Figures of Speech in the Bible

Anthropopatheia in the Bible

Anthropopatheia speaks of God in human terms.

Simple Definition Technical Definition Scripture Examples JSON Data

Simple definition

Anthropopatheia speaks of God in human terms.

Technical nameAnthropopatheia / Condescension
Alternate namesAnthropopathy; Condescension; Syncatabasis
Reader categoryGod-language
Bullinger classFigures involving change
Source hintBullinger PDF p. 853; web lines 25656-25666.
Examples on page15

Technical definition

A figure in which human passions, actions, bodily language, circumstances, or attributes are ascribed to God by condescension to human understanding.

Publication note: Examples are curated from the final Wave 46 source state. Some examples carry review notes where final Bible-text stream verification may still be prudent before public release.

Scripture examples

These examples show how Anthropopatheia functions in biblical language, rhetoric, poetry, prophecy, narrative, or theological imagery.

Gen. 6:6
certain

the LORD regretted... and was grieved

Human sorrow-language is used to reveal God's holy response to human wickedness.

Source: Bullinger PDF section seed + manual Scripture review — Bullinger PDF p. 853; web lines 25656-25666.
New Wave 4 page example; final NET/KJV site-text link check still required.
Gen. 8:21
certain

the LORD smelled a pleasing aroma

God's acceptance is communicated through sensory language fitted to sacrificial worship.

Source: Bullinger PDF section seed + manual Scripture review — Bullinger PDF p. 853; web lines 25656-25666.
New Wave 4 page example; final NET/KJV site-text link check still required.
Ex. 3:7-8
certain

I have seen... heard... know... come down

God's covenantal concern and intervention are expressed in human terms.

Source: Bullinger PDF section seed + manual Scripture review — Bullinger PDF p. 853; web lines 25656-25666.
New Wave 4 page example; final NET/KJV site-text link check still required.
Ex. 32:14
certain

the LORD relented

God's response to Moses' intercession is described in human-relational language.

Source: Bullinger PDF section seed + manual Scripture review — Bullinger PDF p. 853; web lines 25656-25666.
New Wave 4 page example; final NET/KJV site-text link check still required.
Num. 14:11
certain

How long will this people despise me?

God's covenantal grievance is stated in human-address form.

Source: Bullinger PDF section seed + manual Scripture review — Bullinger PDF p. 853; web lines 25656-25666.
New Wave 4 page example; final NET/KJV site-text link check still required.
Deut. 32:21
certain

they have made me jealous

Jealousy-language reveals God's covenantal exclusivity, not creaturely insecurity.

Source: Bullinger PDF section seed + manual Scripture review — Bullinger PDF p. 853; web lines 25656-25666.
New Wave 4 page example; final NET/KJV site-text link check still required.
Ps. 2:4
certain

He who sits in heaven laughs

Divine derision is expressed through human laughter-language.

Source: Bullinger PDF section seed + manual Scripture review — Bullinger PDF p. 853; web lines 25656-25666.
New Wave 4 page example; final NET/KJV site-text link check still required.
Ps. 78:40
certain

they grieved him in the desert

Human grief-language communicates real divine displeasure at covenant rebellion.

Source: Bullinger PDF section seed + manual Scripture review — Bullinger PDF p. 853; web lines 25656-25666.
New Wave 4 page example; final NET/KJV site-text link check still required.
Ps. 103:13
certain

as a father has compassion

Divine compassion is made intelligible through human fatherly comparison.

Source: Bullinger PDF section seed + manual Scripture review — Bullinger PDF p. 853; web lines 25656-25666.
New Wave 4 page example; final NET/KJV site-text link check still required.
Isa. 1:14
certain

my soul hates

God's rejection of hypocritical worship is expressed through human aversion-language.

Source: Bullinger PDF section seed + manual Scripture review — Bullinger PDF p. 853; web lines 25656-25666.
New Wave 4 page example; final NET/KJV site-text link check still required.
Isa. 59:16
probable

he wondered that there was no intercessor

The language presents God's judicial observation in human terms.

Source: Bullinger PDF section seed + manual Scripture review — Bullinger PDF p. 853; web lines 25656-25666.
New Wave 4 page example; final NET/KJV site-text link check still required.
Jer. 7:13
certain

I spoke... rising up early

Persistent divine warning is expressed by human diligence-language.

Source: Bullinger PDF section seed + manual Scripture review — Bullinger PDF p. 853; web lines 25656-25666.
New Wave 4 page example; final NET/KJV site-text link check still required.
Hos. 11:8
certain

How can I give you up?

God's covenant compassion is expressed in intense human-affection language.

Source: Bullinger PDF section seed + manual Scripture review — Bullinger PDF p. 853; web lines 25656-25666.
New Wave 4 page example; final NET/KJV site-text link check still required.
Amos 7:3
certain

the LORD relented

The vision describes God's response in human terms to communicate mercy and judgment.

Source: Bullinger PDF section seed + manual Scripture review — Bullinger PDF p. 853; web lines 25656-25666.
New Wave 4 page example; final NET/KJV site-text link check still required.
Eph. 4:30
certain

do not grieve the Holy Spirit

The Spirit's holy personal displeasure is expressed with grief-language; this is not impersonal force-language.

Source: Bullinger PDF section seed + manual Scripture review — Bullinger PDF p. 853; web lines 25656-25666.
New Wave 4 page example; final NET/KJV site-text link check still required.

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