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The torah states that humans are made btzelem elokim. We know that the shem elokim connotes middat ha-din. What ramification does this have on humans (if any)? Why were humans not made btzelem the shem Hashem that connotes mercy (yud-kay-vav-kay), especially if we have a mitzvah (v'halachta b'drachav) to be merciful just as God is merciful.

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  • Can you source your first two sentances? also that the mitzva vehalachta bedrachav has anything to do with mercy?
    – Double AA ♦
    Oct 16, 2012 at 21:04
  • Note also that shem Havaya doesn't show up at all in the first creation story.
    – Double AA ♦
    Oct 16, 2012 at 21:09
  • @DoubleAA When is the first time Shem HaShem is used in the Torah?
    – Yehoshua
    Oct 16, 2012 at 21:11
  • @Yehoshua Breishit 2:4
    – Double AA ♦
    Oct 16, 2012 at 21:11
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    Establishing a justice system is a law for b'nei Noach, but being merciful isn't. I don't know if that's the reason; it's just an observation.
    – Monica Cellio
    Oct 16, 2012 at 23:32

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Possibly to allow a person room to grow. Kabbalah sees a progression from the permutations of the name Elokim to the name Havaya (yud-kay-vav-kay). Perhaps we can say then that man is created in the image of Elokim and is given a goal and directive improve and mature to become more Godly (in the yud-kay-vav-kay sense).

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