Created in the Image of Elohim: Reclaiming Divine Design from Human Distortion
From the very beginning, Scripture declares that Elohim created humanity in His image.. This truth is so foundational it transcends gender, culture, and time. Genesis 1:27 declares, “So Elohim created man in His own image; in the image of Elohim He created him; male and female He created them.” This divine imprint is not about physical perfection but about sacred purpose, identity, and inherent value.
Yet somewhere between Eden and modern society, we lost that clarity. Rather than celebrating our divine design, both religion and culture have sent the same distorted message: “God got it wrong.”
The Body as Designed—Then Declared Defective
It’s striking how early religious texts seem to question the sufficiency of God’s original design. This is particularly evident in those influenced by priestly tradition.Genesis 17:10–14 introduces circumcision as a sign of the covenant. Parents, priests, and medical professionals all conspire to perform this permanent alteration of the male body eight days after birth. It suggests that even from infancy, the body required modification to become acceptable before Elohim.
Leviticus 12 shows the same pattern. The text declares a woman “unclean” after childbirth—33 days for a son and 66 for a daughter. During menstruation, it also labels her unclean and requires her to separate from communal and sacred spaces (Leviticus 15:19–30). The text even treats normal male emissions as ritually defiling (Leviticus 15:16–18).
If we truly believe we are made in the image of Elohim, why would the natural, God-designed functions of our bodies render us unclean? It is not logical. Why would the way God created our bodies render us unworthy? Genesis 1:31 states clearly: “And Elohim saw all that He had made, and it was very good.” That includes every system, every process, and every gendered difference.
Priestly Laws or Divine Intent?
Scholars often note that many of the purity laws in the Torah reflect post-Exilic priestly priorities. These laws were designed to maintain ritual order and community cohesion, particularly in temple-centered worship. The ceremonial context of these laws is understandable. However, the unintended consequence was a theology that cast the human body as inherently problematic. This was especially true for the female body.
The image of Elohim became obscured beneath layers of restriction and ritual. Menstruation, childbirth, and seminal emissions, all functions central to life and renewal, were labeled impure. This shaped how ancient people saw themselves. It also influenced how generations afterward viewed the body in relation to holiness.
Yet when we revisit the Genesis narrative, we find a different story. Genesis 2:7 reveals that Elohim formed man from the dust of the ground. The breath of Elohim Himself was then what animated man. Our physical bodies were not incidental. They were intentional. Our bodies are vessels designed to carry the image of Elohim.
Modern Echoes of Ancient Discomfort
Ironically, modern secular culture repeats the same message in new ways. Schools teach children that their gender might not match their bodies. Doctors perform medical procedures to reshape sexual identity. Media and culture insist your body isn’t trustworthy. They send the message that it needs fixing, redefining, or reconstruction.
While ancient religion demanded circumcision or ritual separation, modern society offers hormones and surgeries. Both systems whisper the same lie: “You are not enough the way you are.” But Scripture offers a radical counter-narrative: You are made in the image of Elohim, and that is enough.
A Theological Crisis, Not a Biological One
Perhaps the real issue isn’t physical or psychological: it’s theological. In Genesis 3:1–6, the serpent’s deception began with a question: “Did Elohim really say…?” Eve was not defective. Eve was deceived into thinking she lacked something essential. This spiritual confusion birthed mistrust in God’s design.
That same confusion exists today. Our bodies are not what is broken! It’s our beliefs about our bodies. Romans 1:25 speaks of people who “exchanged the truth of Elohim for a lie” and began worshipping created things rather than the Creator. When we reject our divine design in pursuit of self-made identities, we echo the same pattern of deception.
Instead of correcting Elohim’s creation, we should be correcting the lenses through which we view it.
Rediscovering the Image of Elohim
To be made in the image of Elohim is to bear intrinsic, non-negotiable worth; we are valuable. Our bodies, with all their differences, complexities, and rhythms, are not enemies of holiness. They are sacred expressions of the Creator’s wisdom. Psalm 139:14 echoes this truth: “I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
This isn’t just theological poetry. It’s practical truth. Whether male or female, whether in strength or weakness, we are all reflections of divine intentionality. Isaiah 64:8 reminds us: “But now, O YHVH, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” That includes our physical form and embodied experience.
The image of Elohim extends beyond soul or spirit. It reveals itself in the whole human, body included.
Reclaiming the Body from Cultural Confusion
Both religious and secular systems have distorted how we view the body. Religion said: separate from your body to be holy. Culture says: change your body to be whole. But both miss the mark.
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 tells us, “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit… you are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor Elohim with your bodies.” This command assumes something sacred about our physical being. The body is not a throwaway shell. It’s part of the image of Elohim and deserves reverence.
Romans 12:1 further invites us to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Elohim, which is your reasonable service.”
You achieve holiness by aligning your body with your purpose, not by denying it.
A Call to Rethink Holiness and Wholeness
We need to rethink what we’ve been taught about holiness. Holiness is not about separation from our physical form. It’s about honoring its design. When we reclaim the image of Elohim, we release ourselves from cycles of shame and distortion.
We no longer ask whether Elohim made a mistake. Instead, we examine why we ever believed He did. We reject systems that call our biology a burden and choose to trust the One who created us and called us good. Reclaiming that truth transforms our perspective—not only about ourselves, but also about one another.
Unity in purpose doesn’t require sameness in form. In our diversity, we reveal the multifaceted beauty of our Creator.
Reclaim What Elohim Spoke at Creation
Genesis 1:26 reveals Elohim’s original intent: “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” This wasn’t a draft. It was the divine blueprint. The body you inhabit, in its unedited form, is part of a sacred story.
You don’t need to alter yourself to reflect the image of Elohim. You already do. The distortions came through tradition, trauma, and teachings that placed human interpretation above divine revelation.
But the truth has never changed. You are created in the image of Elohim. And that truth, once reclaimed, heals far more than the body. It restores the soul.
Final Thoughts
Scripture clearly declares: Elohim made you with care, purpose, and sacred worth.The image of Elohim is not something you earn. It’s something you bear by birth.
Let the noise of shame fall away. It’s time we silence the lies about our bodies. Stand in front of the mirror of the Word and see what’s been true all along:
You are made in the image of Elohim. And that is enough.
Tools for Embracing Your Divine Design
Are you on a journey to reconnect with the truth of your body? Remember, it was wonderfully and intentionally made. You might consider The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel vander Kolk. This eye-opening book explores how trauma can distort our perception of our bodies. Healing begins by honoring the body’s truth. You can find it on Amazon here. Pair it with reflective journaling. Use Scripture-based affirmations to help you realign your thoughts with the image of Elohim you were created to reflect.
Looking for more encouragement and practical tools? Check out my other articles and recipes here on Healthy in Heart. Whether you’re diving into whole food plant-based nutrition, spiritual studies, or mindset renewal, you’ll find resources. These resources are designed to help you thrive—body, soul, and spirit.
YHVH’s Ideal Diet: A Return to Edenic Foods(Opens in a new browser tab)
The Meaning of YHVH and Its Divine Significance(Opens in a new browser tab)
Unbreakable Faith(Opens in a new browser tab)
The Bliss Point: The Perfect Fraud in Food Engineering(Opens in a new browser tab)
Restoring the Name YHVH: Reclaiming His Legacy(Opens in a new browser tab)
