We believe that the imagery conveyed by language and language itself is important and that they articulate and influence our understandings of what is revealed to us about the nature and activity of God and the dignity of all God’s people as created in the image of God. — Inclusive Language Covenant, United Church of Christ USA
Expansive Images of God in Scripture
Midwife | Ps 22:9-10 |
Mother | Num 11:12-13, Deut 32:18, Job 38:28-29, Ps 131:2, Isa 42:14, Isa 46:3-4, Isa 49:15, Isa 66:9, Hos 11:3-4, Jn 16:21, Rom 8:22, I Pet 2:2-3 |
Mother bear | Hos 13:8 |
Shepherd | Jn 10:11,14; Ps 23 |
Woman | Lk 15:8–10, Ps 123:2 |
Baker | Mt 13:33, Lk 13:20-21 |
Eagle | Deut 32:11-12, Ex 19:4 |
Hen | Mt 23:37; Ruth 2:12, Ps 57:1, Ps 61:4, Lk 13:34, Ps 17:8 |
Fire | Deut 4:24, Acts 2:3 |
Wind | Acts 2:2, Jn 3:8 |
Rock | Is 17:10, Deut 32:18 |
Water | Jer 17:13 |
Light | Jn 8:12; Isa 60:2-3 |
Bread | Jn 6:33-35 |
Vine | Jn 15:1 |
Word | Jn 1:1 |
Wisdom | Lk 11:49, I Cor 1:24 |
I Am | Ex 3:14 |
Potter | Jer 18:1-11, Job 10:8-9 |
Expansive Images of God in the Creeds
The Nicene Creed
God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God; Lord and Giver of Life
The Apostles Creed
Maker of heaven and earth
This chart was created by the United Church of Christ USA, available in full here: “Expansive language with reference to God and Inclusive language reference with reference to the people of God.” These lists are available as a printable brochure: Expansive and Inclusive Language brochure PDF .
More from the brochure:
Words That Exclude / Words That Include:
brothers, brotherhood (in the faith) / brothers and sisters, friends, kindred, family of faith, neighbours, humankind
man, men, mankind / people, all people, men and women or women and men, humanity, persons, everyone, all of us, we, one
sons (of God) / daughters and sons, children of God, people of God, God’s people, heirs
“Inclusive language is far more than an aesthetic matter of male and female imagery; it is a fundamental issue of social justice. Language that is truly inclusive affirms sexuality, racial and ethnic background, stages of maturity, and degrees of limiting conditions. It shows respect for all people. Scripture proclaims the world is created, redeemed, and sustained by the Word of God, and the church attests to the power of language and words, recognizing that words have the power to exploit and exclude as well as affirm and liberate.”
“Although the generic use of masculine terms has been accepted practice, it is exclusive and viewed as offensive by many. Further, the use of only masculine nouns and pronouns for God and of masculine generic terms for humankind has hidden the rich feminine imagery for God and God’s people in scripture. Scripture contains many gender neutral metaphors for God such as shepherd, rock, or Holy One. The rediscovery of the complementary female and male metaphors in the Bible and the literature of the early church encourages Christians not to settle for literary poverty in the midst of literary riches.”
Exclusive language limits our perceptions of reality and thereby distorts. Thus, inclusive language has implications for the way we perceive God, things, and concepts, as well as persons.
Reuben A. Sheares, II, United Church of Christ USA
Read more about using inclusive and expansive language in worship.
Photo: Watched Word by John Potter, UK