Let us make man

"Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness" (Genesis 1:26)

This verse has prompted much discussion. Some say G-d speaks in the plural, suggesting it's an expression of humility and consultation. G-d, consulting with the heavenly court, teaches the value of humility and seeking advice, even when one is of high status or power. Because if G-d, the Creator of the universe, sought counsel (even though He didn’t need it) before creating man, how much more so should humans, who are less wise and powerful, seek advice and engage in consultation? 

However, while claiming G-d is speaking to a divine council or speaking to angels can be accurate, I'd like to expand it to claiming that G-d is speaking to all of creation (not just the angels). Furthermore, the plural form can just as easily be understood to signify the complexity and multifaceted nature of human beings, created with both physical and spiritual dimensions. This duality is a fundamental aspect of human identity, reflecting the divine image through our capacity for intellect, morality, and the pursuit of spiritual growth. Thus, in this regard, G-d is referring to Himself as Creator & also Creation as the “us”. This would be a stretch to say if it weren't already clearly utilized previously. We see just prior that G-d is speaking to creation many times in the process of creating, for example:

Let the earth put forth grass, herb yielding seed, and fruit-tree bearing fruit after its kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth. (Genesis 1:11)

Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let fowl fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. (Genesis 1:20)

Let the earth bring forth the living creature after its kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after its kind. (Genesis 1:24)

And after speaking to creation and making life sprout forth from creation, G-d then says, “Let us” – indicating that while all the other living creatures and plants were made using elements of creation, man would be unique. Man is going to be a product of both creation and Creator, physical and spiritual, earth and heaven, dust and breath, body and spirit. He is made in the image of creation (physical elements) and the image of Creator (spiritual and lifegiving force).

However, creation (while being utilized for creation) is still just an agent for G-d and not the actual true creator itself. This is further explained by the usage of singular verbs rather than plural verbs. Similar to English, Hebrew has plural verbs and singular verbs to denote how many are involved in an action:

“And G-d created [bara] man in His own image, in the image of G-d created [bara] He him; male and female created [bara] He them (Genesis 1:27)

In this case, the singular (Hebrew) verb of “bara” rather than “baru” is used, meaning “He (singular) created” rather than “They (plural) created.” While G-d did utilize creation to create man, G-d is still the only one credited with being the direct "Creator" of man (in the singular).

The rest of creation is made from the physical, but man is unique in the fact that they are a mixture of both worlds. In this way, man is the perfect mediator between Creator and Creation, being that they are from both worlds. The true "Adam" is then not just a state of existence but a purpose for our lives: to be a representative of G-d to creation, and a representative of creation to G-d.