1. Genesis 1:27 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why does the author first speak of "him" and then "them"?

Genesis 1:27 (ESV)

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

The author speaks about mankind as him, and then specifies that mankind was created male and female. Both men and women have been made in God’s image. There is no status distinction among bearers of the divine image; they are equal while having distinct capacities and roles in fulfilling the divine mandate to steward the earth.