Are Women Created in God’s Image?

“So God created man in His own image;

He created him in the image of God;

He created them male and female.”

(Genesis 1:27, Holman Christian Standard Bible, 2003)

“When God created man,

he made him in the likeness of God.”

(Genesis 5:1b, English Standard Version, 2001)

“This passage tells us that humankind, both men and women, is made in God’s image.”

(Doctrinal Study Paper on the Biblical Role of Women, United Church of God, 2005)

“Are both sexes included in God's grand purpose for humankind?...In [Genesis 1] verse 27 the Hebrew word for "man," etadam (including the accusative particle et), is a collective noun meaning humanity or the race as a whole—not just the proper name of Adam, who was the first man (1 Corinthians 15:45; 1 Chronicles 1:1). So the image of God applies both individually and collectively. Each person, male and female, is made in God's image, as is the human race as a whole.”

(“Man in the Image of God,” Bible Study Course: Lesson 3, United Church of God, 2002)

“God created each species of the plant and animal kingdoms “according to its [own] kind” (verses 11-12, 21, 24-25), but human beings, verse 26 essentially tells us, were patterned after the God kind. The image of God...is what renders men, women and children truly human.”

(“Understanding the 'Image of God',” Who Is God?, United Church of God, 2002)

“We believe that humanity was created in the image of God with the potential to become children of God, partakers of the divine nature...God created men and women in His image (Genesis 1:26-27). Humanity was created with a truly amazing potential. The future of humanity is to be children in the family of God (1 John 3:1-2; 2 Peter 1:4; 2 Corinthians 6:18).”

(“Humanity,” Fundamental Beliefs of the United Church of God, 2003)

“So God created human beings in his own image.

In the image of God he created them.

Male and female he created them.”

(Genesis 1:27, New Living Translation, 2004)

“When God created human beings,

he made them in the likeness of God.”

(Genesis 5:1b, Today’s New International Version, 2005)