The Hebrew word *tselem* (H6754), translated as "image," carries a concrete meaning of shape, resemblance, figure, or shadow, with no inherent abstract connotation. In Genesis 1:26-27, God declares that man is made in His image and likeness, establishing a foundational understanding of His purpose and our potential to be like Him. This physical resemblance is clear when compared to how animals and humans reproduce after their kind, reflecting the form and shape of their parents, as seen in Genesis 5:3 with Adam begetting a son in his own likeness and shape. Throughout the Old Testament, *tselem* consistently refers to a tangible form or resemblance, as in Exodus 20:4, Leviticus 26:1, Psalm 106:19, and Isaiah 44, where it describes idols that mirror the shape of what they represent. Even the liberal Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible acknowledges that concrete form and physical resemblance must be considered in Genesis 1:26-27. The usage of *tselem* remains consistent whether applied to man, idols, or God, indicating a direct relationship of form and shape. Men often question this meaning only when *tselem* is applied to God, assuming He has no shape despite the clear biblical testimony. Yet, the same word used for human and idolatrous images leaves no room for doubt about its implication of physical form. To deny this consistent application is to overlook the plain intent of Scripture, which affirms that man is made in the bodily image and likeness of God, suggesting that God Himself possesses outward form and shape.

God is patiently working with each one of us and, eventually, all mankind to create men in Their image according to Their likeness. From the very beginning, God gives vital clues to what He is providing to all men and what He sees most men doing with it. The word "image," transliterated as *tselem* (Strong's H6754), represents a shadow or outline of God that remains present in men. However, without the likeness of God within them, they become mere walking shadows, lacking substance and signifying nothing, which is not what God intended. God sees in most men an image far from what He expects to see in us. Right from the start, God gave men and women the ability to think and act on those thoughts, a unique gift not given to any other created being. Yet, this image becomes less than a vapor, driven by lusts of the eyes, flesh, and pride of life when not focused on Him in truth. Those who are driven solely by senses become shadows, vapors, and images that God finds worthless.

The Hebrew word *tselem* (H6754), translated as "image," is central to understanding how God reveals Himself in relation to humanity. In Genesis 1, God declares that man is made in His image and likeness, using *tselem* alongside *demooth* (likeness). While some argue that this does not include physical form and shape, the overwhelming usage of *tselem* in context points to outward bodily appearance. If man is made in the image and likeness of God bodily, then God must have a body, an outward form and shape. Moreover, *tselem* is used not only for God but also for idols, indicating observable form and shape that can be perceived by human senses. To deny that *tselem* includes physical form when applied to God, while accepting it for idols, is inconsistent, as the same word carries the same implication of tangible appearance in both cases. God's consistent revelation in Scripture shows Him with form and shape like a man, aligning with the meaning of *tselem* as something visible and recognizable.