son of god: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Religious, Formal, Literary
Quick answer
What does “son of god” mean?
A title used in various religious contexts, most notably in Christianity to refer to Jesus Christ as the divine son of the one true God.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A title used in various religious contexts, most notably in Christianity to refer to Jesus Christ as the divine son of the one true God.
Can be used more broadly to denote a person of exceptional virtue or divine favor, or historically in other religions/polytheistic contexts to denote a divine or semi-divine figure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in lexical form or core meaning. Capitalization conventions (Son of God vs. son of god) are consistent across both varieties based on context.
Connotations
Identical primary religious connotations. Slight potential for more frequent metaphorical/literary use in British English due to established church history.
Frequency
Frequency is comparable, tied to religiosity of context rather than regional variety.
Grammar
How to Use “son of god” in a Sentence
[the] Son of God [verb] ...He is the Son of God.to believe in the Son of Godthe title 'Son of God'Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in theological, historical, religious studies, or literature contexts discussing Christianity or comparative religion.
Everyday
Used in religious conversation or when referencing the central figure of Christianity. May be used metaphorically (e.g., 'He plays tennis like a son of god').
Technical
A key christological title with precise doctrinal significance in Christian theology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “son of god”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “son of god”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “son of god”
- Incorrect capitalization in theological writing (e.g., 'son of God').
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'sons of god') when referring specifically to Jesus Christ.
- Confusing 'Son of God' with 'Son of Man', another title for Jesus with different theological emphasis.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are closely related but not identical. 'Son of God' is the title emphasizing relationship and origin. 'God the Son' is a technical Trinitarian term emphasizing his full divinity as one person of the Godhead.
Yes, in a different sense. Various ancient mythologies and rulers (e.g., Roman emperors, Pharaohs) used similar titles to denote divine favour or semi-divine status. The Christian usage is specific and unique in its theological claims.
When used as the specific title for Jesus Christ in a Christian context, it is conventionally capitalized ('the Son of God'). In metaphorical, polytheistic, or general uses, it is often lowercased ('a son of god').
Capitalized, it is a proper title for Jesus. Lowercased, it can refer more generally to anyone with a special relationship to God (e.g., angels, believers, righteous kings in the Hebrew Bible), or be used metaphorically.
A title used in various religious contexts, most notably in Christianity to refer to Jesus Christ as the divine son of the one true God.
Son of god is usually religious, formal, literary in register.
Son of god: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsʌn əv ˈɡɒd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsʌn əv ˈɡɑːd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember the capital 'S' for the divine title: The **Son** is **S**pecial, **S**acred, and **S**overeign.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAMILY RELATIONSHIP FOR DIVINE CONNECTION (God as Father, Christ as Son).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the phrase 'Son of God' most likely NOT be capitalized?