Pedant. Male and Female are not the image of God.

God is Spirit, we are made in his image, ie spirit,

Likeness has a different meaning.

We don't see mankind made in God's likeness until Gen 5.

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

(Gen 1:27 KJV)

- And God created the man in His own image;

- in the image of God He created him.

- He created them male and female.

The Hebrew word for “image”is “tselem”, and as Strong’s Concordance explains.

“Image” is “tselem” (Strong’s) “, From an unused root meaning to shade; a phantom, that is, (figuratively) illusion, resemblance; hence a representative figure, especially an idol: - image, vain shew.” (H6754)

Jesus said something foundational in John 4:24: “God is Spirit”.

That the Divine Nature or Godhead is Spirit, is something we learn from almost the very beginning when the Spirit of God moves on the face of the waters in Genesis 1:2.

Since we know God is Spirit, it stands to reason the image of God is then spirit, as the writer to the Hebrews tells us God is the Father of spirits, and at the same distinguishes between the fathers of our flesh, the physical body and our spiritual nature.[ Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

(Heb 12:9 KJV)]

...there’s the progression: first, “the man—ha adam,” then “Him,” then something unambiguously physical and sexual, that is, “male and female.”

It’s important to note that while God says he will create mankind in “our image and our likeness” in Genesis 1:26, in verse 27, God only creates “the man or mankind” and “him” in his image.

The likeness of God is not explicitly mentioned at all. We might infer that “male and female” are then likenesses—that likeness can be reasonably applied to a physical body, but “image” cannot.

“Likeness” is “demûth” Strongs has “resemblance; concretely model, shape; adverbially like: - fashion, like (-ness, as), manner, similitude.” (H1823)

This supposition is supported by Genesis 5:1, where, at last, “likeness” is mentioned in respect of man.

God begins naming, i.e. calling things by a name earlier in the first chapter.

God calls the light "Day" (Genesis 1:5).

God calls the darkness "Night" (Genesis 1:5).

God calls the expanse "Sky" (or "Heavens" in some translations) (Genesis 1:8).

God calls the dry ground "Land" (Genesis 1:10).

God calls the gathered waters "Seas" (Genesis 1:10).

Interestingly, God stops naming things. New things appear in the “six days” account, such as swimming and flying things, but God does not name them. In fact, the next time the Hebrew word “calls/called” being “qara”[ Strong’s H7121

qârâ'

kaw-raw'

A primitive root (rather identical with H7122 through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (that is, properly address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications): - bewray [self], that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim (-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.] is used is when “the man” names the living creatures in Genesis 2:19.

However, why wait until Chapter 5 to explicitly state that man and mankind are in God’s likeness?

Genesis 5:1-2 tells us that God calls “male and female”—man. This is novel—an information drop, something not explicitly stated in the text until now