Keeping your Image

Shalom Chaverim,

Recently, in one of my past flights home from the East Coast, I was sitting next to a christian man who asked to explain to him the meaning behind this verse in B'ereshit:

"26 And God said: 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."

" וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים, נַעֲשֶׂה אָדָם בְּצַלְמֵנוּ כִּדְמוּתֵנוּ; וְיִרְדּוּ בִדְגַת הַיָּם וּבְעוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם, וּבַבְּהֵמָה וּבְכָל-הָאָרֶץ, וּבְכָל-הָרֶמֶשׂ, הָרֹמֵשׂ עַל-הָאָרֶץ. "

I would like to take this Shabbat a short break from the Torah portion for one week to discuss this verse. For us Messianic believers, the word "us" makes it clear that Yeshua was there with Hashem in the beginning. However, if the answer is so obvious, why do Jewish people do not see it this way? how do they interpert this verse?

We can all agree that Hashem is talking in Plurality, but who does he speaking to? the Plurality within this verse occurs three (3) times. As I was reading over all the Rabbinical literature that try to explain the verse the overall sense is that the Jewish scholars are at total loss on how to understand this verse.

Added by Moshe?

I was amazed to read that many of the modern 20th century rabbis thought that the words "our image" were added by Moshe to G-d Mitzvot. Eben Ezra has (Jewish Scholar) called this interpretation "Heartless".

Consult with who?

Rashi, and "Yalkot Chadash" in his Nitzachon addition also came up with a very strange explanation stating that Hashem "Consult" with the Malachim or angels.

Rabbi Abarbanel continues to try to find clever way around the verse by stating that Hashem has asked the "Adamah" or Land in English to help him in the creation of Man, therefore hashem stating "We will do man...." which man=ground/dirt.

Sign of Respect

Another explanation by Jewish scholars to Genesis 1:26 is the fact that the language of plurality was popular to show "Honor" and "Respect" just like old English. Unfortunately, Hebrew is much older language that does not follow the same line of thinking. The Plurality in Hebrew does not yield to a special sign of respect or honor.

Other Jewish Resources

The implications of the approach some of the approached above is that G-D did not had enough "power" to create man, and he needed help of another entity! This obviously an heartless understanding.

In the Book "Sefer Haytzirah" (book of creation), the Sages stated "Three, each one standing on his own" as related to G-d nature that are making one entity. This is the reason that everytime we see "plural" form, it is followed by a singular form for the verb. He is "echad", but also he has multiple parts to him.

Some examples that Hashem is appears in plurality includes:

Isaiah 54:5
Psalms 58:12
Joshua 24:19

The only answer to address the mystery of B'ereshit 1:26 is somebody that was part of Hashem, and have his authority, and was there prior to creation! The answer is of course Yeshua! May the LORD open the eyes of our people!

Shabbat Shalom