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The characteristics of man with which God endowed him at creation, distinguishing him from the rest of God's creatures.
The expression, "image of God," appears in <Genesis 1:26-27; 9:6>, and <1 Corinthians 11:7>. Some also see a reference to this image in <Romans 8:29,2 Corinthians 3:18>, and allusions to it in <Psalm 8:5,1 Corinthians 15:49>, and <Colossians 3:10>. Jesus is referred to as being "the image of the invisible God" <Col. 1:15> and "the express image of His [God's] person" <Heb. 1:3>.
The Bible does not indicate exactly what the image of God in man is. Man alone has personal, conscious fellowship with God <Gen. 1:29-30; 2:15-16; 3:8>. Man is to take God's place in ruling over and developing the creation <Gen. 1:26,28>. Yet these are possible only because of certain qualities of personality which man alone has <Ps. 139:14>,
To be created in the image of God means that we humans have the ability and the privilege of knowing, serving, and loving God, and that we are most fully human when fulfilling our spiritual potential. Every human life is precious to God, and this is exactly how we should treat the people with whom we share the world.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
(Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)