Beloved Man Who Was Created in the Image
Man is beloved and of value because he was created 'in the image of God' (the source of the expression 'in the image of God' is the verse in Genesis 1:27: 'So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them').
("He was the beloved of Adam, who was created in His image. A certain debt is known to Him who was created in His image, as it is said (Genesis 9) In the image of God He made man. Beloved of Israel, who were called sons to a place" - Avot 3 Yad, and so: "I have decreed against you to ask forgiveness from Him... and you will remember until your last day the saying of Rabbi Akiva in 'Parables of the Forefathers' said that "Adam loved those who were created in His image" - H. Beer/ To the Place Where the Spirit Goes, 239)
Translation
Expression (Hebrew)
חֲבִיב אָדָם שֶׁנִּבְרָא בְּצֶלֶם
Definition (Hebrew)
הָאָדָם אָהוּב וּבַעַל עֵרֶךְ כִּי נִבְרָא 'בְּצֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים' (מְקוֹר הַבִּטּוּי 'בְּצֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים בַּפָּסוּק בִּבְרֵאשִׁית א כז:"וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם בְּצַלְמוֹ בְּצֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים בָּרָא אֹתוֹ זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה בָּרָא אֹתָם").
("הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר חָבִיב אָדָם שֶׁנִּבְרָא בְצֶלֶם. חִבָּה יְתֵרָה נוֹדַעַת לוֹ שֶׁנִּבְרָא בְצֶלֶם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בְּרֵאשִׁית ט) בְּצֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים עָשָׂה אֶת הָאָדָם. חֲבִיבִין יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁנִּקְרְאוּ בָּנִים לַמָּקוֹם"-אָבוֹת ג יָד, וְכֵן:"גּוֹזְרַנִי עָלֶיךָ לְבַקֵּשׁ מִמֶּנּוּ סְלִיחָה...וְתִזְכֹּר עַד יוֹמְךָ הָאַחֲרוֹן אֶת מַאֲמָרוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא בְּ'פִּרְקֵי אָבוֹת' שֶׁחָבִיב אָדָם שֶׁנִּבְרָא בְּצֶלֶם"- ח.בְּאֵר/ אֶל מָקוֹם שֶׁהָרוּחַ הוֹלֵךְ, 239)