DEUT596 At the very beginning of the Torah, it states that the human being was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Since God does not have any physical image, there are many interpretations of what this verse signifies. But it is clear that more than any other creature, man has the ability to imitate God's greatness and uniqueness through his actions. In fact, imitating God by following in His ways seems to be a prime directive of the Torah (Deuteronomy 28:9). Imitating Godly activities complement keeping the Torah's commandments [this verse]. How does a Jew, who is merely human, follow in God's footsteps when God is purely spiritual? One way to follow God is to imitate the "actions" of God in the Torah, says the Talmud. Thus, just as God visited the sick (visiting Abraham in Genesis 18:1), so too should each Jew visit the sick (Sotah 14a). Another Talmudic passage derives this commandment from a different verse (Exodus 18:20) (Bava Mezia 30b) The Midrash also uses the same verse to derive this Mitzvah–commandment, but stresses that it is inferred from the words "they shall go" in the verse, indicating that part of the commandment is to walk to visit the sick person (Midrash, Mechilta of Rabbi Yishmael, Amalek 2). Another Talmudic passage draws this commandment from yet another verse (Numbers 16:29) (Sefer Mitzvot Gedolot, positive Mitzvah 8).