Genesis · Chapter 1 · Life
Genesis 1:27 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context
Read this verse slowly. Let it settle before you move on.
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Both translations, side by side
WEB · World English Bible
"God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them."
KJV · King James Version
"So God430 created1254 man120 in his own image6754, in the image6754 of God430 created1254 he him; male2145 and female5347 created1254 he them."
How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses the. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.
In context
Genesis 1:27 in Genesis 1
A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Genesis 1:27 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Genesis 1. Read the full chapter →
- v.25 God made the animals of the earth after their kind, and the livestock after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind. God saw that it was good.
- v.26 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 birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
- v.27 God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.
- v.28 God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
- v.29 God said, “Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food.
Book background
About the Book of Genesis
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Genre
- Law (Pentateuch)
- Author
- Moses (traditional)
- Date written
- c. 1446–1406 BC
- Audience
- Israel during the wilderness wandering
- Chapters
- 50
Genesis is the book of beginnings — the origin of the universe, humanity, sin, nations, languages, and the covenant family of Abraham. It traces God's plan from creation through the call of Abraham, the lives of Isaac and Jacob, and the descent of Israel into Egypt under Joseph. The book frames every later biblical promise: that through Abraham's seed all peoples on earth would be blessed.
Setting: Written during the Exodus generation; covers events from creation to the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph).
Key themes: creation · covenant · promise · family · sovereignty
Memorisation aid
How to memorise Genesis 1:27
Genesis 1:27 contains 19 words in 3 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.
- 1
God created man in his own image
GCMIHO
- 2
In God’s image he created him
IGIHCH
- 3
male and female he created them.
MAFHCT
Frequently asked
FAQ about Genesis 1:27
What does Genesis 1:27 say?
Genesis 1:27 reads: "God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them." — from the Old Testament, Genesis (Law (Pentateuch)). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.
What book of the Bible is Genesis 1:27 in?
Genesis 1:27 is in the book of Genesis, traditionally attributed to Moses (traditional) and written around c. 1446–1406 BC. Genesis is law (pentateuch) in the Old Testament, originally addressed to Israel during the wilderness wandering. Best known for creation, the fall, Noah's flood, and the call of Abraham.
What is Genesis 1:27 about?
Genesis 1:27 is primarily a Bible verse about Life. Within Genesis, Genesis is the book of beginnings — the origin of the universe, humanity, sin, nations, languages, and the covenant family of Abraham. Read the full passage above with surrounding context.
What is the difference between Genesis 1:27 in WEB and KJV?
Genesis 1:27 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "So God430 created1254 man120 in his own image6754, in the image6754 of God430 created1254 he him; male2145 and female5347 created1254 he them.". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.
How long is Genesis 1:27?
Genesis 1:27 is 19 words in the WEB translation (97 characters), broken into 3 clauses. It is short and well-suited to memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 6 seconds.
How can I memorise Genesis 1:27?
To memorise Genesis 1:27, split it into its 3 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.
Why does Genesis 1:27 matter in Genesis?
Genesis is the book of beginnings — the origin of the universe, humanity, sin, nations, languages, and the covenant family of Abraham. It traces God's plan from creation through the call of Abraham, the lives of Isaac and Jacob, and the descent of Israel into Egypt under Joseph. The book frames every later biblical promise: that through Abraham's seed all peoples on earth would be blessed. Genesis 1:27 sits within this larger story — Genesis as a whole emphasises creation, covenant, promise.
How can I apply Genesis 1:27 today?
Many readers use Genesis 1:27 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Genesis 1:27 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.
More designs
10 verses to read next
A fresh set of verses every visit — each on its own photo background. Tap any card to open the full study page.
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Ecclesiastes 3:1
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:”
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2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.”
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Psalms 118:24
“This is the day that Yahweh has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it!”
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Psalms 16:11
“You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forever more.”
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Ecclesiastes 3:11
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can’t find out the work that God has done from the…”
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John 10:10
“The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.”
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Esther 4:14
“For if you remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Who knows…”
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1 Corinthians 6:19
“Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,”
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Ephesians 2:10
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.”
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Philippians 1:21
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
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More featured verses in Genesis 1
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Genesis 50:20
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is today, to save many people alive.”
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Genesis 2:18
“Yahweh God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper comparable to him.””
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Genesis 12:2
“I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing.”
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Genesis 28:15
“Behold, I am with you, and will keep you, wherever you go, and will bring you again into this land. For I will not leave you, until I have done that which…”
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