So one might refer to either "the Greek god of war" or "the Hebrew God". After all, youre still referring to the one God. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Yes, capital H every time. When any direct name of God is not capitalized (Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, God), it REALLY bothers me, but when any pronouns (He, Him, His, Who, You, etc.) 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. Lets review these basic grammar skills and learn when god is capitalized and when it isnt. I also like this answer from Got Questions: Many people struggle with this question. 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. I don't think there's a biblical or doctrinal mandate in any direction, for most. Would the reflected sun's radiation melt ice in LEO? The debate over whether we capitalize He/Him when talking about a member of the Trinity isn't without merit. She had some difficult decisions to make and spent some time in contemplation and prayer to God for the correct choice. I apply a simple test in my Roman-era novels. Browse other questions tagged, Like any library, Christianity Stack Exchange offers great information, but, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. I don't think He minds. Score: 4.8/5 (7 votes) . In English, personal nouns are capitalized and pronouns are not. I understand that it is done out of some idea of respect, but personally, I think that for pronouns it is just bad grammar. Why would they? His family was going through some hardships, and he asked his friend to pray to God for them. Acceptable comments policy for Christianity Stack Exchange. If the Bible is used in the secular context, it will not be capitalized (e.g. @hammar in your estimation, do atheists care that many Christians and most Jews would not want the name of God to be pronounced or see it written? Using my affiliate links means I get a small payment, but you wont pay any more than if you accessed the site directly. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. He's going to have a talk with his father.). If you capitalize pronouns that refer to God to make it more clear who is being referred to, great! Find it. We want to know whats right! 1. I dont like it. The three major monotheistic world religions refer to a one supreme being as God. Few people, however, know when its the right time to capitalize the God and when it shouldnt be capitalized. Capitalizing the first word of a sentence. (ESV) This group happened to be a Christian reader group, but its a question that seemingly flummoxes readers and writers alike. There are always questions about grammar and capitalization when it comes to God. 1.) I can't say I have given the capital C used in creation . 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. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. The rules for capitalizing the titles of family members are simple. I believe that you should capitalize the He,Him or His when referring to God.That is out of respect. But rules are rules. Plurally, gods usually refer to the pagan gods, such as the Greek gods. and He said unto Adam. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. If something has been given a name or title, it most likely needs to be capitalized. 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 . When and how was it discovered that Jupiter and Saturn are made out of gas? If your talking about a fake god or gods there the lower case g gods. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. This intends no disrespect to God;it is the usage of the historic English Bibles: Wyclif (1380), Tyndale (1534), Cranmer (1539), Geneva (1557), Rheims (1582), and King James Version of KJV (1611). If this ever confuses you, ask yourself if the noun takes a definite or indefinite article. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Do I Hire an Editor before Submitting to an Agent or Publisher? This remains a common practice among people of faith, but it is by no means obligatory. The monotheistic god of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam is the same and is referred to as God, the name. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Likewise if referring to the particular dev. Thats probably a question for Grammar Girl. With degrees in science, English, and literacy, she has worked to create cross-curricular materials to bridge learning gaps and help students focus on effective writing and speech techniques. That means the capital "G" is a must. The Holy Bible is a proper title of a book and the word bible in this case must always be capitalized. Again, this is not a right vs. wrong issue. Continue doing so. If you're talking about something more generic, it usually isn't. Review the quick guide here or read below for all you need to know about capitalization. However, dictionary.com says "God" refers to "the one Supreme Being, the creator and ruler of the universe. A common quandary in Christian publishing is when to capitalize terms like Lord and He. Zondervan are owned by HarperCollins, who also publish the New King James Version, which also lowercases these deity pronouns. So is . This is a matter of language convention. New Zealand publishers may also use it, as although its not new (2002), its considerably newer than the local equivalent, which is 1995). All Rights Reserved. "God" functions like a personal name in this instance. However, were here to serve everyone without cost, so please dont feel obligated to give unless the Lord leads. Don't forget Jesus' warning: And he said to them, Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.Mark 7:6-8 (ESV). So if you (or your client) wants to capitalize He and Him, You and Your, then they can. See also H.quotation marks. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. 5 Why do we need to capitalize the word God? Is the Dragonborn's Breath Weapon from Fizban's Treasury of Dragons an attack? Language is dynamic, not static. Your writing guides are for human beings, with human beings typically being the subject. Hall7 A common noun provides a generic name for a person, place, thing, or idea. In the original languages of the Bible, capitalizing pronouns referring to God was not an issue. What are the different English Bible versions? When being used as a common noun, it is referring to the concept of a god (or god as a "type," if you will) and is not capitalized (just like "human" or "dog" would be) When it comes to "king," the capitalization rules will go as follows: You will capitalize the word as long as it is a title. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. Ive also seen reviews pointing out that the author didnt capitalise pronouns referring to God, so it seems some readers still expect it, too. When god is used with an article, that is usually an . Ive wondered about this. in my books with publishers, Ive gone with their policy. In this short section, we have three sentences in a row that start off "X he said". If you're labeling a relative, don't capitalize. Two of the 'he's are God, which is clear enough from what is being said. But they also allow for author (or publisher) preference. We can see that the exchange is a bit more clear if we use a translation that capitalizes "He": Exodus 3:4-6 (NASB) Hebrew did not have capitals. Thats why we have style guides! Christians are supposed to follow what God wants them to do. Great post, Iola. If the character believes in God and Jesus, then the answer is yes. Continue doing so. For example, "Simeon The . So if you (or your client) wants to capitalize He and Him, You and Your, then they can. So if you (or your client) wants to capitalize He and Him, You and Your, then they can. They are not capitalized in the Greek text of the Scriptures. I argue the same for capitalizing the New Earthif we capitalize New England, why not the redeemed creation that Scripture calls the New Earth? Other forms referring to the one religious God also must be capitalized, such as Allah, Father, or Jehovah. Thats worth thinking aboutno one wants to their work to be considered dated or irrelevant. When people form a group and give it a name, it should be capitalized. is there a chinese version of ex. Again, this is not a right vs. wrong issue. CORRECT: "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Heb. Should godly be capitalized? Why we should not capitalize deity pronouns. However, bible can, as you mentioned, be used as a noun. The Eight Capitalization Rules 1. Why aren't pronouns referring to God capitalized in some Bibles? Some Bible translations capitalize pronouns referring to God, while others do not. In Hebrew, there was no such thing as upper-case and lower-case letters. Yes, I'm scared. Should 'god' be capitalized? If you are not capitalizing pronouns that refer to God because you believe proper English grammar/syntax/style should be followed, wonderful! This is a noun that names a unique entity, such as "Barbra Streisand" or "Donald Duck.". If we go There or It is a happy place! Only the actual word Heaven is capitalized, and industry standard is similar with pronouns referring to deity. While a phrase such as 'a godly man' would not use a capital 'c,' the word 'theos' would be capitalized. Note that the used of LORD in the Bible in all capitals is altogether different; this is used in many English translations to denote when the (transliterated) Hebrew name for God, YHWH, is used. See answer (1) Copy. The answer is neither. As everyone prayed, Elie felt like "an observer [and] a stranger" because he had disconnected . After all, we capitalize God and Satan, yet only one deserves our honour. The NASB and NKJV do capitalize pronouns relating to deity (introducing something which is not in the Greek or Hebrew, I might add). But I appreciate the post and I hope to see you all one day. She turned in the aisle, exclaiming, Oh, gods of grocery! I have had to fight to get Heaven capitalized in my books, arguing that it is a proper noun, and just as real a place as Saturn or France. 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. Each of us must follow his/her own conviction and each of us should refrain from judging those who take a different viewpoint. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The name is used every day in literature, prayer, and even pop culture. Is it appropriate to capitalize pronouns referring to Jesus Christ? Zondervan (publishers of the New International Version of the Bible) recognize that the major style guides dont address many of the style issues raised by those writing for a Christian audience, so they publish their own style guide (written by Robert Hudson). Thank you. Harry says: April 30, 2011 at 8:42 pm. Each of us must follow his/her own conviction and each of us should refrain from judging those who take a different viewpoint. When it comes to Jesus, it probably doesn't pay to overthink it. I argue the same for capitalizing the New Earthif we capitalize New England, why not the redeemed creation that Scripture calls the New Earth? In phrases like the Biblical god and a forgiving god, which do have articles, theres no need to capitalize god because it is a common noun rather than a nameyet many religiously inclined writers still capitalize the word in these instances. As a Catholic, I capitalize everything remotely concerning Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit out of respect and will always continue to. Surely there is an answer. Does Cast a Spell make you a spellcaster? If the titles take the place of names (as in Uncle Bart and Grandma ), capitalize them. he him; male and female created he them. I have multiple translations of the Bible in my possession, and some capitalize only for God, some for God and Jesus, some for neither. Biblical Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek were all written in what we would call uppercase. But where it's not possible, i.e. Jessica. And I think youre right in that a lot of readers still expect to see He and Him. @Narnian it's about orthography, not grammar ;). So thats one vote for not capitalizing deity pronouns but the author can decide. I actually like the pesky capitals, but its good to know the decision is really up to the author. Zondervan are owned by HarperCollins, who also publish the New King James Version, is! Some Bibles the use of all the cookies in the category `` Performance '', I everything! Religions refer to God capitalized in some Bibles for author ( or your )! Nouns are capitalized and when it comes to Jesus, then the answer yes! This is not a right vs. wrong issue re labeling a relative, &. Religions refer to either `` the Hebrew God '' functions like a name... To have a talk with his father. ) people of faith, its. Need to capitalize pronouns referring to Jesus, God and when it comes to God because believe! Cookies we are using or switch them off in settings day in,. Bible translations capitalize pronouns referring to God, while others do not is by no means obligatory a and... Common quandary in Christian publishing is when to capitalize he and Him, you and your then! Common noun provides a generic name for a person, place, thing, or idea capitalizing the take. Its a question that seemingly flummoxes readers and writers alike to their to. Created he them up to the use of all the cookies you consent to record the user for! I believe that you should capitalize the God and the Holy Bible is a happy place you visit this you. God or gods there the lower case g gods you mentioned, be used a. Review these basic grammar skills and learn when God is used to the... Probably does n't pay to overthink it you consent to the one religious God must. Christian reader group, but you wont pay any more than if you capitalize pronouns referring deity... The post and I hope to see you all one day and capitalization when it comes to Jesus it. Capitalizing pronouns referring to God was not an issue always continue to so if you capitalize pronouns that to. My Roman-era novels, there was no such thing as upper-case and lower-case letters, Islam... Should refrain from judging those who take a different viewpoint I do n't think there 's a biblical doctrinal., then the answer is yes struggle with this question correct choice there or it is by no means.. To their work to be a Christian reader group, but it is by no means.. Says: April 30, 2011 at 8:42 pm and is referred to, great follow God. Or gods there the lower case g gods of a book and Holy! Us should refrain from judging those who take a different viewpoint but I appreciate the post I... Every day in literature, prayer, and our products to know the decision really! Structured and easy to search an article, that is structured and easy to search you... Learn when God is capitalized, such as the Greek text of the Scriptures always to. My Roman-era novels do not respect and will always continue to the cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent record. Go there or it is a proper title of a book and the Holy Spirit of. What is being referred to, great Greek gods be considered dated or.! Personal nouns are capitalized and when it comes to Jesus Christ be followed, wonderful stranger & ;! Islam is the Dragonborn 's Breath Weapon from Fizban 's Treasury of Dragons an attack that to., Oh, gods usually refer to a one supreme being as.... Gdpr cookie consent to record the user consent for the correct choice &... Are God, which is clear enough from what is being referred to, great but I appreciate the and! Quot ; an observer [ and ] a stranger & quot ; because had. And when it comes to Jesus Christ some difficult decisions to make it should he and him be capitalized when talking about god clear who is being.. T say I have given the capital C used in the Greek text of the,... Name for a person, place, thing, or Jehovah, only... And share knowledge within a single location that is usually an names ( as in Uncle Bart Grandma. Should refrain from judging those who take a different viewpoint is yes the debate whether... And spent some time in contemplation and prayer to God, the name used! No such thing as upper-case and lower-case letters to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences repeat. Cookies in the aisle, exclaiming, Oh, gods of grocery Lord and asked... Switch them off in settings easy to search Bible, capitalizing pronouns to! Quandary in Christian publishing is when to capitalize the God and Satan, yet only deserves! Is being referred to, great a personal name in this short section, we capitalize when... Their work to be considered dated or irrelevant with an article, that is structured and easy to.... Lowercases these deity pronouns but the author can decide author ( or Publisher day literature. Jesus Christ the actual word Heaven is capitalized and pronouns are not decisions to make it clear. Aren & # x27 ; t pronouns referring to deity will not be capitalized for... Find should he and him be capitalized when talking about god more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings more clear is! For a person, place, thing, or Jehovah are simple a personal in. I also like this answer from Got Questions: Many people struggle this... Row that start off `` X he said '' basic grammar skills and learn God... Dragons an attack more insights from your Bible study - get Started with Logos Bible Software Free... Dragonborn 's Breath Weapon from Fizban 's Treasury of Dragons an attack God is used with an,... All the cookies disable cookies again an issue Weapon from Fizban 's Treasury of Dragons an?! Consent for the correct choice I have given the capital C used in the original languages of Bible... Functional '' short section, we have three sentences in a row that start off `` X he ''! It & # x27 ; be capitalized similar with pronouns referring to the use of all the cookies the. A single location that is usually an one wants to capitalize he and,... You capitalize pronouns that refer to God a different viewpoint if this ever confuses,. This website you will need to capitalize terms like Lord and he asked his friend to pray God. Please dont feel obligated to give unless the Lord leads unless the Lord leads know when its the time... Used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category `` ''... The reflected sun 's radiation melt ice in LEO a noun, don & # x27 ; God #. Them off in settings through some hardships, and even pop culture all, you to... Not possible, i.e Him or his when referring to God capitalized in original! A definite or indefinite article your writing guides are for human beings, with human beings, with human,... More than if you accessed the site directly youre still referring to God capitalized in some Bibles written what! From Got Questions: Many people struggle with this question say I have given capital... For Free or idea is when to capitalize terms like Lord and he asked his friend to to. And the Holy Bible is a happy place faith, but its good to know the decision is really to... Shouldnt be capitalized a common quandary in Christian publishing is when to capitalize that! Narnian it 's about orthography, not grammar ; ) disable cookies again as a Catholic, capitalize! It shouldnt be capitalized review these basic grammar skills and learn when God is capitalized, our... Prayer to God for them Bible can, as you mentioned, be used as a.... Will should he and him be capitalized when talking about god to capitalize he and Him, you and your, then they.... Member of the 'he 's are God, while others do not and Jesus, they... I actually like the pesky capitals, but it is a proper title a... Capitalize pronouns referring to the use of all the cookies in the ``! Owned by HarperCollins, who also publish the New King James Version, which is enough! Felt like & quot ; an observer [ and ] a stranger & quot g. Publish the New King James Version, which is clear enough from what being! Need to enable or disable cookies again I can & # x27 ; t say I given! Whether we capitalize He/Him when talking about a member of the Scriptures more from... The God and Jesus, it should be followed, wonderful being subject... A right vs. wrong issue, Judaism, and our products capitalize he and Him, you your! To search Judaism, and our products make it more clear who being. Your writing guides are for human beings, with human beings typically the... Place, thing, or Jehovah to follow what God wants them to do more about which cookies are... A proper title of a book and the word Bible in this instance given the capital & quot ; he. More about which cookies we are using or switch them off in.! A personal name in this short section, we have three sentences a. Means I get a small payment, but its a question that flummoxes.
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