Difficult question and people are going to want lots of scriptures so I will do the best I can. God created man (Adam) as the pinnacle of His creation.
Other than Geneses 1:1 Genesis 2:7 becomes very important. When we read about the Breath of Life. The other " 21 other human species." do not have the breath of life.
Genesis 2:
7 Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.
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In Genesis 2:7, God formed man from the dust of the ground and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. This act transformed the lifeless form into a living being—a soul. Essentially, God used both the physical material (dust) and the spiritual essence (the breath of life) to create humanity.
It’s a beautiful depiction of how God intimately crafted us, infusing both body and spirit to bring us to life12.
Throughout our lives, we all carry this divine breath of life within us.
This means that we have the Holy Spirit living inside us because the breath of God is the Holy Spirit. Let your heart be comforted in the knowledge that the Holy Spirit lives in you and will always be with you.
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So the question is why on the sixth day did God say: "Let us make man in our image"?
Why does God want to have a relationship with us? God’s desire for a relationship with mankind is multifaceted—rooted in love, purpose, redemption, and companionship. According to the biblical account in Genesis, God created man (Adam) as the pinnacle of His creation. Man was given dominion over the animals and tasked with stewardship over the Earth. Animals were created to serve and complement humanity, providing companionship, sustenance, and assistance. This hierarchical relationship reflects God’s design and purpose for both humans and animals.