Figures of speech which describe God in human terms, sometimes referred to as anthropomorphisms. Since God is Spirit, these expressions help the human mind to understand God, and enable God to reveal himself to human beings.
Bodily form ascribed to God
Exodus 33:23 See also Genesis 18:2–14; Joshua 5:13–15; Ezekiel 1:26–28
Then I will take My hand away, and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.”
His face
Numbers 6:25–26 See also Psalm 27:8, Psalm 51:9; Matthew 18:10; Revelation 22:4
may the LORD cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the LORD lift up His countenance toward you and give you peace.’
His heart
2 Chronicles 7:16 See also Genesis 6:6, Genesis 8:21; 1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22
For I have now chosen and consecrated this temple so that My Name may be there forever. My eyes and My heart will be there for all time.
His hands
Isaiah 14:27 See also 1 Chronicles 28:19, 1 Chronicles 29:14, 1 Chronicles 29:16; Psalm 45:4; Acts 2:33–34; 1 Peter 3:22, 1 Peter 5:6
The LORD of Hosts has purposed, and who can thwart Him? His hand is outstretched, so who can turn it back?
His eyes
2 Chronicles 16:9 See also Deuteronomy 11:12; Proverbs 15:3; Amos 9:8; Zechariah 4:10; 1 Peter 3:12; Psalm 34:15
For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”
His feet
Ezekiel 43:7 See also Deuteronomy 33:3; 2 Samuel 22:10 parallel Psalm 18:9; Psalm 45:5; Isaiah 60:13
and He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place for the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the Israelites forever. The house of Israel will never again defile My holy name — neither they nor their kings — by their prostitution and by the funeral offerings for their kings at their deaths.
His arm
Isaiah 59:1; Jeremiah 32:21 God's arm is particularly used as a symbol of his power at the exodus. See also Exodus 6:6; Deuteronomy 5:15; Job 40:9; Isaiah 51:9, Isaiah 52:10, Isaiah 63:5; Luke 1:51; John 12:38; Isaiah 53:1
Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear.
You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, and with great terror.
His mind
Romans 11:34 See also Isaiah 40:13; 1 Samuel 15:29; Jeremiah 7:31; Hebrews 7:21; Psalm 110:4
“Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?”
Human actions ascribed to God
He walks
Genesis 3:8 See also Leviticus 26:12; 2 Corinthians 6:16
Then the man and his wife heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the breeze of the day, and they hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
He speaks
Deuteronomy 4:12 See also Job 40:6; Psalm 29:3–9, Psalm 33:6, Psalm 33:9; Ezekiel 1:24; Matthew 3:17 parallels Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22; Acts 7:6
And the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of the words but saw no form; there was only a voice.
He rests
Genesis 2:2 See also Exodus 20:11; Hebrews 4:4
And by the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on that day He rested from all His work.
He rides
Psalm 68:4 See also Deuteronomy 33:26; 2 Samuel 22:11 parallel Psalm 18:10; Psalm 68:33; Habakkuk 3:8
Sing to God! Sing praises to His name. Exalt Him who rides on the clouds— His name is the LORD— and rejoice before Him.
He laughs
Psalm 59:8 See also Psalm 2:4, Psalm 37:13
But You, O LORD, laugh at them; You scoff at all the nations.
Other actions
Isaiah 5:26 God whistles; Revelation 3:20 God knocks
Human senses ascribed to God
He hears
Psalm 4:3 God's hearing usually refers to his answering of prayer. See also Genesis 16:11; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 94:9; Luke 1:13; John 11:42; Hebrews 5:7
Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself; the LORD hears when I call to Him.
He sees
Genesis 16:13 See also Genesis 1:4; 2 Chronicles 12:7; Nehemiah 9:9; Proverbs 24:18; Ezekiel 8:12–13; Jonah 3:10
So Hagar gave this name to the LORD who had spoken to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “Here I have seen the One who sees me!”
He smells
Genesis 8:21 God's smelling refers to his acceptance of sacrifices. See also Leviticus 1:9
When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.
God experiences emotion
He shows delight
Zephaniah 3:17 See also Deuteronomy 30:9; Psalm 149:4; Isaiah 5:7, Isaiah 62:4
The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.”
He is compassionate
James 5:11 See also Psalm 145:9; Isaiah 54:10; Hosea 2:19, Hosea 11:8; 2 Corinthians 1:3
See how blessed we consider those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
He is angry
Psalm 95:10–11 See also 2 Kings 17:11; Psalm 78:58, Psalm 106:29; Isaiah 5:25, Isaiah 54:8
For forty years I was angry with that generation, and I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known My ways.” So I swore on oath in My anger, “They shall never enter My rest.”
He experiences pain
Genesis 6:6 See also 1 Samuel 15:11, 1 Samuel 15:35; 2 Samuel 24:16 parallel 1 Chronicles 21:15; Ezekiel 6:9
And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
Human occupations ascribed to God
Isaiah 29:16 God as a potter. See also Exodus 15:3 God as a warrior; Psalm 23:1 God as a shepherd; Hebrews 11:10 God as a builder
You have turned things upside down, as if the potter were regarded as clay. Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, “He did not make me”? Can the pottery say of the potter, “He has no understanding”?
Human relationships ascribed to God
God as a loving husband
Isaiah 54:5–8 See also Jeremiah 3:14, Jeremiah 31:32; Hosea 2:16
For your husband is your Maker — the LORD of Hosts is His name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth. For the LORD has called you back, like a wife deserted and wounded in spirit, like the rejected wife of one’s youth,” says your God. “For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will bring you back. In a surge of anger I hid My face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD your Redeemer.
God as a loving father
Psalm 103:13 See also Isaiah 1:2–3; Jeremiah 31:9; Hosea 11:1–4; Matthew 11:27; John 16:27
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
God is not to be brought down to human levels
Hosea 11:9 See also Numbers 23:19; Job 9:32; Psalm 50:21; Isaiah 55:8–9
I will not execute the full fury of My anger; I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God and not man — the Holy One among you — and I will not come in wrath.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.