Genesis 1: 26 says, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.’” This verse suggests that Yahweh is talking with a manifestation of His Divine Being, an interpretation that is consistent with the meaning of the Hebrew word for God, “Elohim.” Elohim is a plural word that “expresses the majesty and fullness of God’s being.” Also, the Hebrew word translated as “image” in Genesis 1: 26 is “tselem” (tseh’-lem). This is a “concrete term implying a physical resemblance” between God and man that is similar to the physical likeness between Adam and his son. In addition, Genesis 2: 7 says that Adam became “a living being” when Yahweh breathed His Spirit into him. Thus, Genesis 1: 26 suggests that Yahweh has physical and spiritual characteristics and that He gave both traits to mankind through Adam.

“For here we are not afraid to follow the truth wherever it may lead, nor to tolerate any error so long as reason is left free to combat it.” (Thomas Jefferson)

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Scripture Quote of the Day:

Isaiah 8: 11-15—For thus Yahweh spoke to me with mighty power and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying, “You are not to say, ‘It is a conspiracy!’  In regard to all that this people call a conspiracy, and you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it.  It is Yahweh Sabaoth whom you should regard as holy.  And He shall be your fear, and He shall be your dread.  Then He shall become a sanctuary; but to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over, and a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.  Many will stumble over them, then they will fall and be broken; they will even be snared and caught.”

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SnyderTalk® Commentary:

Currently, I am putting up bite sized pieces of His Name is Yahweh in SnyderTalk Commentary.  If you haven’t read it, it will be a treat for you.  If you have read it, you will probably enjoy reading it again.  Don’t hesitate to share it with your friends.  You can download the entire manuscript for free at His Name is Yahweh, or you can buy it in Kindle format from Amazon for just $5.

I have left out several footnotes.  Please go to the website His Name is Yahweh and download the manuscript.  It has all the footnotes, and it’s free.

Yahweh Has Physical and Spiritual Characteristics

Genesis 1: 26 says, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.’”  This verse suggests that Yahweh is talking with a manifestation of His Divine Being, an interpretation that is consistent with the meaning of the Hebrew word for God, “Elohim.”  Elohim is a plural word that “expresses the majesty and fullness of God’s being.” Also, the Hebrew word translated as “image” in Genesis 1: 26 is “tselem (tseh’-lem).  This is a “concrete term implying a physical resemblance” between God and man that is similar to the physical likeness between Adam and his son.  In addition, Genesis 2: 7 says that Adam became “a living being” when Yahweh breathed His Spirit into him.  Thus, Genesis 1: 26 suggests that Yahweh has physical and spiritual characteristics and that He gave both traits to mankind through Adam.

Targum Yonasan and the Midrash suggest another interpretation of Genesis 1: 26.  Targum Yonasan says, “And God said to the ministering angels who had been created on the second day of Creation of the world, ‘Let us make man.’” (Scherman, Rabbi Nosson, The Stone Edition Tanach, The ArtScroll Series®, Mesorah Publications, Brooklyn, New York, 1996, p. 4)

The Midrash expands on this notion: “When Moses wrote the Torah and came to this verse (let us make), which is in the plural and implies that there is more than one Creator, he said: ‘Sovereign of the Universe!  Why do you thus furnish a pretext for heretics to maintain that there is a plurality of divinities?’  ‘Write!’ God replied.  ‘Whoever wishes to err will err…Instead, let them learn from their Creator Who created all, yet when He came to create Man He took counsel with the ministering angels.” (Scherman, Rabbi Nosson, The Stone Edition Tanach, The ArtScroll Series®, Mesorah Publications, Brooklyn, New York, 1996, p. 4)

It’s obvious that Genesis 1: 26 says one thing and that Targum Yonasan and the Midrash say something entirely different.  Thankfully, the Bible provides information that sheds light on this controversial issue.

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News Items of Interest:

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Commonsense:  John Kerry is an idiot.  I’m sorry if that offends any of my readers, but I’m committed to telling the truth, even when it seems harsh.  I’ll stop at that because it would be cruel to hammer such a pathetic dimwit.  I am giving him the Dunce Award.  He is as deserving as anyone I can think of.  Is it just me, or does John Kerry look like an undertaker?

John Kerry

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His Name is Yahweh:

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Available on Amazon Kindle and it can be downloaded at www.hisnameisyahweh.org