God Didn’t Choose Male Pronouns—We Did: Reclaiming a Gender-Free View of the Divine

God Didn’t Choose Male Pronouns—We Did: Reclaiming a Gender-Free View of the Divine


When we refer to God using “He” or “Him,” it might seem natural—automatic, even. But is it truly biblical? Or is it something we’ve inherited from ancient cultures more than divine revelation? The idea that God is “male” is not rooted in God’s own self-disclosure but in how humans, shaped by patriarchal systems, chose to speak about the divine.


The Bible’s Cultural Backdrop Was Patriarchal


In the Ancient Near Eastern world, men dominated public life, religious leadership, and household authority. It’s no surprise that ancient texts—including the Hebrew Scriptures—describe God using male imagery. But that’s not because God is male. It’s because male-centered language was the default. Just as kings ruled over kingdoms, male metaphors ruled religious vocabulary. The use of “Father,” “Lord,” and “King” reflects human understanding filtered through time and culture—not God’s essence.


God Is Spirit—Not Male or Female


Jesus says it plainly in John 4:24: “God is Spirit.” Spirit has no flesh, no genitalia, no chromosomes. God is not a “man in the sky.” Assigning human biological sex to the Creator of the cosmos is both theologically inaccurate and spiritually limiting. While the Bible may use masculine metaphors, it also uses feminine ones. God is described as a mother in labor (Isaiah 42:14), a nursing mother (Isaiah 49:15), and a mother hen protecting her chicks (Matthew 23:37). These are not contradictions; they are poetic ways of trying to express the mystery of divine compassion and care.


Why Pronouns Matter


Pronouns shape how we see, speak about, and relate to God. If we only ever refer to God as “He,” we risk reinforcing the idea that male is somehow more godlike—or that only men can represent God’s authority. This has had long-term effects on how others have been viewed in spiritual communities. But the truth is: God transcends gender. God is not confined to a male identity, and God’s image is reflected in all people (Genesis 1:27), “male and female.”


Conclusion 


Letting go of strictly male language doesn’t mean disrespecting tradition. It means recovering a more expansive and faithful view of God. One that honors God’s mystery, God's Spirit, and God’s presence in every human being. If God truly transcends all categories, then our language should aim for inclusivity, mystery, and respect for the divine image in all.

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