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Humans as the Image, or Idol, of God (2x28)

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The Hebrew word for "image" is tselem, which literally means "idol." In the ancient world, idols were said to embody a deity or a king. Idols can serve a priestly function by mediating for the deity they embody, or they can serve a royal function by representing the king. Human images do both as a kingdom of priests for the true King Yahweh (Exod. 19:4-6). God commands humans not to make idols because humans are the idol of God.