# OT Image of God ## TL;DR - There is strong evidence to believe: - the Strong's Hebrew word H1823 translated "likeness in Genesis 1.26 and Genesis 5.3" - the Strong’s Hebrew word H6754 translated "image" in Genesis 1.26 & 27 means a physical object or representation of a physical image such as a - gold tumor - statue - drawing - modern day photograph - If: - we were made in the physical image of God (Genesis 1.26 & 27); and - the Father is Spirit (John 4.24, 2 John 1.7); and - Jesus came in the flesh (1 John 4.2) - then: - we were made in the physical image of Jesus ## Background - The original version of this note was dated 2011.09.19 and was produced using the Bible study tools at Bible.org. (They have since updated the tools and rebranded to netbible.org). In this version of this note I am using the study tools at biblehub.com. - There are several places in the Bible that state we were created in the "image" (H6754 - Genesis 1.26 & 27 and Genesis 9.6) and "likeness" (H1823 - Genesis 1.26 & 27) of God. There is nothing in the immediate context to help with the definition of those two words. - In my conversations with people over the years, most / all people think both image and likeness in these three verses refer to God's character. Furthermore, most people merge image and likeness into one concept. - Since all this seems rather muddy to me, this study applies my hermeneutics to understand the Biblical definition. (See the link at the bottom for Gary's Hermeneutics.) ## ToDo - ToDo Study - DONE - Add all the usual translations to each occurrence - Add links - Create NT Summary for the TL;DR section - Add study on "likeness" ## Notes ### H1823 #### Summary #### Word Analysis of H1823 Genesis 1.26 - Hebrew transliteration - kiḏ-mū-ṯê-nū - Context Definition - We were made in God's likeness. - Tough to determine; the main reason this study got started - Various translations - likeness - NIV, ESV, BSB, KJB, NASB, LSB, CSB, LSV, MSB, NET, WEB - to be like us - NLT Genesis 5.1 - Hebrew transliteration - biḏ-mūṯ - Context Definition - We were made in God's likeness. - Tough to determine; the main reason this study got started - Various translations - likeness - NIV, ESV, BSB, KJB, NASB, LSB, CSB, LSV, MSB, NET, WEB - to be like himself - NLT Genesis 5.3 - Hebrew transliteration - biḏ-mū-ṯōw - Context Definition - Adam's son was in his own likeness - Tough to determine; the main reason this study got started - Various translations - likeness - NIV, ESV, BSB, KJB, NASB, LSB, CSB, LSV, MSB, NET, WEB - just like him - NLT 2 Kings 16.10 - Hebrew transliteration - də-mūṯ - Context Definition - a physical "model" - Various translations - sketch - NIV - model - NLT, ESV, BSB, NASB, CSB, MSB - the fashion of - KJB - likeness - LSB, LSV, - a drawing - NET, WEB 2 Chronicles 4.3 - Hebrew transliteration - ū-ḏə-mūṯ - Context Definition - physical objects that had the appearance of oxen - Various translations - figures - NIV, NLT, ESV, BSB, LSB, MSB - the similitude - KJB, NASB - likeness - CSB, LSV, WEB - images - NET Psalm 58.4-5 - Hebrew transliteration - kiḏ-mūṯ - Context Definition - similar - Various translations - like - NIV, NLT, ESV, BSB, KJB, NASB, LSB, CSB, MSB, NET, WEB - as - LSV Isaiah 13.4 - Hebrew transliteration - də-mūṯ - Context Definition - similar - Various translations - like that - NIV, BSB, KJB, NASB, LSB, CSB, MSB - as - NLT, ESV - A likeness - LSV - like - NET - as of - WEB Isaiah 40.18 - Hebrew transliteration - də-mūṯ - Context Definition - Although the best definition is "similar" the BSB chose to translate this word as "image" - Various translations - image - NIV, NLT, BSB, MSB, NET - likeness - ESV, KJB, NASB, LSB, CSB, LSV, WEB Ezekiel 1.5 (1st) - Hebrew transliteration - the appearance of a physical form - Context Definition - də-mūṯ - Various translations - Ezekiel 1.5 (2nd) - Hebrew transliteration - də-mūṯ - Context Definition - the appearance of a physical form - Various translations - Ezekiel 1.10 - Hebrew transliteration - the appearance of a physical form - Context Definition - ū-ḏə-mūṯ - Various translations - Ezekiel 1.13 - Hebrew transliteration - ū-ḏə-mūṯ - Context Definition - - Various translations - ū-ḏə-mūṯ Ezekiel 1.16 - Hebrew transliteration - the subject looked like a prisoner{16} - Context Definition - ū-ḏə-mūṯ - Various translations - Ezekiel 1.22 - Hebrew transliteration - ū-ḏə-mūṯ - Context Definition - - Various translations - Ezekiel 1.26 (1st) - Hebrew transliteration - də-mūṯ - Context Definition - - Various translations - Ezekiel 1.26 (2nd) - Hebrew transliteration - də-mūṯ - Context Definition - - Various translations - Ezekiel 1.26 (3rd) - Hebrew transliteration - də-mūṯ - Context Definition - - Various translations - Ezekiel 1.28 - Hebrew transliteration - də-mūṯ - Context Definition - - Various translations - Ezekiel 8.2 - Hebrew transliteration - də-mūṯ - Context Definition - - Various translations - Ezekiel 10.1 - Hebrew transliteration - də-mūṯ - Context Definition - - Various translations - Ezekiel 10.10 - Hebrew transliteration - də-mūṯ - Context Definition - - Various translations - Ezekiel 10.21 - Hebrew transliteration - ū-ḏə-mūṯ - Context Definition - - Various translations - Ezekiel 10.22 - Hebrew transliteration - ū-ḏə-mūṯ - Context Definition - - Various translations - Ezekiel 23.15 - Hebrew transliteration - də-mūṯ - Context Definition - - Various translations - Daniel 10.16 - Hebrew transliteration - kiḏ-mūṯ - Context Definition - - Various translations - ### H6754 #### Summary - The 17 occurrences of the Strong’s Hebrew word H6754 are analyzed below - See my note on Bible Versions for details on the various translations used in this study. #### Word Analysis of H6754 Genesis 1.26 - Hebrew transliteration: bə·ṣal·mê·nū - Context Definition: God made us in His image and likeness - Various translations - in our image - NIV, NLT, ESV, BSB, KJB, NASB, LSB, CSB, MSB, NET, WEB Genesis 1.27-1st - Hebrew transliteration: bə·ṣal·mê·nū - Context Definition: God made us in His image and likeness - Various translations - in his own image - NIV, NLT, ESV, BSB, KJB, NASB, LSB, CSB, MSB, NET, WEB Genesis 1.27-2nd - Hebrew transliteration: bə·ṣe·lem - Context Definition: God made us in His image and likeness - Various translations - in the image - NIV, NLT, ESV, BSB, KJB, NASB, LSB, CSB, MSB, NET - In God's image - WEB Genesis 5.3 - Hebrew transliteration: kə·ṣal·mōw - Context Definition: Seth, Adam’s son looked like Adam - Various translations - in his own image - NIV, WEB - in his very image - NLT - after his image - ESV, KJB - after his own image - BSB, MSB - according to his image - NASB, LSB, CSB, NET Genesis 9.6 - Hebrew transliteration: bə·ṣe·lem - Context Definition: Mankind was made in God’s image - Various translations - image - NIV, NLT, ESV, BSB, KJB, NASB, LSB, CSB, MSB, NET, WEB Numbers 33.52 - Hebrew transliteration: ṣal·mê - Context Definition: - The Israelites were commanded to “destroy” the “carved images” and “cast idols”. - Clearly they are references to physical objects - Compare with H4541 / H4541a - Various translations - carved images and their cast idols - NIV, BSB, MSB - carved and molten images - NLT - figured stones ... metal images - ESV - pictures ... molten images - KJB - sculptures ... images - NASB - carved stones ... molten images - LSB - stone images ... cast images - CSB - imagery ... molten images - LSV - carved images ... molten images - NET - stone idols ... molten images - WEB 1 Samuel 6.5-1st - Hebrew transliteration: ṣal·mê - Context Definition: - Of your tumors - Based on the whole passage, it is clear they are talking about physical objects made from gold - Various translations - models - NIV - Not translated - NLT - images - ESV, BSB, KJB, CSB, MSB, NET, WEB - likeness - NASB, LSB 1 Samuel 6.5-2nd - Hebrew transliteration: wə·ṣal·mê - Context Definition: - Of your mice - Based on the whole passage, it is clear they are talking about physical objects made from gold - Various translations - Not translated - NIV, NLT, BSB, CSB, MSB - images - ESV, KJB, NET, WEB - likeness - NASB, LSB, 1 Samuel 6.11 - Hebrew transliteration: ṣal·mê - BSB translation: Images - Context Definition: - Of the tumors - Based on the whole passage, it is clear they are talking about physical objects made from gold - Various translations - models - NIV - not translated - NLT - images - ESV, BSB, MSB, and NET, WEB - likeness - NASB, LSB 2 Kings 11.18 - Hebrew transliteration: ṣə·lā·māw - Context Definition: - They smashed the altars and idols into pieces - Seems like physical objects since they "smashed" them - Various translations - idols - NIV, NLT, BSB, MSB, NET - images - ESV, KJB, NASB, LSB. CSB, WEB 2 Chronicles 23.17 - Hebrew transliteration: ṣə·lā·māw - Context Definition: They smashed the altars and idols into pieces - Seems like physical objects since they "smashed" them - Various translations - idols - NIV, NLT, BSB, MSB, NET - images - ESV, KJB NASB, LSB, CSB, WEB Psalm 39.6 - Hebrew transliteration: bə·ṣe·lem - Context Definition: Poetic description of man - Various translations - phantom - NIV, MSB - shadow - NLT, ESV, BSB, LSB, WEB - vain shew - KJB - fleeting shadow - NASB - mere shadow - CSB - mere ghosts - NET Psalm 73.20 - Hebrew transliteration: ṣal·mām - Context Definition: - Images seen in a dream can't actually be touched, but represent physical objects. - The psalmist used poetic language to describe God’s punishment of the arrogant and wicked. I’m not sure I understand what is being communicated. - Various translations - fantasies - NIV, WEB - silly ideas - NLT - phantoms - ESV - form - BSB, LSB, MSB - image - KJB, NASB, CSB, LSV - them - NET Ezekiel 7.20 - Hebrew transliteration: wə·ṣal·mê - Context Definition: They made / fashion their images and idols - Various translations - images - NIV, NLT, ESV, BSB, KJB, NASB, LSB, CSB, LSV, MSB, NET, WEB Ezekiel 16.17 - Hebrew transliteration: ṣal·mê - Context Definition: - Context - Jerusalem’s unfaithfulness - Although Ezekiel may be speaking figuratively, he is using descriptions of physical objects - Various translations - idols - NIV, BSB, MSB - statues - NLT - images - ESV, KJB, NASB, LSB, CSB, LSV, NET, WEB Ezekiel 23.14 - Hebrew transliteration: ṣal·mê - Context Definition: - Images of the Chaldeans - Context - The adultery of Oholah (Samaria) and Oholibah (Jerusalem) - Although Ezekiel may be speaking figuratively, he is using descriptions of physical objects. The descriptions were of physical items , physical carvings representing physical men. - Various translations - figures - NIV - pictures - NLT - images - ESV, BSB, KJB, NASB, LSB, CSB, MSB, NET, WEB - carved - LSV Amos 5.26 - Hebrew transliteration: ṣal·mê·ḵem - Context Definition: These are physical objects made to represent false gods - Various translations - idols - NIV, BSB, MSB - images - NLT, ESV, KJB, NASB, LSB, CSB, LSV, NET, WEB ### H4541 / H4541a Numbers 33.52 - Various translations - cast - NIV - molten - NLT ### H4906 Numbers 33.52 - Various translations - carved images - NIV, BSB, NET - carved - NLT - figured stones - ESV - pictures - KJB - idolatrous sculptures - NASB - carved stones - LSB - stone images - CSB - stone idols - WEB --- #### Outbound Links - Scripture - [[Numbers_33]] - Studies - [[Image_of_God_Study]] - Other Notes - [[Bible_Versions|Bible Versions]] - [[Gary's_Hermeneutics|Gary's Hermeneutics]] - Topics - [[Image_of_God]] - Hebrew Words - [[H1823]] - [[H4906]] - [[H6754]] - Greek Words