Anthropomorphisms for God

A literary, metaphorical device by which the writers of the Bible take physical features of humans and apply them to God in order that we might better understand Him.

Human Feature / Scripture References / Insight
Arm / Deut. 33:27; 2 Chron. 6:32; Job 40:9; Ps. 44:3; Ps. 77:15; Ps. 89:10, 13 Ps. 98:1; Isa. 52:10; Isa. 59:1, 16; Isa. 63:12; Jer. 27:5
Back / Exod. 33:21–23; Jer. 18:17
Beauty /

Ps. 27:4

Bodily Form / Gen. 18:1; Gen. 35:9; Gen. 48:3; Exod. 24:9–11;
2 Chron. 7:11–12; Isa. 6:1; Ezek. 1:26–28; Ezek. 8:1–3; Dan. 7:9–10; Amos 9:1; Rev. 4:2–3
Breath / 2 Sam. 22:16; Job 15:30; Job 33:4; Job 37:10; Ps. 33:6; Isa. 11:4; Isa. 30:28; Isa. 30:33
Ears / 2 Sam. 22:7; 2 Kings 19:28; 2 Chron. 7:15; Neh. 1:6; Ps. 34:15; Ps. 102:2; Ps. 116:2; Isa. 59:1; 1 Pet. 3:12
Eyes / Deut. 11:12; 1 Kings 8:29; 2 Chron. 16:9; Ps. 33:18; Ps. 34:15; Ps. 139:16; Prov. 15:3; Prov. 22:12; Amos 9:4; Heb. 4:13; 1 Pet. 3:12
Face / Gen. 32:30; Exod. 33:11; Exod. 33:20, 23; Num. 6:25–26; Num. 12:8; Deut. 5:4; Deut. 34:10; 1 Chron. 16:11; 2 Chron. 7:14; Ps. 27:8–9; Ps. 34:16; Ps. 67:1; Ps. 80:19; Ps. 105:4; Ps. 119:135; 1 Pet. 3:12
Feet / Gen. 3:8; Exod. 24:9–10; 2 Sam. 22:10; Isa. 66:1; Nah. 1:3
Finger / Exod. 8:19; Exod. 31:18; Deut. 9:10; Ps. 8:3; Luke 11:20
Give Birth / Deut. 32:18; Job 38:28–29; Isa. 46:3–4
Hair /

Dan. 7:9

Hand / Exod. 15:6; Exod. 33:22–23; Ezra 7:9; Ps. 8:6; Ps. 21:8; Ps. 31:15; Ps. 44:2–3; Ps. 63:8; Ps. 89:13; Ps. 95:4–5; Ps. 118:16; Ps. 138:7–8; Ps. 139:10; Prov. 30:4; Isa. 1:25; Isa. 62:3; Isa. 64:8; Hab. 3:4; Acts 13:11; Heb. 1:10
Head / Dan. 7:9
Hearing / Num. 11:18; Ps. 69:33; Ps. 94:9; Ps. 116:1; Isa. 59:2
Heart /

Gen. 6:6; 2 Chron. 7:16; Hos. 11:8

Laughter / Ps. 2:4; Ps. 37:13; Ps. 59:8
Lips /

Ps. 89:34; Isa. 11:4; Isa. 30:27

Mouth / Deut. 8:3; 2 Sam. 22:9; Job 15:30; Ps. 33:6; Isa. 40:5; Isa. 45:23; Isa. 48:3
Nostrils / 2 Sam. 22:9; 2 Sam. 22:16
Palm of Hand / Isa. 49:16
Remembering / 1 Sam. 1:19; Ps. 78:39; Ps. 98:3; Ps. 105:42; Ps. 106:45; Ps. 136:23
Shoulders / Deut. 33:12
Seeing / Ps. 10:11; Ps. 33:13
Sitting / Ps 29:10
Smelling / Gen. 8:21
Standing / Amos 7:7; Amos 9:1
Tongue / Isa. 30:27
Voice / Exod. 3:4; Exod. 19:19; Deut. 4:12; 1 Kings 19:12–13; Job 37:5; Ps. 29:3–5, 7–9; Ezek. 10:5; Ezek. 43:2; Luke 3:22; Acts 7:31; Heb. 12:18–21;
Waist / Ezek. 1:27; Ezek. 8:2
Walking / Gen. 3:8
Watching / Gen. 31:49; Ps. 1:6; Ps. 11:4; Ps. 66:7

Anthropopathism

A literary device by which human emotions are assigned to God.

ex. anger, compassion, repentance, sorrow, etc.