LET US MAKE MAN

Intelligence Brief

Bible Dictionary: The Hebrew 'na'aseh adam' (נַעֲשֶׂה אָדָם) — 'let us make man' — introduces a plural where singular has dominated. God has said 'let there be' (singular) throughout; now He says 'let us make' (plural). This is the divine deliberative plural, marking humanity's creation as uniquely significant. Historical Context: Jewish interpreters offered various explanations: God speaking to angels, a plural of majesty, or deliberation within Himself. Christian interpretation sees here an early indication of the Trinity — Father, Son, and Spirit in creative counsel. The plural is not polytheism (v.27 returns to singular: 'God created... in his own image') but complexity within unity. Scarlet Thread: The NT reveals the Son as agent of creation (John 1:3, Colossians 1:16) and the Spirit as life-giver (Genesis 1:2, Job 33:4). The 'us' of Genesis 1:26 is the Triune God — the same God who will say 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' (Isaiah 6:8) and who baptizes in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).

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