Anything we say about God is always metaphorical.
A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable. The statement “God is love” is not literally true in the sense that the statement “This is a chair,” is literally true. There may be different kinds of chairs, but the basic category “chair” is for the most part universally comprehensible. The same cannot be said for the word “love.”
We run into trouble when we equate the metaphors we use to speak about God too closely with the reality we are attempting to communicate. When we are talking about God, language is always a finger pointing at the moon. If we believe the finger is the moon, we will never come close to encountering the reality towards which the finger is attempting to point.
Spiritual traditions have used many words to speak about that reality we seek to discern when we use the term “God.” Recently I compiled a list of some of the word images traditions have used to refer to God. It is a pretty long list attached below. No doubt there are many words missing. But the very quantity of words I have identified points to the extraordinary complexity and mystery of trying to talk about “God.”
Figures of Speech Used in Talking about God
Names/Descriptions of God in Hinduism:
Timeless Being, Primordial Lord, First Person, the Supreme Brahman, the Self of all, the Supreme Soul, The Over-Soul, The chief foundation of this world, subtler than the subtle, eternal, That thou art, thou art That, Pure Light, Pure Love, the Highest of beings, Supreme Permanence, Supreme Consciousness, Supreme Intelligence, Ultimate Reality, Emptiness, Absolute, Cosmic Controller, Supreme Cosmic Spirit
Metaphors for God in the Bible:
king, judge, shepherd, rock, lion, fortress, friend, father, co-worker, potter, wind, breath, vine, light, farmer, old woman, mother hen, bride-groom, fountain, gate, water, bread, fire
Adjectives used in the Bible to describe God:
holy, faithful, everlasting, almighty, immanent, transcendent, eternal, jealous, righteous, forgiving, merciful, comforting, perfection, compassionate, steadfast, patient
Names of God in the Bible:
I Am What I Am, Lord (Yahweh/Jehovah), Healer, Provider, Creator, Wisdom, Banner, Justice, Helper, Beloved, Ancient of Days, Hope, Redeemer, Master, Saviour, Advocate, Counsellor, Life
99 Names for God in Islam:
The Greatest Name, The All-Compassionate, The All-Merciful, The Absolute Ruler, The Pure One, The Source of Peace, The Inspirer of Faith, The Guardian, The Victorious, The Compeller, The Greatest, The Creator, The Maker of Order, The Shaper of Beauty, The Forgiving, The Subduer, The Giver of All, The Sustainer, The Opener, The Knower of All, The Constrictor, The Reliever, The Abaser, The Exalter, The Bestower of Honors, The Humiliator, The Hearer of All, The Seer of All, The Judge, The Just, The Subtle One, The All-Aware, The Forbearing, The Magnificent, The Forgiver and Hider of Faults, The Rewarder of Thankfulness, The Highest, The Greatest, The Preserver, The Nourisher, The Accounter, The Mighty, The Generous, The Watchful One, The Responder to Prayer, The All-Comprehending, The Perfectly Wise, The Loving One, The Majestic One, The Resurrector, The Witness, The Truth, The Trustee, The Possessor of All Strength, The Forceful One, The Governor, The Praised One, The Appraiser, The Originator, The Restorer, The Giver of Life, The Taker of Life, The Ever Living One, The Self-Existing One, The Finder, The Glorious, The One, the All Inclusive, The Indivisible, The Satisfier of All Needs, The All Powerful, The Creator of All Power, The Expediter, The Delayer, The First, The Last, The Manifest One, The Hidden One, The Protecting Friend, The Supreme One, The Doer of Good, The Guide to Repentance, The Avenger, The Forgiver, The Clement, The Owner of All, The Lord of Majesty and Bounty, The Equitable One, The Gatherer, The Rich One, The Enricher, The Preventer of Harm, The Creator of The Harmful, The Creator of Good, The Light, The Guide, The Originator, The Everlasting One, The Inheritor of All, The Righteous Teacher, The Patient One
Contemporary metaphors:
CEO, Co-Pilot, Higher Power, Clockmaker, Baker, Weaver, Divine Therapist, The Force, The Singer, The Ground of Being, G-d, The Source, Architect of the Universe
Who can say which is the “best” metaphor/word/image to use of God? Who am I to demand that you sign on to the language I use to speak about God as if my language was somehow uniquely ratified by God? Would we not all speak more adequately about the invisible Mystery that is God, if we chose to honour and respect one another’s language?
Does accepting that your language works for you and draws you closer to the reality we are both pointing to when we speak of God, mean that I cannot hold passionately to the truth of my language?
I believe, if I follow deeply and authentically the path to which my metaphors for God guide me, I will grow in my faith and trust in the reality of God in my life. I believe, if you follow deeply and authentically the path to which your metaphors for God guide you, you will grow in your faith and trust in the reality of God in your life. Let’s do that… okay?
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June 25, 2011 at 9:31 am
jaqueline
Metaphor, as a poet explained , is a method of binding apparently contradictory concepts together. Metaphor is often pictorial in it’s descriptions.
It is meant to illumine and describe meaning beyond the surface of something, It is meant to bridge that gap between what is known and what is unknown .; what is said and what is silent, what is obvious and what is mysterious.
the biblical words ( except perhaps for banner ) that you present above are not metaphors they are descriptions…of our experience with God in this realm.
The Good Shepherd (and the sheep) I am the Vine,( you are the branches ). The potter (and the clay). As a hen wishes to gather her chicks. These are metaphors. These tell us a great deal about God.
I am a bit puzzled that in trying to bring an antidote to literalism well meaning Christians are stretching the definition of description into having the intent and meaning metaphor. Instead of it opening our eyes to the depth and breadth and truth telling of metaphor all it is doing is watering down both forms of language. Metaphor is meant to illumine truth not disguise it.
Just because a description is not believed doesn’t make it a metaphor.
June 25, 2011 at 9:02 pm
jaqueline
PS I really like all the words you listed except for the modern ones…which seem almost…bloodless…?…. compared the the Biblical, Hindu and Islamic…I might not honestly be able to say OK.to the modern ones..but I am willing to maybe turn a deaf ear!
June 25, 2011 at 10:18 am
Tress
It reminds me again of the poem about the ten blind men and the elephant! Describing it the only part of it which they have contact or knowledge, and therefore missing any real truth of the nature of the beast
Being the one who describes God ( There! I used the whole word instead of my personal preference for leaving space for what i do not know!) at best is an excercise in futility.St Paul memorably said ,”Now we see through a glass darkly , and then face to face”. is that not the truth of the matter . we can use all the words that we like , but understanding is of what grows within us . as we thirst for what we instinctively know is there if we let ourselveles push away all the extraneoudoos “Diti”as the Budhists say.
June 25, 2011 at 6:51 pm
Kim
Okay!
June 17, 2012 at 12:01 pm
Steve
God is what He,She, It has revealed to each of us individually and it is not what you call He, She, It that matters, at the end of the day we all know that God is. Jesus and the Cross are real and tangible as well as metaphors: They are God communicating to us in a language that can be expressed in human words. If you want to make these two subjective, I am at odds with you on that one.