Is God considered male or female?

Divine Nature and Gender Terminology

Scripture consistently uses masculine pronouns and titles—such as “Father” and “He”—to describe God. Yet, the broader biblical narrative clarifies that God is Spirit (John 4:24), transcending human biology and the limitations of physical gender. This article examines how the Bible portrays God’s nature in relation to gender and explores the relevant passages, examples, and historical manuscript considerations that address this topic.

1. Biblical Language and Masculine References

The Old Testament primarily employs Hebrew masculine pronouns and titles—like “Elohim” (Genesis 1:1) and “YHWH” (written in the original text without vowels but generally transliterated as Yahweh)—when referring to God. These words and their associated verbs appear in grammatically masculine forms. The New Testament continues this usage, applying Greek masculine pronouns to refer to God as “Father.”

• Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (The Hebrew “Elohim” here is grammatically plural but takes a singular verb, emphasizing the oneness of the Godhead and the masculine direction of the verb forms.)

• Matthew 6:9: “Therefore you are to pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.’” (Jesus Himself addresses God as “Father,” reinforcing the masculine reference.)

These passages set a pattern found in many manuscript traditions, including the Dead Sea Scrolls and ancient Greek versions of the Old Testament (the Septuagint), all reflecting consistent use of masculine pronouns and titles.

2. Use of Fatherly Imagery

God is frequently revealed as a caring Father throughout Scripture:

• Psalm 103:13: “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.”

• Deuteronomy 32:6: “Is this how you repay the LORD, O foolish and senseless people? Is He not your Father and Creator, who made you and formed you?”

These passages emphasize God’s role as a loving authority, provider, and protector. The imagery takes on special weight in ancient cultures, where the role of “father” was replete with responsibility for household provision, discipline, and benevolent leadership.

3. Maternal Analogies and Expressions of Care

Despite the predominant use of masculine pronouns, Scripture occasionally employs maternal images to convey God’s nurturing character:

• Isaiah 66:13: “As a mother comforts her son, so will I comfort you; and you will be consoled over Jerusalem.”

• Hosea 13:8 (BSB, in context): God compares His protective nature to that of a mother bear robbed of her cubs, illustrating the ferocity of His compassion and care.

Such maternal analogies do not negate the standard masculine language used for God but rather broaden our understanding of God’s care and relational attributes.

4. Beyond Human Gender Limitations

While Scripture intentionally uses masculine forms, it also states that God is Spirit and not made of flesh and blood:

• John 4:24: “God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

God created humanity in His image—both male and female (Genesis 1:27)—showing that all people reflect His likeness. This underscores God’s transcendence above human gender divisions. He is neither male nor female in the physical or biological sense. The masculine pronouns convey how God relates to humanity and expresses His authority and intimacy, not that He has a human body defined by gender.

5. Historical Manuscript Perspectives

Early manuscript evidence, including the Dead Sea Scrolls (for Old Testament texts) and numerous Greek manuscripts for the New Testament, consistently preserves masculine references to God. These scrolls and codices provide strong historical continuity stretching back centuries before and after the life of Christ. This consistency underscores the deliberate and uniform manner in which biblical authors referred to God in grammatical masculine terms.

6. Theological Significance of “Father”

Referring to God as “Father” is more than a linguistic choice; it reflects how the Bible portrays His relationship with believers:

• Ephesians 4:6: “One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

This paternal title emphasizes God’s role as Creator, covenant-maker, and redeemer. He adopts believers as His children (Romans 8:15), offers spiritual protection, and exercises loving authority. Jesus’s teaching (Matthew 6:9) further cements the “Father” title, guiding people to approach God with reverence, dependence, and familial intimacy.

7. Balancing Metaphorical Language and God’s Essence

Scripture’s descriptions—King, Father, Warrior, Shepherd—use human terms to communicate God’s character and works in ways we can understand. At the same time, the Bible teaches that God’s essence is wholly distinct from the human physical realm (1 Kings 8:27). Human words, though limited, point toward the greatness, holiness, and relational love that define the divine nature.

8. Conclusion

The Bible almost universally employs masculine pronouns and titles for God, with occasional maternal analogies that highlight God’s nurturing qualities. Yet, God does not possess human gender. He is Spirit and transcends our earthly understanding of male and female. Scriptural language is chosen to convey relationship, roles, and authority, not a literal biological identity.

In sum, though the Bible consistently refers to God in masculine terms, He is beyond the constraints of human gender. The titles “Father” and the use of “He” emphasize God’s relational authority and loving care for His creation.