b'tzelem Elohim

Alternative Spellings

betselem elohim, b'tselem elohim, betzelem elohim, b'tselem elokim

Definitions

• lit. "in God's image"

Example Sentences

• "The Torah teaches that we are all created b'tzelem Elohim, in the image of God." (http://www.clickonjudaism.org/pages/ethics07.html)

Languages of Origin

Textual Hebrew

Etymology

בצלם אלוקים, בצלם אלוהים

Who Uses This

Religious: Jews who are engaged in religious observance and have some Jewish education
Organizations: People involved in a professional or volunteer capacity with Jewish nonprofit organizations

Regions

North America

Dictionaries

None

Notes

Often used in politically progressive and humanitarian discourse. "Elokim" used to avoid saying "elohim," one of God's names.