why is God addressed as"He" if we're not sure He's a male?

Question

why isn't He addressed as "He/She"?

Answer 1

God, the Father is, by definition, male. Father's are male. Mother's female.

Answer 2

Hebrew is a language, like many others, but unlike English where there is much importance on the use of masculine and feminine words. Basically, what it comes down to is that the male is the giver while the female is the receiver. This isn't just a Judaism-based statement. It's in nature. So, G-d created the universe. G-d is the giver and the Universe is the receiver. So when the text refers to G-d in the masculine, it's not saying that G-d's a man. It's refering to it based on G-d being the giver. I hope that makes sense. :)

Answer 3

The word "He" during that time was simply a general term to describe an individual. For example, the word "mankind" and not "womankind". On a technical level, God has no gender so using the word "she" as apposed to the default word"he" would suggest a specification of a gender, which God does not have. So "he" does not literally mean God is a male, just that it is one of the few words that are able to describe God.

Answer 4

God is often portrayed as the Ruler of the Universe (to use a gender-neutral term). Historically speaking( and with all due respect to Cleopatra, Queen Elizabeth I & II, Maggie Thatcher and others) Rulers tend to be male. Therefore, through anthropomorphisation, God became King, and thus male in this context.

Answer 5

I believe it's because of the mental image many people have of the supreme deity: a Father figure. Sure it's a gender-role stereotype, but it makes many more people less apt to disobey.

Remember they old cliche "Just wait till your FATHER gets home!"

Answer 6

Unfortunately, Christianity was born from men. Before this one God of Abraham came into existence, most cultures worshiped many gods with goddesses being the most prevalent.

Answer 7

i think we live in a sexist society since day 1 Man(male) run think they run the universe so everything that's good is them. Am a male but i know without A FEMALE I WOULDN'T BE HERE.

Answer 8

God is a conglomerate of both male and female scientific minds. Possibly non-human.

Answer 9

In countless references to God in Scripture, there is clearly a consistent pattern of His being referred to with masculine titles, nouns, and pronouns. While God is not a man, but is a Spirit, He chose a masculine form in order to reveal Himself to mankind. Likewise, Jesus Christ, who is constantly referred to with masculine titles, nouns, and pronouns, took a male form while He walked on the earth. The prophets of the Old Testament and the Apostles of the New Testament refer to both God and Jesus Christ with masculine names and titles. God chose to be revealed in this form in order for man to more easily grasp who God is. To assert that God chose a female form to be revealed to man is not consistent with the pattern established by Scripture. Again, had God chosen a feminine form, there would be more evidence in Scripture of that. That evidence simply does not exist. While God makes allowances in order to help mankind understand Him, it is important to not try to “force God into a box,” so to speak, by placing limitations on Him that are not appropriate to the nature of who He is.

Recommended Resource: Knowing God by J.I. Packer.

Answer 10

male or female the world would still hate God...anyways Jesus refereed to him as Father (Male) we can go with that...