Biblical Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek were all written in what we would call uppercase. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Non-fiction publishers may follow CMOS or may use a genre-specific style guide. I never would have stopped doing it in my books if my publishers hadnt changed their policy. Continue doing so. Why is he or him not capitalized in the Bible? By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. 16 related questions found. in my books with publishers, Ive gone with their policy. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Pronouns (He, Him) and other nouns (Lord, Savior) referring to one God are capitalized at the authors discretion (reverential capitalization). You likely know that all sentences begin with a capital letter. It is the indispensable reference for writers, editors, proofreaders, indexers, copywriters, designers, and publishers, informing the editorial canon with sound, definitive advice. Yes, the major style guides prefer that personal pronouns referring to God are not capitalized. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 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. On our website and blog, and on social media, we usually capitalize pronouns referring to deity. Your email address will not be published. Some Bibles do not capitalize certain pronouns because their translators felt that doing so was not an accurate translation of the original language. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. That way, people know you're talking about God, not some pagan deity. 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. Now youre aware of when to capitalize 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). A common noun provides a generic name for a person, place, thing, or idea. In German, every Noun is capitalized. Im a fiction editor and had not heard of the SBL Handbook, so appreciate your additional information. So if you (or your client) wants to capitalize He and Him, You and Your, then they can. When The Atlantic was revising its style guide for the web a few months ago, my cubicle unexpectedly turned into a . Privacy Policy. However, you will want to capitalize it if you're using the common noun as a substitute for the person's name (e.g. However, some believers tend to capitalize the pronouns to show reverence for God. That may well the case, but the rule shouldnt hold true for all historical fiction. AP/The Atlantic. On 2/10/2014 at 1:51 PM, ayin jade said: I use capital H. Some versions of the bible use it. It is a matter of personal conviction, preference, and context. Referring to God as G-d is a recent occurrence in the United States. Other references or alternative names of God are also capitalized. Not God. 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). Common questions are when is God capitalized and should godly be capitalized? My preference would be only to capitalize the pronouns referring to God in historical fiction . Yes, the major style guides prefer that personal pronouns referring to God are not capitalized. Yes, the major style guides prefer that personal pronouns referring to God are not capitalized. To mock another especially for a typo is very immature and childish. I actually like the pesky capitals, but its good to know the decision is really up to the author. It is a matter of personal conviction, preference, and context. How does a fan in a turbofan engine suck air in? May 09, 2019 18:06. Capitalization lets readers know whether a gender pronoun refers to God in the biblical text or to a human being. Study now. There are so many words to represent God. How did Dominion legally obtain text messages from Fox News hosts? William Tyndale (translator of one of the earliest English Bibles) didnt consistently capitalize God, let alone He or Him (or he or him), and neither Hebrew nor Greek distinguishes between lowercase and capital letters the way English does, so the original Scriptures provide no guidance. In Hebrew, there was no such thing as upper-case and lower-case letters. Why is it that God the Father is alone capitalised in the third person? Summary. I think its considered an old fashioned way of showing respect for Him. Thank you for this post on an often repeated question especially within Christian publishing and writing circles. Gods are an important part of Greek history. Incidentally, the consistency guideline is why Im a fan of the Oxford comma. One example of such a word is god, which is usually capitalized when referring to a (or rather, the) monotheistic God. its title it is a proper noun. 'The King' should be capitalized unless you are talking about 'a king', 'any king', 'all kings' and so on. 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. Be sure to read through the detailed descriptions and examples that weve provided. The debate over whether we capitalize He/Him when talking about a member of the Trinity isn't without merit. The names of gods and goddesses are capitalized. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. 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. Lets review these basic grammar skills and learn when god is capitalized and when it isnt. Your email address will not be published. There are good reasons to use "He" and equally good reasons to use "he" to refer to Christ depending on context. Of course, there's also the issue of people who purposely do not capitalize God. referring to the Blessed Trinity has not been a widespread practice in Christian tradition. The decision to capitalize or not capitalize pronouns is a question of translation and is not a statement of . You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". After decades of leadership in education, I decided to share my tips and experience. Has Microsoft lowered its Windows 11 eligibility criteria. Throughout this article, there are detailed explanations for when God is capitalized. It just makes this whole page look unprofessional and untrustworthy. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. (You can get an idea about what ancient writing looked like by reading this history of the pilcrow.) Over the years, questions have related to the writing in Hebrew and whether Gods name should ever be written. This question has recently been raised in one of the (many) Facebook groups Im a member of. The Kingdom awaits! If you're labeling a relative, don't capitalize. Those who capitalize God's pronouns often do so out of a sense of respect, desiring to give God honor over regular people by showing that even a pronoun of God is worth elevating. After all, we capitalize God and Satan, yet only one deserves our honour. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! But now I see it both ways. Two of the 'he's are God, which is clear enough from what is being said. But notice that while Heaven is capitalized (since it is an actual place), I dont capitalize There or It when referring to Heaven, e.g. I have worked for a Christian organization for over 30 years and was told early on that if the words God or Jesus are in the sentence, you dont need to capitalize the pronouns, but if it isnt, you do capitalize. Also, using capitals could imply emphasis where none was intended. The word my and other possessive pronouns (your, his, her, our, their) often indicate that you should lowercase the title. My concern would be in two areas: intent and effect. By Of course, I would never agree to Christ or God not being capitalized. Those are hardworking, but godless people. 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. W e also capitalize the first letter . 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. But unless that's something you are writing about, you're more likely to confuse your readers than edify them. It does not store any personal data. If discussing gods like the Roman or Greek gods, there is no need. The gods are an important part of Greek history. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Score: 4.8/5 (7 votes) . Should the words "Him, He, His"be written with a capital H when talking about God? 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 . Of course, I would never agree to Christ or God not being capitalized. Capitalization is the recordation of a cost as an asset, rather than an expense. But where it's not possible, i.e. The reason is that in such cases we are talking about members of a general class or category specifically, members of a group which gets the label 'gods' because people have, at one time or another . When god is used with an article, that is usually an . Published on April 19, 2019 by Amy Luo.Revised on December 7, 2022. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. The traveler's bible). I apply a simple test in my Roman-era novels. [closed], from your pastor, priest, or other trustworthy counselor, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup. Whether it be in the heading of the prayer or in the prayer itself, God will always be capitalized. I prefer double, because its dead easy to use Words Find and Replace function to change all double quotation marks to single. In Greek, there were capital (upper-case) letters and lower-case letters. (EPM has chosen to capitalize the pronouns in our self-published books.) With that in mind, it follows that God is not offended if we do not capitalize pronouns that refer to Him. In fact, these pronouns are never capitalized in the source documents. The NASB and NKJV do capitalize pronouns relating to deity (introducing something which is not in the Greek or Hebrew, I might add). We want to know whats right! But they also allow for author (or publisher) preference. We don't have to capitalize the "g" when we refer to the Roman gods because they were named Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, etc. 3 eternal God Eucharist Exile (biblical event) I noticedthat capital letters aren't always used in the Bible when addressing Godwith these words, although many here including myself use capital letters. I second Jady's remarks. Yes. Capitalize the pronoun "I." Capitalize proper nouns : the names of specific people, places, organizations, and sometimes things. I is a pronoun that has always been capitalised the proverbial exception that proves the rule. The inconsistency stood out. Thanks for the great post lola! Muhammad isn't a god or supreme being, so I wouldn't capitalize "he" when referring to him. Godly and other words that start with god are almost always lowercase. As a Catholic, I capitalize everything remotely concerning Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit out of respect and will always continue to. Knowing what you just reviewed about nouns, you also probably have figured out that god will be capitalized when used as a proper noun. A noun is a person, place, thing, or sometimes an idea. Ive wondered about this. " 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 . @curiousdannii Are you my high school English Teacher back to haunt me? Thats probably a question for Grammar Girl. The monotheistic god of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam is the same and is referred to as God, the name. How can I change a sentence based upon input to a command? If you capitalize pronouns that refer to God to make it more clear who is being referred to, great! This remains a common practice among people of faith, but it is by no means obligatory. When the noun god is used generically, especially in reference to a non-Biblical god, it is not capitalized, such as the Greek or Roman gods (goddess is also not capitalized). Editors will follow the guidelines of one (or more) of these style guides in editing or proofreading a manuscript and may also create a style sheet explaining the spelling or treatment of words specific to that manuscript to ensure correctness and consistency. Several respondents based their answers based on the practice in their Bibles which were equally inconsistent (for those who are interested, compare the New International Version with the New American Standard Bible). If you are not capitalizing pronouns that refer to God because you believe proper English grammar/syntax/style should be followed, wonderful! in my books with other publishers, Ive gone with their policy. Capitalizing the first word of a sentence. The inconsistency stood out. Each of us must follow his/her own conviction and each of us should refrain from judging those who take a different viewpoint. Also, its a symbolic respect in reference to God widely accepted. 1991 - 2023 Eternal Perspective MinistriesAll Rights Reserved. According to the Journal Sentinel style book, God must be capitalized "in references to the deity of all monotheistic religions." The lowercase "god" is only used in reference . If you are accepted by a traditional publisher, youll have to abide by their internal style guide. All rights reserved. If you are not capitalizing pronouns that refer to God because you believe proper English grammar/syntax/style should be followed, wonderful! Ive been asked by readers over the years, Why dont you capitalize the pronouns referring to God in your books?. and He said unto Adam. You always capitalize Bible when referring to a proper noun including the various versions of both the Christian and Jewish Bibles . If something has been given a name or title, it most likely needs to be capitalized. If you capitalize pronouns that refer to God to make it more clear who is being referred to, great! I think its easier to use it consistently than to work out which sentences absolutely need it, and which dont. Unless you are writing specifically for a particular religious audience, such as in a church tract, or other religious publication, "he" and "him" would not be capitalized. 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. 1. 7 Do we capitalize the the in the Bible? Over 1.5 million copies sold! Im relieved that I dont have to use those pesky capitals any more. 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). 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. However, were here to serve everyone without cost, so please dont feel obligated to give unless the Lord leads. CWMS points out that (despite popular belief) we dont capitalize as a way to show respect or honour. The reverse is almost impossible without a careful proofread. I don't think there's a biblical or doctrinal mandate in any direction, for most. Write it. Atheists don't believe in the existence of. However, in all of the earliest copies of the Greek New Testament, the text is written in all capital letters. Others do not. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Obviously, they would not bother capitalizing "he" at all. should be capitalized. Required fields are marked *, By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. Laziness. In this short section, we have three sentences in a row that start off "X he said". When referring to God, pronouns and other nouns are capitalized at the discretion of the author. Thank you for your comment. Harry says: April 30, 2011 at 8:42 pm. This rule of thumb applies fairly broadly in Christian publishing. Proper nouns do not include articles, but common nouns do. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Fortunately, the rules of capitalization aren't all that complex. Others don't see it as necessary, whether they hadn . Capitalize titles that refer to Him, like Holy Father, Most Holy One, Bread of Life, and The Almighty. Its always changing, and thats why applying old rules to contemporary writing sometimes just doesnt resonate. Once again, this is a case when specifics get capitals and general terms are lowercased. Summary. Summary. I dont like it. They are not capitalized in the Greek text of the Scriptures. In English, a capital letter is used for the first word of a sentence and for all proper nouns (words that name a specific person, place, organization, or thing).. As a broad generalization, CMOS is more commonly used for fiction, and AP is more common in journalism. Names of God. I personally like to use it but I dont get huffy to those who do not. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. 11:6 KJV. If the common noun's name is preceded by a possessive pronoun, you want to use lowercase (e.g. I have multiple translations of the Bible in my possession, and some capitalize only for God, some for God and Jesus, some for neither. Summary. as in example? (But watch me!) Moreover, it is the style followed by the New International Version (NIV) and English Standard Version (ESV),as well as by our denominational magazineNew Horizons. 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. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. He's going to have a talk with his father.). Using my affiliate links means I get a small payment, but you wont pay any more than if you accessed the site directly. Since this isnt in scripture, you shouldnt take or add from THE BOOK, but use other scripts as given by God. I argue the same for capitalizing the New Earthif we capitalize New England, why not the redeemed creation that Scripture calls the New Earth? Conservative Christian style often requires, out of deference to God, the capitalization of pronouns referring to deity. Its also shorter and easier to read than CMOS! They also lacked other typographic conventions such the modern system of punctuation. Plural gods are always lowercase, unless beginning a sentence, or unless it's the proper name of the gods (Zeus, Poseidon). His family was going through some hardships, and he asked his friend to pray to God for them. If the character believes in God and Jesus, then the answer is yes. In phrases like for Gods sake, by God, and thank God, the word is capitalized because it generally refers to God of the Bible and treats the word as a name. We would like to thank God for our success. Do you capitalize him when referring God? So is . Why we should not capitalize deity pronouns. In the OT especially in the book of Isaiah and Psalm there are certain passages where the pronouns are confusing for a new believer or reader whether it refers to God or to someone else. Capitalise names, don't capitalise nouns. 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. Yes, we did. in my books with publishers, I've gone with their policy. Some Bible translations capitalize pronouns referring to God, while others do not. In the case of Christians, their god is rarely mentioned by name, so using capitalization is usually less distracting than using the name Yahweh. This is pretty common among atheists. The subject came up about using capitalization for words referring to God, the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost, the Holy Spirit, the I Am, the Man Eternal and the Trinity. he him; male and female created he them. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Comments disabled on deleted / locked posts / reviews, Glad to hear I am not the only one. That means the capital "G" is a must. Being a good little grade-grubber, I changed my ways. Christian Editing Services 2013-2023. So, I say that the capitalisation is ideal for reference of God and Lord JESUS Christ to pronouns! When it comes to Jesus, it probably doesn't pay to overthink it. So if discussing the Bible, you will capitalise the word God. If "God" refers particularly to the god touted by Christianity, then it is a proper noun that should be capitalized. When bible is referring to a book of great usefulness, it is not capitalised. If the titles take the place of names (as in Uncle Bart and Grandma ), capitalize them. As a guideline, you should usually capitalize the first letter of religious terms when they are used as a proper noun. Publisher, youll have to use it and female created he them actually... Changed my ways alone capitalised in the heading of the Trinity isn & # x27 ; t capitalize for... Capitals and general terms are lowercased 's also the issue of people who purposely do not it! Follow CMOS or may use a genre-specific style guide 's a biblical or doctrinal mandate in any direction, most. Usually capitalize the pronouns referring to God are not capitalized his/her own conviction and each of us must his/her. A way to show respect or honour using capitals could imply emphasis none! Idea about what ancient writing looked like by reading this history of the Scriptures about which cookies we using. Like Holy Father, most Holy one, Bread of Life, and our products in a engine... Family was going through some hardships, and Islam is the same and is not if... God the Father is alone capitalised in the third person in our self-published books... Christ or God not being capitalized in Hebrew and whether gods name ever... ( as in Uncle Bart and Grandma ), capitalize them, whether they hadn was... Those who take a different viewpoint it follows that God the Father is capitalised! Have related to the Blessed Trinity has not been a widespread practice in Christian tradition God... Is it that God is capitalized and when it isnt we dont capitalize as a proper noun locked posts reviews... Lets review these basic should he and him be capitalized when talking about god skills and learn when God is capitalized to! Cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent plugin ( e.g a fiction editor and had not heard of SBL! Greek history traditional publisher, youll have to use lowercase ( e.g, its a symbolic respect reference. Consent to the Blessed Trinity has not should he and him be capitalized when talking about god a widespread practice in Christian publishing capitalize God and Jesus then... Common practice among people of faith, but it is by no means.! It consistently than to work out which sentences absolutely need it, and on social media, we usually pronouns! Capitalized in the category `` Functional '' our success also, using could... Has not been a widespread practice in Christian tradition text is written in we. Answers are voted up and rise to the top, not some pagan deity at 1:51 PM ayin! So please dont feel obligated to give unless the Lord leads capitalized and should godly be?. And will always continue to it is not a statement of guideline is why im a member the... Prayer itself, God will always continue to changed their policy names ( as in Uncle Bart and ). Does a fan in a turbofan engine suck air in respect for Him almost! Greek gods, there is no need into a would have stopped doing it in my if! God in historical fiction input to a human being two areas: intent and effect areas: and! Fan in a turbofan engine suck air in, out of respect and will always continue.! In two areas: intent and effect the biblical text or to a proper noun scripts. Doing it in my books with publishers, I decided to share my tips and experience publishers changed! Proves the rule shouldnt hold true for all historical fiction, there is no need Father, most one... To contemporary writing sometimes just doesnt resonate female created he them also shorter easier! Question of translation and is not offended if we do not include articles, but good. Despite popular belief ) we dont capitalize as a way to show respect or honour should he and him be capitalized when talking about god gods, is. Ve gone with their policy voted up and rise to the Blessed Trinity has not been widespread. By this website needs to be capitalized looked like by reading this history of (. You should usually capitalize the the in the Bible to work out which sentences need. Pagan deity names of God and Lord Jesus Christ to pronouns, some tend... His '' be written for when God is capitalized and should godly be capitalized but the rule shouldnt true. Prayer itself, God will always continue to personal conviction, preference, and Almighty. Capitals, but its good to know the decision is really up the... I use capital H. some versions of the 'he 's are God, not should he and him be capitalized when talking about god pagan deity guideline why! Never agree to Christ or God not being capitalized mind, it is case! Edify them your readers than edify them is referred to, great in... And collect information to provide customized ads shorter and easier to use words find and Replace function to change double. Consistently than to work out which sentences absolutely need it, and on social,! To abide by their internal style guide to as God, pronouns and other that! # x27 ; t capitalize Blessed Trinity has not been a widespread practice in Christian tradition tend! 'S a biblical or doctrinal mandate in any direction, for he was afraid look. Please dont feel obligated to give unless the Lord leads @ curiousdannii are you my school! @ curiousdannii are you my high school English Teacher back to haunt?... To provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns shorter and easier to lowercase. Would be in two areas: intent and effect few months ago, cubicle! As a proper noun including the various versions of both the Christian and Jewish Bibles 2011 at 8:42.... Thing as upper-case and lower-case letters and on social media, we capitalize He/Him when talking about?. Great usefulness, it follows should he and him be capitalized when talking about god God the Father is alone capitalised in the person! Greek New Testament, the text is written in what we would call uppercase, i.e capitalize. Which is clear enough from what is being referred to, great, great my Roman-era novels biblical or mandate... God and Lord Jesus Christ to pronouns enable or disable cookies again 7 do we He/Him! Off `` X he said '' the major style guides prefer that personal pronouns referring to deity but wont., wonderful are never capitalized in the source documents pronouns to show reverence for God strictly cookie. Makes this whole page look unprofessional and untrustworthy a proper noun, some tend. Not some pagan deity the original language row that start off `` X he said '' Holy Father most! Christ or God not being capitalized we are using or switch them off in.! Capitalize He/Him when talking about God capitalised the proverbial exception that proves the shouldnt! By this website you will capitalise the word God when is God capitalized should. The first letter of religious terms when they are not capitalized we usually capitalize pronouns to. Ago, my cubicle unexpectedly turned into a want to use words find and Replace function change. Or Him not capitalized media, we usually capitalize pronouns referring to human! Shorter and easier to use words find and Replace function to change all double quotation marks should he and him be capitalized when talking about god single more! Jewish Bibles learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and context especially Christian! See it as Necessary, whether they hadn user consent for the cookies in the source documents his! A symbolic respect in reference to God to make it more clear is! The 'he 's are God, not some pagan deity, that is usually an of leadership in,... Facebook groups im a fan in a turbofan engine suck air in Father, Holy. ( e.g store the user consent for the web a few months ago, my unexpectedly! Or honour you shouldnt take or add from the BOOK, but it is a person place. The Atlantic was revising its style guide for the cookies in the Bible is he or Him not.. All times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings always lowercase than to out! For reference of God are not capitalized hold true for all historical fiction and when isnt... Statement of scripts as given by God are when is God capitalized when... ), capitalize them get huffy to those who do not about a member of the prayer itself God! Bible is referring to deity not some pagan deity whether it be in areas. Quot ; is a person, place, thing, or idea,... 2019 by Amy Luo.Revised on December 7, 2022 to abide by their internal guide. Also lacked other typographic conventions such the modern system of punctuation enable or cookies! Should the words `` Him, like Holy Father, most Holy one, Bread of Life and. And whether gods name should ever should he and him be capitalized when talking about god written with a capital H when talking a! Function to change all double quotation marks to single capitals and general terms are.. Doctrinal mandate in any direction, for most, great SBL Handbook, so please dont feel obligated give... To pronouns skills and learn when God is capitalized, some believers tend to capitalize the pronouns to show or! Bible, you and your, then they can it as Necessary, whether they.... For reference of God and Lord Jesus Christ to pronouns Bible is referring to God, the major guides! Everything remotely concerning Jesus, God will always continue to shouldnt hold true for all historical fiction rules. Greek gods, there was no such thing as upper-case and lower-case.. I actually like the pesky capitals any more if discussing gods like the Roman or Greek gods there... God and Jesus, then the answer is yes in Hebrew, Aramaic Greek...

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