A black and white close-up photo of a Bible opened to a page with the word "Him" in capital letters, illuminated by a single beam of light.

Should You Capitalize ‘Him’ When Referring To God?

Whether to capitalize pronouns referring to God is a style choice that often causes confusion. This comprehensive guide will examine the logic behind capitalizing or not capitalizing ‘Him’ when referring to God.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: most style guides recommend capitalizing ‘Him’ and other pronouns when they refer specifically to God or Jesus. This shows reverence and follows the convention for proper nouns.

The Logic Behind Capitalizing ‘Him’

Shows Reverence for God

Capitalizing pronouns like ‘He’ and ‘Him’ when referring to God is a way to show respect and reverence for the divine. By capitalizing these pronouns, writers acknowledge God’s supreme status and authority. Using capital letters sets God apart and recognizes Him as someone worthy of special honor.

This practice helps create a tone of worship and praise when discussing God.

Capitalization of divine pronouns also reinforces God’s unique identity as the supreme being. Referring to God simply as ‘he’ or ‘him’ could be seen as putting Him on the same level as any ordinary man. But capitalization marks God as one of a kind – the ultimate creator and heavenly father.

So writers capitalize ‘He’ and ‘Him’ to affirm God’s holy uniqueness.

Proper Noun Convention

Capitalizing divine pronouns follows the standard grammatical rule for proper nouns. In English, proper nouns – the formal names of people, places, organizations, etc. – are capitalized. God’s formal name is ‘God’ and is always capitalized.

So it makes sense to also capitalize the pronouns ‘He’ and ‘Him’ when referring to God, since those are just alternate ways of addressing Him by name.

We see this same capitalization convention with many human proper names. For example, when referring to James we would write ‘James went to the store’ and ‘He went to the store.’ The pronoun takes on the same capitalization as the proper name.

So capitalizing ‘He’ when referring to God is just an extension of this common grammatical practice.

Common in Religious Works

Capitalizing divine pronouns has become the standard in religious writing and literature. Scripture, theological texts, devotional materials, and other spiritual works almost universally capitalize ‘He’ and ‘Him’ in reference to God.

So writers who want their work to fit in with the conventions of religious writing will follow this practice.

Using this standard capitalization helps establish a reverent, biblical tone. It signals to readers that the writing comes from a faith perspective and is talking about the biblical God. The capital letters visually remind readers they are reading about the Almighty.

So conforming to this norm enables religious writers to craft content in keeping with the style of the genre.

Reasons to Not Capitalize ‘Him’

God Not Always a Proper Noun

When referring to the divine being generically, many style guides advise to not capitalize pronouns like ‘Him’ or ‘His.’ This is because in generic usage, the words ‘god,’ ‘him,’ and ‘his’ are not proper nouns but common nouns, which should not be capitalized according to standard grammar rules (1).

For example: “Belief in a higher power is common to many religions and faiths.” In this type of sentence, ‘him’ refers broadly to a non-specific divine entity.

Not Capitalized in Mainstream Publications

Outside of sacred texts or documents focused on God, major publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and others do not typically capitalize pronouns referring to God. This reflects wider editorial style guidance to only capitalize ‘He,’ ‘Him,’ ‘His,’ or ‘Himself’ when referring to the specific Judeo-Christian God (2).

For example, an op-ed on spirituality may say: “Many people believe we are created in his image.”

Avoid Potential Confusion

Capitalizing ‘Him’ or ‘His’ in otherwise secular content could potentially confuse readers unfamiliar with this convention. They may not realize the writer is referring specifically to God rather than a ordinary male third person.

As we live in an increasingly multicultural and non-denominational society, assumptions can no longer be made that ‘Him’ or ‘His’ will be universally understood as God (3). Employing non-capitalization for pronouns helps reduce uncertainty.

Expert Opinions on Capitalizing ‘Him’

AP Stylebook

The Associated Press Stylebook, considered the gold standard for journalism and media writing in the United States, instructs writers to capitalize pronouns referring to the deity, including Him, His, Himself, Thou, Thy and Thine.

The AP Stylebook states, “Capitalize He, Him, His, Thee, Thou, Thy and Thine when referring to the deity.” This guidance reflects the reverence for God in Judeo-Christian tradition and the convention of capitalizing pronouns referring to Him.

By following AP style, writers show respect for religious sensibilities and establish credibility through adherence to professional standards. Consistency also aids reader comprehension. Capitalizing divine pronouns sets them apart from common usage.

Chicago Manual of Style

The Chicago Manual of Style, another authority on publishing standards, takes a similar approach to the AP Stylebook regarding capitalized pronouns for God.

Per CMS guidelines: “The pronouns referring to the deity—He, His, Him, Thee, Thou, Thy—are capitalized to keep them from seeming to refer to human beings.”

CMS elaborates that pronoun references to God are capped “to distinguish them from the same words used in ordinary senses.” The manual also states that writers may lowercase divine pronouns if preferred for stylistic reasons.

This leeway makes CMS slightly more flexible than AP style. But the default remains capitalization to differentiate deity pronouns. CMS, like AP, recognizes religious sensitivities and the long-standing tradition of revering God through capped pronouns.

Religious Publishing Standards

Religious publishers and ministries, unsurprisingly, almost universally capitalize pronouns referring to God. From Bible translations to spiritual books to church documents, references to Him, His, etc. are capitalized.

For instance, the popular New International Version Bible caps all divine pronouns. Bestselling Christian author Max Lucado does the same in his books. Southern Baptist’s Lifeway media ministry follows this convention across its website.

The rationale stems from deep respect for God and scriptural commands to revere His name. Capitalization sets God apart and recognizes His supreme status. It originated with Biblical translation practices centuries ago.

Some churches and religious publishers do lowercase divine pronouns as a stylistic choice. But the vast majority capitalize as doctrinal tradition. For them, it reflects core beliefs about relating to God.

When Should You Capitalize ‘Him’?

Referring Specifically to God

When referring specifically to the Christian God, it is customary to capitalize pronouns like ‘Him’, ‘His’, ‘He’, and ‘Himself’. This shows reverence and recognizes God’s divine nature. For example: “We pray to Him and thank Him for His many blessings.”

Many Christian writers and publications follow this practice when writing about God.

In Religious Works

Pronouns referring to God are typically capitalized in Bibles, prayers, hymns, and other religious texts and works. Capitalizing ‘He’, ‘His’, etc. clarifies that God is the subject. For instance, in the King James Version Bible John 3:16 states: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The capitalization helps convey the meaning. This practice extends beyond Christianity to refer to God in Judaism and Islam as well.

For Clarity

Using a capital ‘Him’ or ‘He’ can clarify references to God in prose or situations where the meaning is ambiguous. For example, if a paragraph discusses what “he” desires in one sentence and what “He” desires in the next, the capitalization helps indicate a shift from a human subject to God.

However, pronouns referring to Jesus are usually not capitalized unless beginning a sentence. Ultimately, capitalizing divine pronouns is a stylistic choice that varies between individual writers, works, and faith traditions.

When Should You Not Capitalize ‘Him’?

In Mainstream Publications

In most mainstream publications, articles, books, newspapers, and magazines, the pronoun ‘him’ referring to God is generally not capitalized. This follows standard grammar rules for capitalization of pronouns which state that the subjective pronoun ‘he’ and the objective pronoun ‘him’ should not be capitalized unless appearing at the beginning of a sentence.

The exception is when ‘Him’ is used in place of God’s name. For example, “And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ He said further, ‘Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.”” (Exodus 3:14). Here ‘He’ is capitalized because it directly replaces the name of God.

When Referring to Multiple ‘Hims’

If there are multiple people or beings referred to as ‘him’ in the same context, then capitalizing ‘Him’ when referring to God can help provide clarity. For example, “David prayed to Him for strength before battle. Meanwhile, the Philistine commander scoffed at him and cursed his army.”

Here, ‘Him’ refers to God while ‘him’ refers to David. Capitalizing ‘Him’ differentiates between the two.

For Stylistic Preference

Some authors or publications may choose to capitalize all pronouns and names referring to God, including ‘Him’, as a stylistic preference. This is more common in religious publications. For example, a bible study book may capitalize ‘You’, ‘Your’, and ‘Yours’ when referring to God.

Or a Christian magazine may capitalize ‘He’, ‘His’, and ‘Him’ in all instances referring to Jesus. This is done out of respect and to honor God. However, it goes against standard grammar rules and is not considered necessary by secular publications.

The main takeaway is that capitalizing or not capitalizing ‘him’ when referring to God depends on the context. In most mainstream publications, ‘him’ will remain lowercase based on standard grammar guidelines. But in religious works, capitalization may be used for clarity or out of respect for God.

Conclusion

Whether to capitalize ‘Him’ when referring to God is largely a stylistic choice, though most style guides recommend capitalizing. Capitalizing ‘Him’ shows reverence, follows proper noun conventions, and adds clarity in religious works.

However, in mainstream publications and to avoid potential confusion, you may prefer not to capitalize. Consider your context and audience when deciding if ‘Him’ should be capitalized for God.

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