Q: Why is this sentence in Genesis 1:26 written in the plural? “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” This seems strange because man wasn’t even created yet. Who is speaking?

A: The use of the plural form in this verse is significant. It reflects a shift toward community. The phrase “Let us make” indicates a turning to the broader community or a consultation with all aspects of creation. This plural form is a form of humility from the source, showing that the act of creation is not self-centered or solitary. Instead, it acknowledges the interconnectedness of all creation. This “royal we” stands in contrast to a more self-centered perspective, where the individual might say, “I want” or “I command.”

The letter nun (נ) at the beginning of נעשה (“we shall make”) represents the royal “we” from the perspective of Binah(understanding), which is linked to the 50 Gates of Understanding, or the infinite perspective of the jubilee cycle. From this, we can learn the values of humility, consultation, and the complete cancellation of the “self-doer” or ego. Though creation is discussed in the plural, the actual creation of man is carried out in the singular form, וַיִּבְרָא (“and He created”), emphasizing the uniqueness of each creation without claiming ownership or imposition.

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