Kaisipang Hudyo sa Genesis 9:7: Akeidat Yitzchak

Man was the subject of a special directive, not shared with other creatures. We do not find for instance, "let the earth produce a horse,” or anything specific like that during the entire report of creation. All this points to the superior nature of this last act of creation, its crowning achievement when compared to the previously created beings. One understands the Talmud "the whole world was created only for the sake of Chananyah." (Berachot 6). (13) If, in spite of the five advantages man is endowed with, no special day was set aside for his creation, this is to remind him that he does have a great deal in common (mortality) with his predecessors. Unless he would use his free will to surmount the disadvantage of a common fate with his inferiors, he too would succumb to death and oblivion. He would have dominion over other creatures if he merited it; otherwise, he in turn would be ruled over. Bereshit Rabbah commenting on verse 1,26, and 1,28, respectively, warns that the word veyirdu, "and will have dominion," can be vocalised ve-yeradu, "will be imposed upon." However, the other animals were created on the eve of the sixth day, whereas man was created in the morning, to separate between these two creations. (14) The description "in Our image and in Our form," describes the how of man, and defines him as different is essence from other living creatures. This directive then is to determine qualitative measurements and definitions.