why is GOD capitalized?

Question

it seems that if GOD is capitalized as i have typed it then it appears to be an abbreviation for something else, but i wonder then why do i see GOD typed as God as a name, its just something i was wondering

Answer 1

In the OT, the name LORD is in all caps to indicate that the name for God used in Hebrew in that instance was "Yhwh" and not any of the other names for God (such as Adonai or El Shaddai). When you see GOD in caps, it means the Hebrew used there was "Yhwh Adonai" or more literally the Lord God. Typically when you see "God" in the OT, the word used was "Adonai" or "El Shaddai" or others. When you see "Lord" in the OT it means "Adonai" alone was used.



This was the precedent set in the KJV of the Bible and has been followed by most English translations since then. Different languages have different rules for capitalization. German, I think capitalizes most nouns. Some languages only have one case of letters, and so there is no capitalization.



Perhaps the person chewing you out saw "GOD" in the Old Testament and assumed that was proper in all cases. It's not. Look in the New Testament and you see God is always "God" because the name "YHWH" is not used in Greek.

Answer 2

How about Great is Our Defender?



This is actually a good time to bring up the reason why in the King James Bible the word LORD is all caps. The reason for this is because instead of the Hebrew word "adnoai" it is the name "Jehovah" or YHWH.



Just FYI

Answer 3

God is a proper name/noun and is spelled this way because of that. This way refers to the god of the Bible.



god is just a noun and is used like "Ceasar was worshipped as a god in Rome."



So I guess you could say that "God is a god"

Answer 4

you write God when you are referring to the true God.



you write GOD when you put more emphasis or respect or greatness to God



you write GOD when you all the letters of the rest of your phrase or sentence are capital



you write god when you are referring to false or not real god like mythological gods, and others

Answer 5

it is a choose of the writer, to cap. all three letters.

the first letter is capitalized because it is a noun..

Answer 6

I capitalize GOD to show reverence...

Answer 7

first comandment, no other god before Me



there are other gods...so...when you read Gods word you have help in your reading when the writer,(mostly John) identifies, God,Jesus,GOD...from god,Satan,devil

Answer 8

Because it is a proper noun. God is his/her/whatever's name. Just like Brian or Yahoo. Typing anything in all CAPS means that it is an acronym like WTF or IBM.

Answer 9

your stupid for one cause he is the man over all of us just like your favrite famous person that's why it is.and cause it is a name like yours.

Answer 10

i just think its outta respect .. no big deal about it