We Are Not Animals

[John Reece]

This thread is intended to be purely exegetical; that is, limited to a discussion of what biblical texts actually say and do not say.

According to Genesis 1 and 2, human beings have something in common with animals: both are [hebrew]np$ XYH[/hebrew]:

Genesis 1

20 And God said, "Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures ([hebrew]np$ XYH[/hebrew]), and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens." 21 So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature ([hebrew]np$ HXYH[/hebrew]) that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
24 And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures ([hebrew]np$ XYH[/hebrew]) according to their kinds -- livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds." And it was so. (ESV)

Genesis 2

7 Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature ([hebrew]np$ XYH[/hebrew]). (ESV)

However, also according to Genesis 1 and 2, human beings are distinguished from animals by a distinctly separate creation in the image and likeness of God.

Genesis 1

26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (ESV)

Genesis 2

7 Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. (ESV)

In the biblical texts, something is said of human beings -- and is true of human beings, that is not said -- and is not true, of animals.

We are not animals; we are a separate and distinct creation in the image and likeness of God.

[Cyrus Johnson]

This thread is intended to be purely exegetical; that is, limited to a discussion of what biblical texts actually say and do not say.

According to Genesis 1 and 2, human beings have something in common with animals: both are [hebrew]np$ XYH[/hebrew]:

Genesis 1

20 And God said, "Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures ([hebrew]np$ XYH[/hebrew]), and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens." 21 So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature ([hebrew]np$ HXYH[/hebrew]) that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
24 And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures ([hebrew]np$ XYH[/hebrew]) according to their kinds -- livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds." And it was so. (ESV)

Genesis 2

7 Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature ([hebrew]np$ XYH[/hebrew]). (ESV)

However, also according to Genesis 1 and 2, human beings are distinguished from animals by a distinctly separate creation in the image and likeness of God.

Genesis 1

26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (ESV)

Genesis 2

7 Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. (ESV)

In the biblical texts, something is said of human beings -- and is true of human beings, that is not said -- and is not true, of animals.

We are not animals; we are a separate and distinct creation in the image and likeness of God.

Couldn't we equally say we are animals, just animals with a different relationship to God than other animals? I mean the phrase "living creature" appears to include all living things, even man, as in the text you cite.

[Conductor42]

This thread is intended to be purely exegetical; that is, limited to a discussion of what biblical texts actually say and do not say.

According to Genesis 1 and 2, human beings have something in common with animals: both are [hebrew]np$ XYH[/hebrew]:

Genesis 1

20 And God said, "Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures ([hebrew]np$ XYH[/hebrew]), and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens." 21 So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature ([hebrew]np$ HXYH[/hebrew]) that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
24 And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures ([hebrew]np$ XYH[/hebrew]) according to their kinds -- livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds." And it was so. (ESV)

Genesis 2

7 Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature ([hebrew]np$ XYH[/hebrew]). (ESV)

However, also according to Genesis 1 and 2, human beings are distinguished from animals by a distinctly separate creation in the image and likeness of God.

Genesis 1

26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (ESV)

Genesis 2

7 Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. (ESV)

In the biblical texts, something is said of human beings -- and is true of human beings, that is not said -- and is not true, of animals.

We are not animals; we are a separate and distinct creation in the image and likeness of God.

Yes, we are animals.

Animals, with some very nice enhancements ;)

And I say this in all seriousness.

[John Reece]

Couldn't we equally say we are animals, just animals with a different relationship to God than other animals? I mean the phrase "living creature" appears to include all living things, even man, as in the text you cite.

Yes, of course we can say that.

But does the text say that?

Is our essence -- as indicated in the text -- that which we have in common with animals?

[John Reece]

Yes, we are animals.

Animals, with some very nice enhancements ;)

And I say this in all seriousness.

Please note the first line in the OP: “This thread is intended to be purely exegetical; that is, limited to a discussion of what biblical texts actually say and do not say.”

Does [hebrew]BcLmW BcLM )LHYM[/hebrew] (Genesis 1:27b) say we are “Animals, with some very nice enhancements”?

[maudman]

Couldn't we equally say we are animals, just animals with a different relationship to God than other animals? I mean the phrase "living creature" appears to include all living things, even man, as in the text you cite.

If all flesh Creatures Have Nephesh (Life) And man has Nephesh then to me it would seem the text is purely about the Life that surrounds the Biological. But could we say That the Creation of the Man although having flesh Nephesh(Life,self preservation) also have more Divine attributes.

Is Elohim really saying that if I (Elohim) were a Flesh living beathing Organism this is the Form I have chosen for Myself. A form in the flesh who's attributes in the Physical realm relect the Elohim in relation to the Creation.