GENESIS 1:27
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. [NKJV]
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. [BSB]
Bible Teacher:
The reason you see the word "Created" used three times in this Bible verse is because there were three distinct times God created or recreated man in this Bible verse, and yet there's one more recreation of man happening in the Lord Jesus Christ. Viz:
° 1. God created man in His own Image — Meaning, Man was first created in "the Image God Possesses." This creation of man made the man to be just a reflection, but not an offspring, of God. Then God recreated man again in stage two:
° 2. In the Image God [God with God] He created him — Meaning, Man was created in "the Image of One that came of God, or the Image that God had Begotten, or the Image of an Offspring of God." Hence, Adam became a son of God or man became God's Offspring. This second level of creating or recreating Man made the man become offspring of God, but the Man was alone and could not multiply being alone. Then God recreated man again in stage three:
° 3. Male and Female He created them — Meaning, God made the man fall into deep sleep, and made the rib bone He took from the man into a Woman. The enabled two in one and enabled multiplication abilities in "Joining" called "Marriage."
[Matthew 19:4-6] — "Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”"
° 4. New Birth or New Creation in Christ Jesus: Adam alone was in the Image of God when he was created or born as a son of God (Hence had that first Dominion). But by the time he begot a son, Adam already lost being in the Image of God, and that son or children were in the image of Adam [Genesis 5:1-3]. Jesus Christ the Second Adam came, being more Authentic Image and Person of God. We who bore the image of first Adam must bear the Image of the Second Adam Jesus Christ in order to become true Sons/Daughters of God again, which is the essence of the New Birth or New Creation or Recreation of mankind.
Commentaries:
In God's Image, He created just "him;" but in gender, He created "them," male and female. You will not find "men" or "them" in God's Image: you will only find "Man" in God's Image. Only one man can be in God's Image, not plural men or humans. Adam alone was made in God's Image, not all humans; but all humans were born or made in the image and glory of Adam [Genesis 5:1-3]. Yet other men had God's Likeness or Similitude through Adam.
However, God took on the likeness and fashion of Man, and came down to Mankind as a Son of man, Jesus Christ, the Second Adam from heaven. Jesus Christ is the direct express Image of God from heaven, having the very Nature of God; and He is the Word of God that became flesh, and dwelt among us, as the Son of God.
Mankind may now switch from the image and likeness of the fallen Adam into the perfect Image and Likeness of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the true and incorruptible Image and Revelation of the Invisible God. Join the Lord in restoring mankind into the perfect Image of God in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Bible Teacher:
God was both creating man in His own Image and He was also creating man in the Image of God. Meaning God made sure He saw man having His Image, but God also made sure other living creatures and beings as well could also see man having the Image of God with their lower eyes too. He did that as God for Himself, but He also did that to meet God's required standard for doing that. To God, it was worth doing, but it was also worth doing well.
God created man in God's Image, but it was in response to God's Word in the Union, not in response to the necessity of God's Image. It's not God's Image that told God to create man in God's Image; rather God's Word told God to create man in God's Image. Therefore, God was not just fulfilling God's Image, but much more fulfilling God's Word in God's Image.
Mankind was not made in God's Image to fulfill God's Image; rather Mankind was created in God's Image to fulfill God's Will. You must not regard God's Image above God's word; but neither should you disregard God's Image either. Also do not make God's Image by your own hand (idolatry); but just keep and remain in God's Image (godliness).
Commentaries:
Only God qualifies to make God's Image; and no man must make God's Image. However, man is qualified to become and to have even that which man is not qualified to make. Therefore the man was to have dominion over the works of God's Hands [Psalms 8:6].
God knew Himself and He knows how He looks like, without needing a mirror, which was the reason God could reproduce His resemblance or Image in one of His Creatures. God is the greatest Artist. He conveniently designed His own face and features without looking at photograph or sample. Thus, God was not just producing the man but God was also reproducing the man. He was not just making man but He was also birthing man. However, God now redeems and restores His Mankind into God's image and Likeness inside Jesus Christ the Lord.