image

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(likeness). As in Genesis 1:26-27²⁶And 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. ²⁷So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:26‑27); Colossians 1:15¹⁵Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Colossians 1:15). Also Idol.

“Image” From Concise Bible Dictionary:

Besides the many references to graven and molten images connected with idolatry, which the law strictly forbade the Israelites to make, the word is used in several important connections: for instance, God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion....so God created man in his own image, in the image of God created He him” (Gen. 1:26-27²⁶And 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. ²⁷So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (Genesis 1:26‑27); Gen. 5:1¹This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; (Genesis 5:1); Gen. 9:6⁶Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. (Genesis 9:6)). The word translated “image” is tselem, which is the same that is used for idolatrous images, and for the great image in Daniel: (Dan. 2).

It might naturally have been thought that man at his fall would have ceased to be in the image and likeness of God, but it is not so represented in scripture. On speaking of man as the head of the woman, it says he ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as “he is the image and glory of God” (1 Cor. 11:7⁷For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. (1 Corinthians 11:7)). Again, in James 3:9,⁹Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. (James 3:9) we find “made after the similitude (or likeness, ὁμοίωσις) of God.” In what respects man is the image and likeness of God may not be fully grasped, but it is at least obvious that an image is a representation. The Lord when shown a penny asked “whose image” is this? They said, Caesar’s. It may not have been well executed, and so not have been a likeness. It may also have been very much battered, as money often is, yet that would not have interfered with its being the image of Caesar: it represented him, and no one else. So man as the head of created beings in connection with the earth represents God: to him was given dominion over every living thing that moveth upon the earth and in the sea and in the air. This was of course in subjection to God, and so man was in His image.

This is seen in perfection in the second Man, who has in resurrection superseded Adam, who was in this sense a figure or type of Christ (Rom. 5:14¹⁴Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. (Romans 5:14)). Man may be a battered and soiled image of his Creator, but that does not touch the question of his having been made in the image of God.

Likeness goes further; but was there not in man a certain moral and mental likeness to God? He not only represents God on earth, but, as one has said, he thinks for others, refers to and delights in what God has wrought in creation, and in what is good, having his moral place among those who do. The likeness, alas, may be very much blurred; but the features are there: such as reflection, delight, love of goodness and beauty; none of which are found in a mere animal. With Christ all is of course perfect: as man He is “the image of God”; “the image of the invisible God” (2 Cor. 4:4⁴In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4); Col. 1:15¹⁵Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Colossians 1:15)).

“16. Image. Likeness. Similitude” From Concise Bible Dictionary:

The word εἰκών (from ἔοικα, ‘to seem, resemble') is translated ‘image,' and the words ὀμοίωσις and ὁμοίωμα (from ὅμοιος, ‘like') are translated 'likeness, similitude.'

In Gen. 1:26²⁶And 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. (Genesis 1:26) both εἰκών and ὀμοίωσις occur in the LXX: "Let us make man in our image (εἰ.) and after our likeness (ὀμ)" In the N. T. these two words occur, in a similar use, with reference to man: he has this place in responsibility still: thus man "is the image (εὶ.) and glory of God" (1 Cor. 11:7⁷For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. (1 Corinthians 11:7).); and "men are made after the likeness (ὁμ.) of God." Jas. 3:9⁹Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. (James 3:9).

To be true to the image there must be moral likeness; but this involves for us a new creation. Hence (Col. 3:10¹⁰And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: (Colossians 3:10)): "the new man is renewed unto full knowledge after the image (εἰ.) of him that created him;" and Eph. 4:24²⁴And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:24) supplies the likeness (though the word is not used) "the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."

In Rom. 1:23²³And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (Romans 1:23) the words ὁμοίωμα and εἰκών both occur. It is said that men "changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness (ὀμ.) of an image (εἰ) of corruptible man, and of birds," &c. Both words will also be found in reference to the Lord, He is the image (εἰ.) of God (2 Cor. 4:4⁴In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4); Col. 1:15¹⁵Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Colossians 1:15)); and He took a place "in the likeness (ὁμ.) of men" (Phi. 2:7); see also Rom. 8:3³For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (Romans 8:3).

‘Similitude' in Heb. 7:15¹⁵And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, (Hebrews 7:15) is the rendering of another word ὁμοιότης, "after the similitude of Melchizedek."

For further remarks, see IMAGE in this Dictionary.

Strong’s Dictionary of Greek Words:

Number:

1504 (find all occurrences in KJV Bible)

Greek:

εἰκών

Transliteration:

eikon

Phonic:

i-kone’

Meaning:

from 1503; a likeness, i.e. (literally) statue, profile, or (figuratively) representation, resemblance

KJV Usage:

image