obvious Satan was too!

Why yes, God and God the Son were there. Glad we could agree, since you don't like agreeing with the clergy.

[theMadJW]

"God the Son" is NOWHERE in the Bible.
The opposite "son of God" IS.

All true Christians choose the latter!

[Athanasius]

"God the Son" is NOWHERE in the Bible.
The opposite "son of God" IS.

All true Christians choose the latter!

'son of God' isn't the opposite of 'God the Son', but being an expert on trinitarian doctrine you knew this, right? Come on man, don't ruin our moment of agreement to call into question my salvation. That's just not cool.

[theMadJW]

Denial.

[Athanasius]

Denial.

I know, but that's your problem. Once you accept that we've agreed things will be much smoother from here on out.

[theMadJW]

Athan 2:7- The "Lord" God breathed into Adam the Immortal Soul!