Whom Does the “Us” in Genesis Refer To?

There are approximately 2.4 billion Christians in the world today, with the majority of Christendom believing in only one God—God the Father. If this idea were correct, the Bible would always describe God in a singular form.

However, we can see the plural form of God in the Bible where He refers to Himself as us. This passage has long puzzled interpreters of the Bible, as it seems to contradict the fundamental belief in a monotheistic God.

The World Mission Society Church of God not only believes in the existence of God the Father but also God the Mother according to the teachings of the Bible.

Then, to whom does the us in Genesis refer? Among the many interpretations of whom the us refers to, let us focus on the view that the us in Genesis 1:26 refers to the Triune God.

The “Us” in Genesis Does Not Refer to the Triune God

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

If God the Creator were God the Father alone, He would have said, “Let me make man in my image, in my likeness.” But God clearly said, “Let us….” This suggests that God is not only God the Father.

Who Has the Female Image?

Some people insist that the us in the above-mentioned verse refers to the Triune God, meaning God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. If the us refers to the Triune God, one of Them should have a female image because male and female were created in the image of God.

Genesis 1:27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Within the Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—who bears the female image? No one. Which means this interpretation is not consistent with the teaching of the Bible.

Why Were There Only Two Kinds of People Created?

Since God created mankind in His own image and likeness, three kinds of people would have been created according to the image and likeness of God: one resembling the Father, one resembling the Son, and the other resembling the Holy Spirit.

However, we can clearly see that God created only two kinds of people: male and female. Why were there only two kinds of people created in the image and likeness of God, rather than three corresponding to the Trinity? To understand this clearly, we need to fully understand the Trinity and what it actually means through the Bible.

The Trinity Is One God and Not Three

According to the teachings of the Bible, the Trinity means God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one and the same God—not three separate Gods.

To understand this more clearly, let us consider the transformation of water. Water in its usual form is a liquid; however, when it freezes, it becomes ice, which is a solid. When the same liquid is boiled in a kettle, it becomes water vapor, which is a gas. Although ice, liquid, and vapor differ in form, their essence remains the same, H2O.

Likewise, although the term “Trinity” might suggest three different Gods, the Bible clearly testifies that God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are one God, not three.

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

The “Child” or “Son” here refers to Jesus. Isaiah testified that His titles would be “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.” Therefore, the Father (Jehovah), the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit are not three different Gods, but one God.

The “Us” in Genesis Refers to God the Father and God the Mother

Genesis 1:27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Two images—male and female—were created in the image and likeness of God. This clearly indicates that God has both a male image and a female image. That is why God said, “Let us make mankind…”

Galatians 4:26,31 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother… Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

The children of God who will receive salvation in the last days believe in both Heavenly Father and Mother who appear in the last days to give salvation (Rev 22:17).

The Bible is consistent and must be interpreted in light of Scripture itself. Claiming that the “us” in Genesis refers to the Triune God fundamentally contradicts the teachings of the Bible. The “us” in Genesis refers to our Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother, who created mankind in Their image and likeness.

Let us press on to know God and study all the prophecies about our Heavenly Mother who comes to this earth in the last days as the Bride, the Wife of the Lamb (Rev 19:7) to seek and save all of Her lost children.