Following are some scriptures that talk about
how God is not a man:
Instructions:
- If you have a printer, please print this
list and then highlight or underline the portion
of each scripture where it talks specifically of
how God is not a man.
- If you don't print this, please read each
verse carefully.
- Practice memorizing one or more of these
verses each day or week.
- If you have a favorite scripture about this
particular attribute of God...and it is not
listed below, please email us so we can include
it.
- When you are finished, go to the bottom of
this page for the link to the next attribute.
Note: God the Father and His Holy Spirit
are described in scripture as "spirit."
Jesus (the only begotten son of God) existed in the
form of God, but then humbled himself and came to
this earth to be born in the form of man (see
Philippians 2:6-8). Although Jesus became
flesh...in the form of man, He is still the son of
God. Matthew 1:23 describes Jesus as Immanuel,
or "God with us."
When we speak of God not being a man...we mean
that God the Father, God's Holy Spirit, and God the
Son (Jesus) were not men who somehow achieved the
position of God. The Father, Son and Holy
Spirit were never just mere mortal men. Jesus,
as an example, was with God the Father in the
beginning...and Jesus was God (see John 1:1-5,
14-7).
Man cannot become God:
Ever since man was first created by God, Satan has tried to deceive man by telling
us we can be Gods or like God (see Genesis 3:5). God reminds us throughout
scripture that He is the creator (the pot maker) and we are His creation (the
pot or vessel or clay):
Isaiah
29:16 -- "You turn things around! Shall the potter be considered as equal with
the clay, that what is made should say to its maker, "He did not make me;"or
what is formed say to him who formed it, "He has no understanding"?" (NAS)
Isaiah 45:9 -- "Woe to the one who quarrels with his maker-- an earthenware
vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, 'What are
you doing?' Or the thing you are making say, 'He has no hands'?" (NAS)
Isaiah 64:8 -- "But now, O LORD, Thou art our Father, we are the clay, and Thou
our potter; and all of us are the work of Thy hand." (NAS)
God's glory is never to be compared to that of man, or a created being:
Romans
1:22-23 -- "Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of
the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds
and four-footed animals and crawling creatures." (NAS)
We should never follow prophets that tell us to go after other gods or that
speak in the name of other gods, even if their prophecies or miraculous wonders
come true:
Deuteronomy
13:1-4 -- "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a
sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he
spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and
let us serve them,' you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that
dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love
the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. "You shall follow
the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to
His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him." (NAS)
Deuteronomy 18:20 -- "But the prophet who shall speak a word presumptuously in
My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he shall speak in the
name of other gods, that prophet shall die." (NAS)
God was never a man. God has been God from everlasting to everlasting:
Psalm
90:2 -- "Before the mountains were born, or Thou didst give birth to the earth
and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God." (NAS)
God is not a man; nor is God like man:
Numbers
23:19 -- "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should
repent; has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not
make it good?" (NAS)
Deuteronomy 5:24-26 -- "And you said, 'Behold, the LORD our God has shown us His
glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire;
we have seen today that God speaks with man, yet he lives. 'Now then why should
we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the LORD
our God any longer, then we shall die. 'For who is there of all flesh, who has
heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we
have and lived?" (NAS)
1 Samuel 15:29 -- "And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind;
for He is not a man that He should change His mind." (NAS)
Job 37:5 -- "God thunders with His voice wondrously, doing great things which we
cannot comprehend." (NAS)
Psalm 139:1-7 -- "O LORD, Thou hast searched me and known me. Thou dost know
when I sit down and when I rise up; Thou dost understand my thought from afar.
Thou dost scrutinize my path and my lying down, and art intimately acquainted
with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O LORD, Thou
dost know it all. Thou hast enclosed me behind and before, and laid Thy hand
upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain
to it. Where can I go from Thy Spirit? Or where can I flee from Thy presence?
(NAS)
Ecclesiastes 8:16-17 -- "When I gave my heart to know wisdom and to see the task
which has been done on the earth (even though one should never sleep day or
night), and I saw every work of God, I concluded that man cannot discover the
work which has been done under the sun. Even though man should seek laboriously,
he will not discover; and though the wise man should say, "I know," he cannot
discover." (NAS)
Romans 1:22-32 -- "Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the
glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and
of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them
over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be
dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and
worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed
forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for
their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in
the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned
in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and
receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they
did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved
mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all
unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit,
malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant,
boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding,
untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and, although they know the ordinance of
God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do
the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them." (NAS)
Romans 3:23 -- "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (NAS)
Titus 1:2 -- "in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised
long ages ago," (NAS)
1 Corinthians 1:25 -- "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the
weakness of God is stronger than men." (NAS)
1 Corinthians 14:33 -- "for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in
all the churches of the saints." (NAS)
1 John 3:20 -- "in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our
heart, and knows all things." (NAS)
When men try to tell you that 'you can be like God,' remember the words of God
spoken to Job:
Job
38:1-41 -- "Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, 2 "Who is
this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge? 3 "Now gird up your loins
like a man, and I will ask you, and you instruct me! 4 "Where were you when I
laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding, 5 Who set
its measurements, since you know? Or who stretched the line on it? 6 "On what
were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, 7 When the morning stars sang
together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 "Or who enclosed the sea
with doors, when, bursting forth, it went out from the womb; 9 When I made a
cloud its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band, 10 And I placed
boundaries on it, and I set a bolt and doors, 11 And I said, 'Thus far you shall
come, but no farther; and here shall your proud waves stop'? 12 "Have you ever
in your life commanded the morning, and caused the dawn to know its place; 13
That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out
of it? 14 "It is changed like clay under the seal; and they stand forth like a
garment. 15 "And from the wicked their light is withheld, and the uplifted arm
is broken. 16 "Have you entered into the springs of the sea? Or have you walked
in the recesses of the deep? 17 "Have the gates of death been revealed to you?
Or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? 18 "Have you understood the expanse
of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this. 19 "Where is the way to the
dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place, 20 That you may take it to
its territory, and that you may discern the paths to its home? 21 "You know, for
you were born then, and the number of your days is great! 22 "Have you entered
the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, 23
Which I have reserved for the time of distress, for the day of war and battle?
24 "Where is the way that the light is divided, or the east wind scattered on
the earth? 25 "Who has cleft a channel for the flood, or a way for the
thunderbolt; 26 To bring rain on a land without people, On a desert without a
man in it, 27 To satisfy the waste and desolate land, and to make the seeds of
grass to sprout? 28 "Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of
dew? 29 "From whose womb has come the ice? And the frost of heaven, who has
given it birth? 30 "Water becomes hard like stone, and the surface of the deep
is imprisoned. 31 "Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loose the cords
of Orion? 32 "Can you lead forth a constellation in its season, and guide the
Bear with her satellites? 33 "Do you know the ordinances of the heavens, or fix
their rule over the earth? 34 "Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, so that
an abundance of water may cover you? 35 "Can you send forth lightnings that they
may go and say to you, 'Here we are'? 36 "Who has put wisdom in the innermost
being, or has given understanding to the mind? 37 "Who can count the clouds by
wisdom, or tip the water jars of the heavens, 38 When the dust hardens into a
mass, and the clods stick together? 39 "Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or
satisfy the appetite of the young lions, 40 When they crouch in their dens, and
lie in wait in their lair? 41 "Who prepares for the raven its nourishment, when
its young cry to God, and wander about without food? (NAS)
Job
39:1-30 1 "Do you know the time the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe
the calving of the deer? 2 "Can you count the months they fulfill, or do you
know the time they give birth? 3 "They kneel down, they bring forth their young,
they get rid of their labor pains. 4 "Their offspring become strong, they grow
up in the open field; they leave and do not return to them. 5 "Who sent out the
wild donkey free? And who loosed the bonds of the swift donkey, 6 To whom I gave
the wilderness for a home, and the salt land for his dwelling place? 7 "He
scorns the tumult of the city, the shoutings of the driver he does not hear. 8
"He explores the mountains for his pasture, and he searches after every green
thing. 9 "Will the wild ox consent to serve you? Or will he spend the night at
your manger? 10 "Can you bind the wild ox in a furrow with ropes? Or will he
harrow the valleys after you? 11 "Will you trust him because his strength is
great and leave your labor to him? 12 "Will you have faith in him that he will
return your grain, and gather it from your threshing floor? 13 "The ostriches'
wings flap joyously with the pinion and plumage of love, 14 For she abandons her
eggs to the earth, and warms them in the dust, 15 And she forgets that a foot
may crush them, or that a wild beast may trample them. 16 "She treats her young
cruelly, as if they were not hers; though her labor be in vain, she is
unconcerned; 17 Because God has made her forget wisdom, and has not given her a
share of understanding. 18 "When she lifts herself on high, she laughs at the
horse and his rider. 19 "Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck
with a mane? 20 "Do you make him leap like the locust? His majestic snorting is
terrible. 21 "He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength; He goes out
to meet the weapons. 22 "He laughs at fear and is not dismayed; and he does not
turn back from the sword. 23 "The quiver rattles against him, the flashing spear
and javelin. 24 "With shaking and rage he races over the ground; and he does not
stand still at the voice of the trumpet. 25 "As often as the trumpet sounds he
says, 'Aha!' And he scents the battle from afar, and thunder of the captains,
and the war cry. 26 "Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars, stretching
his wings toward the south? 27 "Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up,
and makes his nest on high? 28 "On the cliff he dwells and lodges, upon the
rocky crag, an inaccessible place. 29 "From there he spies out food; His eyes
see it from afar. 30 "His young ones also suck up blood; and where the slain
are, there is he." (NAS)
Job
40:1-24 1 Then the LORD said to Job, 2 "Will the faultfinder contend with the
Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer it." 3 Then Job answered the LORD and
said, 4 "Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to Thee? I lay my hand on
my mouth. 5 "Once I have spoken, and I will not answer; even twice, and I will
add no more." 6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm, and said, 7 "Now
gird up your loins like a man; I will ask you, and you instruct me. 8 "Will you
really annul My judgment? Will you condemn me that you may be justified? 9 "Or
do you have an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like His? 10
"Adorn yourself with eminence and dignity; and clothe yourself with honor and
majesty. 11 "Pour out the overflowings of your anger; and look on everyone who
is proud, and make him low. 12 "Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him;
and tread down the wicked where they stand. 13 "Hide them in the dust together;
bind them in the hidden place. 14 "Then I will also confess to you, that your
own right hand can save you. 15 "Behold now, Behemoth, which I made as well as
you; He eats grass like an ox. 16 "Behold now, his strength in his loins, and
his power in the muscles of his belly. 17 "He bends his tail like a cedar; the
sinews of his thighs are knit together. 18 "His bones are tubes of bronze; His
limbs are like bars of iron. 19 "He is the first of the ways of God; let his
maker bring near his sword. 20 "Surely the mountains bring him food, and all the
beasts of the field play there. 21 "Under the lotus plants he lies down, in the
covert of the reeds and the marsh. 22 "The lotus plants cover him with shade;
the willows of the brook surround him. 23 "If a river rages, he is not alarmed;
He is confident, though the Jordan rushes to his mouth. 24 "Can anyone capture
him when he is on watch, with barbs can anyone pierce his nose? (NAS)
Job
41:1-34 1 "Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook? Or press down his tongue
with a cord? 2 "Can you put a rope in his nose? Or pierce his jaw with a hook? 3
"Will he make many supplications to you? Or will he speak to you soft words? 4
"Will he make a covenant with you? Will you take him for a servant forever? 5
"Will you play with him as with a bird? Or will you bind him for your maidens? 6
"Will the traders bargain over him? Will they divide him among the merchants? 7
"Can you fill his skin with harpoons, or his head with fishing spears? 8 "Lay
your hand on him; remember the battle; you will not do it again! 9 "Behold, your
expectation is false; will you be laid low even at the sight of him? 10 "No one
is so fierce that he dares to arouse him; who then is he that can stand before
me? 11 "Who has given to me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole
heaven is Mine. 12 "I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, or his mighty
strength, or his orderly frame. 13 "Who can strip off his outer armor? Who can
come within his double mail? 14 "Who can open the doors of his face? Around his
teeth there is terror. 15 "His strong scales are his pride, shut up as with a
tight seal. 16 "One is so near to another, that no air can come between them. 17
"They are joined one to another; they clasp each other and cannot be separated.
18 "His sneezes flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the
morning. 19 "Out of his mouth go burning torches; Sparks of fire leap forth. 20
"Out of his nostrils smoke goes forth, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes.
21 "His breath kindles coals, and a flame goes forth from his mouth. 22 "In his
neck lodges strength, and dismay leaps before him. 23 "The folds of his flesh
are joined together, firm on him and immovable. 24 "His heart is as hard as a
stone; even as hard as a lower millstone. 25 "When he raises himself up, the
mighty fear; because of the crashing they are bewildered. 26 "The sword that
reaches him cannot avail; nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin. 27 "He
regards iron as straw, bronze as rotten wood. 28 "The arrow cannot make him
flee; Slingstones are turned into stubble for him. 29 "Clubs are regarded as
stubble; He laughs at the rattling of the javelin. 30 "His underparts are like
sharp potsherds; He spreads out like a threshing sledge on the mire. 31 "He
makes the depths boil like a pot; He makes the sea like a jar of ointment. 32
"Behind him he makes a wake to shine; One would think the deep to be
gray-haired. 33 "Nothing on earth is like him, One made without fear. 34 "He
looks on everything that is high; He is king over all the sons of pride." (NAS)
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