Let us make man in our image - the plural has fascinated theologians for centuries. Whether it points forward to the Trinity, or reflects the ancient literary convention of a divine council, what is undeniable is that humanity's creation is presented as a deliberate, communal, and weighty act. God pauses before making us in a way He does not pause for anything else. The image of God - the imago Dei - is the foundation of human dignity. Every person, regardless of background, ability, or status, carries this mark. We are not accidents. We are made in the image of a personal God who creates with intention and care.
I have always wondered whether "our image" being plural is significant in ways we still have not fully understood. The Trinity interpretation feels right but I hold it loosely.
The imago Dei has been the foundation of so much Christian social ethics. Abolition, human rights, care for the vulnerable - it all traces back here.
The imago Dei argument you lay out here is one of the clearest I have read. Sharing this with my study group.
What moves me most is that this dignity is not earned. It is given before any human does anything. Before any achievement, failure, or choice.
The "pause" you describe is something I had never noticed before. God speaks things into existence without pause until humanity. Then it is deliberate, communal. That is striking.
This verse sits at the root of why I believe all people deserve to be treated with dignity regardless of anything else. You cannot read this and then dehumanize someone.