word of god
B2Religious / Formal / Literary
Definition
Meaning
A divine revelation or communication from God; sacred scripture, particularly the Christian Bible.
Used to denote absolute, unquestionable truth or authority; can also refer to a specific prophetic utterance or the theological concept of divine self-revelation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Capitalized ('Word of God') when referring specifically to the Christian Bible or theological doctrine. Can be used literally (theology) or metaphorically (general authority).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slight preference for the definite article in British English (e.g., 'the word of God'). US usage more commonly drops 'the' in titles and fixed phrases. British English may use it more frequently in formal Anglican/ecclesiastical contexts.
Connotations
Similar religious connotations in both. In secular UK contexts, may carry slightly more historical/literary weight.
Frequency
More frequent in US discourse due to higher prevalence of evangelical Christian media and terminology.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + accept + as + the Word of God[Subject] + preach/proclaim + the Word of God + [to audience]The Word of God + says/teaches/reveals + [clause]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Take it as gospel (related idiom, meaning 'accept as absolute truth')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Only in metaphorical sense: 'The CEO's announcement was treated as the word of God.'
Academic
Used in theological, religious studies, and literary analysis contexts.
Everyday
Primarily in religious communities; otherwise used for emphasis: 'He said it like it was the word of God.'
Technical
Specific term in theology (e.g., 'doctrine of the Word of God'), biblical hermeneutics, and homiletics.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The vicar felt called to word-of-God the scripture to his congregation.
- They sought to word-of-God the teachings through modern media.
American English
- The pastor Word-of-Godded the passage during his sermon.
- He's always trying to word-of-God his opinions.
adverb
British English
- He spoke word-of-God-ly, with great conviction.
- The decree was issued word-of-God, without room for debate.
American English
- She interpreted the text word-of-God, literally.
- He stated it word-of-God, expecting immediate compliance.
adjective
British English
- His word-of-God authority was unquestioned in the community.
- They attended a Word-of-God study group.
American English
- She has a word-of-God certainty about her beliefs.
- It was a Word-of-God moment for the congregation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The Bible is the Word of God.
- They believe the Word of God is important.
- The priest explained the passage as the Word of God.
- For many Christians, the Word of God guides their lives.
- Her interpretation of the Word of God influenced the church's doctrine.
- The sermon focused on the practical application of the Word of God in modern society.
- Theologians debate whether the Word of God is confined to scripture or can be experienced through revelation.
- His exegesis treated the text not merely as historical document but as the living Word of God.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'GOD' is in the phrase. The 'Word' comes from God, like a divine command or sacred book.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIVINE COMMUNICATION IS A SPOKEN/WRITTEN WORD; ABSOLUTE TRUTH IS A DIVINE DECREE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите как 'слово бога' (строчная 'б') в религиозном контексте — требуется заглавная буква и определённый артикль: 'the Word of God'.
- Не путать с 'Божье слово' (может восприниматься как менее формальное).
- В прямом религиозном значении соответствует 'Слово Божье' или 'Священное Писание'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect capitalisation (e.g., 'word of god').
- Omitting necessary definite article in formal writing (e.g., 'He preached word of God').
- Using plural ('Words of God') when referring to the Bible as a singular corpus.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'Word of God' typically NOT capitalized?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, but it can be used metaphorically in secular contexts to describe an unquestioned authority or absolute truth.
Similar concepts exist (e.g., 'Kalām Allah' in Islam), but the specific phrase 'Word of God' is predominantly Christian. It is sometimes applied by analogy in interfaith discussions.
'Bible' is the physical book or collection of texts. 'Word of God' is a theological assertion about the nature and origin of those texts, denoting their divine authority and revelatory content.
Yes, in Christian theology (John 1:1), Jesus is identified as the 'Logos' or 'Word' of God incarnate. This is a distinct, though related, theological usage.