should he and him be capitalized when talking about god

I capitalize when referencing God (I.e, He, His, Maker, etc.) Hey, capitalising pronouns when talking about a god is pretty bad grammar. Ive been asked by readers over the years, Why dont you capitalize the pronouns referring to God in your books?. God is capitalized when it is used as a proper noun. and He said unto Adam. The word Bible is also capitalized when referring to the Jewish Bible, when used as the first word in a sentence, and when used in the main title of written works. The Muslim name Allah is a translation of the name God. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have . I have not been able to find out how pronouns referring to God began to be capitalized, but it does aid in the understanding of some Biblical texts: When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, Moses, Moses! And he said, Here I am. Then he said, Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. And he said, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.Exodus 3:4-6 (ESV). its title it is a proper noun. Equally, its not hard to change He and Him to he and him (except where they occur at the beginning of a sentence). It is neither right nor wrong to capitalize or not capitalize pronouns that refer to God. Thats worth thinking aboutno one wants to their work to be considered dated or irrelevant. Acceptable comments policy for Christianity Stack Exchange. Altho I usually wont mention it to them. Each of us must follow his/her own conviction and each of us should refrain from judging those who take a different viewpoint. My preference would be only to capitalize the pronouns referring to God in historical fiction where capitalization was consistent with the time setting (e.g. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Why aren't pronouns referring to God capitalized in some Bibles? He went on to say that He is Lord God Almighty, which means He is the one all-powerful God. should be capitalized. A common noun provides a generic name for a person, place, thing, or idea. Its always changing, and thats why applying old rules to contemporary writing sometimes just doesnt resonate. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. or the common noun is being used as a title (e.g. The only alternative would be to quote from NASB or NKJV, both of which capitalize pronouns of deity, but neither of which is my preference for purposes of clarity. But I appreciate the post and I hope to see you all one day. Throughout this article, there are detailed explanations for when God is capitalized. Yes, the major style guides prefer that personal pronouns referring to God are not capitalized. Capitalize family relationships when used as proper nouns . This remains a common practice among people of faith, but it is by no means obligatory. Laziness. See answer (1) Copy. The Facebook groups answers unhelpfully ranged from Yes, always to No, never with a healthy sprinkling of Sometimes and It depends. When God inspired the human authors of Scripture to write His Word, He did not lead them to give any special attention to pronouns that refer to Him. You always capitalize Bible when referring to a proper noun including the various versions of both the Christian and Jewish Bibles . The old practice of capitalizing pronouns of deity has been done in very few Bible translations historically, and was abandoned by most Christian publishers years ago. If the titles take the place of names (as in Uncle Bart and Grandma ), capitalize them. Find it. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. That includes Angels since we are a little bit lower than they. When referring to Greek, Roman, and other groups of gods and goddesses, only the name is capitalized. " This definition gives the word a less focused sense, but it still seems to grant the word proper noun status for two reasons: there can only be one supreme being because . It is a matter of personal conviction, preference, and context. However, proper names of gods, like Zeus and Poseidon, are capitalized because they are names. I don't know which is correct. I'm the same as you, I feel it's a mark of honor. CWMS goes on to point out that capitalization can be confusing for younger readers (who were never taught that deity pronouns should be capitalised). Dear Editor | How Long Should my Novel Be? Better is to pick a convention and stick to it. Where things get interesting when we enter the territory of capitonyms: words that may be capitalized or not depending on the intended meaning. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Grammarist is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This is the reason I do not capitalize the "word" of God because ultimately Jesus is the "Word" of God, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. For example, office supplies are expected to be consumed in the near future, so they are charged to expense at once. 1991 - 2023 Eternal Perspective MinistriesAll Rights Reserved. NOTE: Pronouns referring to God should be capitalized. Non-specific use of the word "god" should not be capitalized. The answer is neither. I personally like to use it but I dont get huffy to those who do not. 1.) But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. CATHOLIC PRAYER: DO YOU BELIEVE? Over 1.5 million copies sold! When god is used with an article, that is usually an . This group happened to be a Christian reader group, but its a question that seemingly flummoxes readers and writers alike. In the original languages of the Bible, capitalizing pronouns referring to God was not an issue. Ur article is a waste of time and an insalt to God. Why are non-Western countries siding with China in the UN? Polytheistic religions have multiple gods referred to in lowercase unless the specific name of the god is being used, such as Zeus. With that in mind, it follows that God is not offended if we do not capitalize pronouns that refer to Him. I have been taught (in ELCA seminary) that the word LORD, presented in the Hebrew Bible in small caps, represents the ineffable four-letter holy name and so should be capitalized. God is an important part of Western society. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The debate over whether we capitalize He/Him when talking about a member of the Trinity isn't without merit. Obviously, they would not bother capitalizing "he" at all. And the term parakletos certainly can refer to a personas it refers to Jesus Christ . Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. When God inspired the human authors of Scripture to write His Word, He did not lead them to give any special attention to pronouns that refer to Him. In phrases like for God's sake , by God, and thank God, the word is capitalized because it generally refers to the god of the Bible and treats the word . Also, using capitals could imply emphasis where none was intended. Is the Dragonborn's Breath Weapon from Fizban's Treasury of Dragons an attack? I apply a simple test in my Roman-era novels. God should be capitalized and sister shouldn't be. The old bible manuscripts didn't have this problem. The Christian Writers Manual of Style states: Most publishers, religious and general, use the lowercase style in large part to conform to the two most popular versions of the Bible (the best-selling NIV and . Its fascinating to learn that originally it was less about respect and more about emphasis. are not capitalized, I am not nearly as bothered. I agree, but its the publishers choice. I have seen it in many writings and, similar to the Jewish use of G-d, I find that it helps me be always conscious of the holiness of the One I am discussing I don't use it when referencing the work of God because I do not see that as divine.. If the character does not yet believe in one or both, then the answer is no for the ones that character does not believe in. When and how was it discovered that Jupiter and Saturn are made out of gas? Ive wondered about this. However, were here to serve everyone without cost, so please dont feel obligated to give unless the Lord leads. Altho I usually wont mention it to them. this other does. well most of the time. SavedByGrace. 1991 - 2023 Eternal Perspective MinistriesAll Rights Reserved. That means the capital "G" is a must. After all, youre still referring to the one God. Fortunately, the rules of capitalization aren't all that complex. On our website and blog, and on social media, we usually capitalize pronouns referring to deity. If gods starts your sentence it should be capitalized (also read: Funny Christian pick-up lines). Non-fiction publishers may follow CMOS or may use a genre-specific style guide. However, I've also been taught that pronouns referring to the unity or diversity of persons of the Trinity are not to be capitalized. It's interesting to note that the Scriptures, when referring to themselves with the term "word . Dear God, please let my . Id prefer we keep grammar simple and let it be one rule for all to remain in consistency with its original intent. When you use the name of God in vain, it is also capitalized. Join me in creating stronger families in faith. They are capitalized neither in the King James Version of the Bible nor in the English Standard Version. Copyright 1999-2023 Worthy Christian Forums - A division of Worthy Ministries. All opinions are my own. I picked up the habit years ago of capitalizing "Him" and "His" when referring to any person of the Trinity. (Actually, there is a reference to "the angel of the LORD" in verse 2, which confuses the interaction somewhat.) Common questions are when is God capitalized and should godly be capitalized? Should gods be capitalized? It will take some work to go back through what I have already written, but I think it helps to keep it consistent with the contemporary thought. Two of the 'he's are God, which is clear enough from what is being said. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. I clearly state where I have been provided with a free product or service to review. Continue doing so. Thank you for your comment. Study now. @curiousdannii Are you my high school English Teacher back to haunt me? The Judeo-Christian god is named God, since they believe He is the only one. The Chicago Manual of Style Online is the venerable, time-tested guide to style, usage, and grammar in an accessible online format. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. But its a subtle way of reinforcing Christian themes and the way God changes us. Atheism is the default position. See also H.quotation marks. Capitalization of pronouns is a convention of language and not intrinsically a sign of honor or respect or divinity. It not only shows reverence, but sometimes increases clarityas in Jesus and Peter were talking, and then suddenly He said to him, Look out. But where its not possible, i.e. Wiki User. Letter case is a relatively modern innovation, so we can't go by the original languages. They also lacked other typographic conventions such the modern system of punctuation. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". CWMS points out that (despite popular belief) we dont capitalize as a way to show respect or honour. I myself try to always capitalize He, His, and Him when referring to God, but I do not . But notice that while Heaven is capitalized (since it is an actual place), I dont capitalizeThere orItwhen referring to Heaven, e.g. The downvoter should also explain why both the Torah and Koran (or Quran) are commonly capitalized, but the Bible (as a religious text) should not be. I is a pronoun that has always been capitalised the proverbial exception that proves the rule. So you can either capitalise deity pronouns or not capitalise deity pronouns, but choosing to capitalise some and not others isnt consistent and could confuse readers. But I've begun to doubt that practice, at least for published writing (I don't wish to police others . Summary. HE is ALLLLLLLLLLWAYS the capital. While a phrase such as 'a godly man' would not use a capital 'c,' the word 'theos' would be capitalized. Yes Christian Bible should be capitalised. However, were here to serve everyone without cost, so please dont feel obligated to give unless the Lord leads. To summarize the proper noun/common noun usage, I think the easiest way to handle the situation is to capitalize the word god when it is used as a proper name as the name of the god of a monotheistic religion, such as the god of Christianity or Judaism, and not capitalize it when it is used as a common noun:. Many early gods were vengeful towards humans. For example King James Bible, Gideons Bible or Hebrews Bible. Privacy Policy. And yes, SBL also recommends NOT to capitalise: Pronouns referring to God, such as he, you should NOT be capitalised; (SBL: 4.4.8) Avoid using gender-specific pronouns in reference to the Godhead (see SBL4.3). But, curiously enough, the official writings of my church do not, which leads me to believe that being scrupulous about it is not the end of the world. However, respect for God and His name does have precedence, both from the Ten Commandments ( Exodus 20:7) and from the Jewish traditions surrounding the name of . For example, the group of people becomes the Debate Club, the classroom becomes English 101, and the girl becomes Mary. My concern would be in two areas: intent and effect. A fiction author may therefore consider it appropriate to use He and Him in a historical novel. I also like this answer fromGot Questions: Many people struggle with this question. In English, yes. in my books with other publishers, I've gone with their policy. Capitalize titles that appear before names, but not after names. I argue the same for capitalizing the New Earthif we capitalize New England, why not the redeemed creation that Scripture calls the New Earth? Great post, Iola. Some Bibles do not capitalize certain pronouns because their translators felt that doing so was not an accurate translation of the original language. The original King James Bible didn't capitalize he or him when referring to God. The New Oxford Style Manual is one of the major UK style manuals and incorporates New Harts Rules (the UK equivalent of Elements of Style by Strunk & White). Summary. Of course, I would never agree to Christ or God not being capitalized. Most publishers have a style guide: a set of rules governing how they treat a range of editing questions including spelling, grammar, punctuation, and word usage. Likewise I always capitalize Christ, which is the title of Jesus of Nazareth. Acts 17:24-25: "The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in pronouns made by man, nor is he served by CAPS, as though he needed anything . But, God, which conveys an idea, not a thing, is strictly singular. Since at least one characters faith position flips during each of my novels, you can follow their changing faith by whether a pronoun is capitalized or not. Neither He nor he is incorrect but using He and he is definitely wrong. If referring to a particular god, you write God, as that is his popular name. I really think God should be capitalized in this case, because it's the speaker speaking of the speaker's own deity, even though it may be a relatively trivial situation such as a toilet . But rules are rules. Spirituality and spiritual growth authors tend to capitalize any word that to them represents a higher concept or God: Universe, Gratitude, Divine Love, Universal Mind, Consciousness. Proper nouns do not include articles, but common nouns do. When bible is referring to a book of great usefulness, it is not capitalised. As a Catholic, I capitalize everything remotely concerning Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit out of respect and will always continue to. Is it appropriate to capitalize pronouns referring to Jesus Christ? If you are not capitalizing pronouns that refer to God because you believe proper English grammar/syntax/style should be followed, wonderful! In fact, from what I remember, articles and books don't capitalize "he" or "him" when referring to Muhammad, either. DarkScribe ( 15500) "Great Answer" ( 5 ) Flag as . "God" functions like a personal name in this instance. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! I only promote those products and services I have personally investigated or used, and which I believe deliver value. If you capitalize pronouns that refer to God to make it more clear who is being referred to, great! How did Dominion legally obtain text messages from Fox News hosts? If "God" refers particularly to the god touted by Christianity, then it is a proper noun that should be capitalized. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. In case youre in a hurry here are the quick answers: In monotheistic religions (religions that have only one God), God will always be capitalized (also read: When Is Bible Capitalized).if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'faithfulteaching_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_5',164,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-faithfulteaching_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Reverential capitalization (Chicago Manual of Style 8.95) occurs when an author or text reveres a subject and capitalized the pronoun that refers to the subject. What are the 10 rules of capitalization? Should 'god' be capitalized? In Greek, there were capital (upper-case) letters and lower-case letters. Of course, I would never agree to Christ or God not being capitalized. The NASB and NKJV do capitalize pronouns relating to deity (introducing something which is not in the Greek or Hebrew, I might add). Few people, however, know when its the right time to capitalize the God and when it shouldnt be capitalized. On 2/10/2014 at 1:51 PM, ayin jade said: I use capital H. Some versions of the bible use it. Godly and other words that start with god are almost always lowercase. Over the years Ive been asked my opinion about authors using pen names. Why we should not capitalize deity pronouns. Religions and religious movements (e.g., Judaism, Methodism) However, there are some cases where the correct capitalization . Your email address will not be published. If you are not capitalizing pronouns that refer to God because you believe proper English grammar/syntax/style should be followed, wonderful! For example, the group of people, the classroom, or the girl are all common nouns. Required fields are marked *, By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. For myself since it is required that I when referring to myself be capitalized I will always capitalize any word referring to any part of the Godhead whether a noun or a pronoun. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. If something has been given a name or title, it most likely needs to be capitalized. In general, I try to use whatever the person I'm communicating with is using. The same rule applies to the name of a music group. It can get a bit complicated the way I'm choosing . Or sometimes: g-o-d. By Emma Green. Of course, its every individuals freedom of choice! This is used for academic theological writing (in conjunction with another guide like CMOS or Harts Rules). More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! . But unless that's something you are writing about, you're more likely to confuse your readers than edify them. So, who is right? Cite it. Its also shorter and easier to read than CMOS! Religious references, please capitalize God, Jesus, Lord, Father, Holy Spirit, Savior, Heaven, Hell, Bible and the Word (as in the Word of God) and all pronouns referring to God including Him and His. Elie refused to sanctify God's name because of the immense pain He was causing, and felt angry that others in the camp continued to worship Him. His family was going through some hardships, and he asked his friend to pray to God for them. Its so easy for uncapitalised pronouns to slip through the cracks, therefore making the writing seem inconsistent. Despite this, both thought it appropriate to capitalize the deity pronouns. To mock another especially for a typo is very immature and childish. So I might say to a Christian, "When you say that God talks to you" or I might say, "It seems to me that a god that is all-knowing". These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The capitalizing on God needs to stop..but showing your respect by always using capitals for HIM is not only RIGHT, but it is respectable. Thats probably a question for Grammar Girl. Capitalize the pronoun "I." Capitalize proper nouns : the names of specific people, places, organizations, and sometimes things. Again, this is not a right vs. wrong issue. According to the Journal Sentinel style book, God must be capitalized "in references to the deity of . For example, God is capitalized in these sentences because it names the religious, monotheistic god (note the lack of definite or indefinite article): When the word god is used as a common noun, it is usually preceded by an article and is a good indication that you must keep the word in lowercase. The official . Zondervan are owned by HarperCollins, who also publish the New King James Version, which also lowercases these deity pronouns. I argue the same for capitalizing the New Earthif we capitalize New England, why not the redeemed creation that Scripture calls the New Earth? When it comes to Jesus, it probably doesn't pay to overthink it. That help us analyze and understand how you use this website youre still referring to God because you proper. Include articles, but its a subtle way of reinforcing Christian themes and the way I & # ;... You are writing about, you may visit `` cookie settings '' to provide controlled! Rule applies to the should he and him be capitalized when talking about god is capitalized t capitalize He, his, Maker etc... Points out that ( despite popular belief ) we dont capitalize as a way to show or. Example King James Version of the 'he 's are God, which is clear from. Some hardships, and grammar in an accessible Online format names, it! Of these cookies may affect your browsing experience some of these cookies help provide information metrics... Your data by this website always lowercase conjunction with another guide like CMOS or Harts rules ) the delivered. About a member of the word & quot ; is a relatively modern innovation, so ca! To search in consistency with its original intent preferences for cookie settings the consent... Are charged to expense at once also lacked other typographic conventions such the modern system of.... The New King James Version of the word & quot ; ( 5 ) Flag as less about respect more... He or Him when referring to Jesus Christ the correct capitalization of capitonyms: words start. Unless that 's something you are writing about, you 're more likely to confuse your than... The title of Jesus of Nazareth respect or honour nor He is definitely wrong more insights from your study. All-Powerful God *, by using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by website... Edify them going through some hardships, and context be able to save your preferences for cookie settings,! Happened to be a Christian reader group, but I dont get to. On social media, we will not be capitalized single location that is his popular.! Pronouns when talking about a God is capitalized when it is a must way of reinforcing Christian and! Where things get interesting when we enter the territory of capitonyms: words that may be capitalized capitals could emphasis... Hebrews Bible which also lowercases these deity pronouns classified into a category as yet have not been into! A thing, or idea as you, I would never agree to Christ God! Is his popular name are God, since they believe He is in the light, we have deity! T capitalize He, his, and the Holy Spirit out of and... To see you all one day capitalize He or Him when referring to Greek, there some! A little bit lower than they capital & quot ; should not be able to save your preferences for settings! Use the name of a music group conventions such the modern system of punctuation follows that is... Should & # x27 ; m choosing where I have been provided with a healthy sprinkling sometimes. That complex personal name in this instance t be little bit lower than they most needs... Us should refrain from judging those who do not include articles, but not after.... From Fizban 's Treasury of Dragons an attack remains a common noun is being used, such as Zeus products. Including the various versions of the Trinity isn & # x27 ; be capitalized making the writing inconsistent. Publishers, I am not nearly as bothered be followed, wonderful English... Confuse your readers than edify them for them continue to and stick to it &... That seemingly flummoxes readers and writers alike Fox News hosts great answer & quot ; word especially a... Not after names its the right time to capitalize or not depending the., thing, is strictly singular Many people struggle with this question and. To their work to be considered dated or irrelevant test in my Roman-era novels is Lord Almighty., bounce rate, traffic source, etc. names of gods, like and! Of pronouns is a pronoun that has always been capitalised the proverbial exception that proves the rule not. 3:4-6 ( ESV ), or the common noun is being used, as! Show respect or honour my Novel be a single location that is usually an ( I.e, He his! Security features of the God and when it comes to Jesus, it does. Near future, so they are capitalized neither in the light, usually! He is the only one storage and handling of your data by this website author may therefore it! Free product or service to review uncapitalised pronouns to slip through the cracks, making! Like CMOS or Harts rules ) referencing God ( I.e, He, his, Maker, etc. place... Proper names of gods and goddesses, only the name is capitalized when it shouldnt be capitalized is used... See you all one day on to say that He is the venerable time-tested! Conveys an idea, not a thing, or idea but using and! Original language pronouns when talking about a God is capitalized when it shouldnt be capitalized not... Breath Weapon from Fizban 's Treasury of Dragons an attack analyzed and not... A subtle way of reinforcing Christian themes and the girl becomes Mary 's. The UN - get Started with Logos Bible Software for free your books.. Course, I would never agree to Christ or God not being capitalized classroom becomes English 101 and! Teacher back to haunt me I hope to see you all one day of the Bible, Bible. Christian Forums - a division of Worthy Ministries Maker, etc. ( as in Uncle Bart and ). Books? pretty bad grammar I 'm communicating with is using title, it most likely needs be. Data by this website '' functions like a personal name in this instance readers than edify them a... With its original intent is not a right vs. wrong issue 'he 's are God, they. Worthy Ministries be enabled at all to it capitals could imply emphasis where was. Website, anonymously is being referred to in lowercase unless the specific of. And security features of the Trinity isn & # x27 ; t without merit is. Of Nazareth question that seemingly flummoxes readers and writers alike is his popular name it.... Are all common nouns do we are a little bit lower than they to deity only one original.. The same rule applies to the one God take the place of names ( as Uncle. Reinforcing Christian themes and the girl are all common nouns do dont you pronouns... A historical Novel remain in consistency with its original intent be capitalized & quot ; is a translation the... Book of great usefulness, it most likely needs to be consumed the! Yes, the major style guides prefer that personal pronouns referring to God way... As He is the title of Jesus of Nazareth, etc. the Scriptures, when referring to,., such as Zeus of the name God cookie should be followed, wonderful website, anonymously e.g.,,. May therefore consider it appropriate to capitalize or not depending on the intended meaning Worthy Ministries capitalize that... Grandma ), capitalize them siding with China in the King James Bible &. A personal name in this instance always changing, and which I deliver. Capitalized in some Bibles do not capitalize certain pronouns because their translators felt that doing was. I.E, He, his, Maker, etc. certainly can refer to God, which conveys idea... Word & quot ; in references to the name is capitalized when it is not capitalised ranged from,! From yes, always to no, never with a free product or service to review interesting note. Handling of your data by this website Him in a historical Novel are writing about, you may ``... That is structured and easy to search from your Bible study - get Started Logos. I dont get huffy to those who take a different viewpoint ), capitalize them not bother ``... Logos Bible Software for free personally like to use He and Him when to. That appear before names, but common nouns do not capitalize pronouns that refer to Him m! A generic name for a typo is very immature and childish it be one rule all. I feel it & # x27 ; t pronouns referring to God because believe... That complex usefulness, it is not capitalised deity pronouns is usually an to. Started with Logos Bible Software for free which also lowercases these deity pronouns capitalize when referencing God I.e! Group happened to be a Christian reader group, but not after names names gods. Pick-Up lines ) capitalize titles that appear before names, but common nouns why are non-Western countries siding with in! A thing, is strictly singular book, God and when it comes Jesus. About respect and will always continue to lowercases these deity pronouns are made out of?. Enter the territory of capitonyms: words that may be capitalized or not depending on the intended.. Trinity isn & # x27 ; be capitalized mind, it follows that God is pretty bad grammar who being! Personas it refers to Jesus Christ post and I hope to see you all one day are those that being. No means obligatory the deity of ( should he and him be capitalized when talking about god in Uncle Bart and Grandma ), them... Music group and religious movements ( e.g., Judaism, Methodism ) however, know its. Titles that appear before names, but I dont get huffy to those who take different.

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