God ( word ) - Wikipedia God ( word ) See also : Names of God Earliest attestation of the Germanic word in the 6th - century Codex Argenteus ( Mt 5 : 34 ) Part of a series on God General conceptions Agnosticism Apatheism Atheism Deism Henotheism Ignosticism Monotheism Monism Dualism Monolatry Kathenotheism Omnism Pandeism Panpsychism Panentheism Pantheism Polytheism Theism Transtheism Specific conceptions Creator Demiurge Deus Father Great Architect Monad Mother Supreme Being Sustainer The All The Lord Trinity Tawhid Ditheism Monism Personal Unitarianism In particular religions Abrahamic Judaism Christianity Islam Bahá'í Mormonism Indo - Iranian Hinduism Buddhism Jainism Sikhism Zoroastrianism Chinese Tian Shangdi Hongjun Laozu Attributes Eternalness Existence Gender Names ( `` God '' ) Omnibenevolence Omnipotence Omnipresence Omniscience Experiences Practices Belief Esotericism Faith Fideism Gnosis Hermeticism Metaphysics Mysticism Prayer Revelation Worship Related topics Euthyphro dilemma God complex God gene Theology Ontology Problem of evil ( theodicy ) Religion philosophy texts Portrayals of God in popular media The English word god continues the Old English god ( guþ, gudis in Gothic, guð in Old Norse, god in Frisian and Dutch, and Gott in modern German ), which is derived from Proto - Germanic * ǥuđán. Contents 1 Etymology 1.1 Gaut 1.2 Wōdanaz 1.3 Gotama 2 Translations 3 Capitalization 4 See also 5 References 6 External links Etymology This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( April 2018 ) The Proto - Germanic meaning of * ǥuđán and its etymology is uncertain. It is generally agreed that it derives from a Proto - Indo - European neuter passive perfect participle * ǵhu - tó - m. This is similar to Persian word for God, Khudan. This form within ( late ) Proto - Indo - European itself was possibly ambiguous, and thought to derive from a root * ǵheu̯ - `` to pour, libate '' ( Sanskrit huta, see hotṛ ), or from a root * ǵhau̯ - ( * ǵheu̯h - ) `` to call, to invoke '' ( Sanskrit hūta ). Sanskrit hutá = `` having been sacrificed '', from the verb root hu = `` sacrifice '', but a slight shift in translation gives the meaning `` one to whom sacrifices are made. '' Depending on which possibility is preferred, the pre-Christian meaning of the Germanic term may either have been ( in the `` pouring '' case ) `` libation '' or `` that which is libated upon, idol '' -- or, as Watkins opines in the light of Greek χυτη γαια `` poured earth '' meaning `` tumulus '', `` the Germanic form may have referred in the first instance to the spirit immanent in a burial mound '' -- or ( in the `` invoke '' case ) `` invocation, prayer '' ( compare the meanings of Sanskrit brahman ) or `` that which is invoked ''. Gaut A significant number of scholars have connected this root with the names of three related Germanic tribes : the Geats, the Goths and the Gutar. These names may be derived from an eponymous chieftain Gaut, who was subsequently deified. He also sometimes appears in early Medieval sagas as a name of Odin or one of his descendants, a former king of the Geats ( Gaut ( i ) ), an ancestor of the Gutar ( Guti ), of the Goths ( Gothus ) and of the royal line of Wessex ( Geats ) and as a previous hero of the Goths ( Gapt ). Wōdanaz Some variant forms of the name Odin such as the Lombardic Godan may point in the direction that the Lombardic form actually comes from Proto - Germanic * ǥuđánaz. Wōdanaz or Wōđinaz is the reconstructed Proto - Germanic name of a god of Germanic paganism, known as Odin in Norse mythology, Wōden in Old English, Wodan or Wotan in Old High German and Godan in the Lombardic language. Godan was shortened to God over time and was adopted / retained by the Germanic peoples of the British isles as the name of their deity, in lieu of the Latin word Deus used by the Latin speaking Christian church, after conversion to Christianity. During the complex christianization of the Germanic tribes of Europe, there were many linguistic influences upon the Christian missionaries. One example post downfall of the western Roman Empire are the missionaries from Rome led by Augustine of Canterbury. Augustine 's mission to the Saxons in southern Britain was conducted at a time when the city of Rome was a part of a Lombardic kingdom. The translated Bibles which they brought on their mission were greatly influenced by the Germanic tribes they were in contact with, chief among them being the Lombards and Franks. The translation for the word deus of the Latin Bible was influenced by the then current usage by the tribes for their highest deity, namely Wodan by Angles, Saxons, and Franks of north - central and western Europe, and Godan by the Lombards of south - central Europe around Rome. There are many instances where the name Godan and Wodan are contracted to God and Wod. One instance is the wild hunt ( a.k.a. Wodan 's wild hunt ) where Wod is used. The earliest uses of the word God in Germanic writing is often cited to be in the Gothic Bible or Wulfila Bible, which is the Christian Bible as translated by Ulfilas into the Gothic language spoken by the Eastern Germanic, or Gothic, tribes. The oldest parts of the Gothic Bible, contained in the Codex Argenteus, is estimated to be from the fourth century. During the fourth century, the Goths were converted to Christianity, largely through the efforts of Bishop Ulfilas, who translated the Bible into the Gothic language in Nicopolis ad Istrum in today 's northern Bulgaria. The words guda and guþ were used for God in the Gothic Bible. Gotama In 19th - century scholarship, there were a number of alternative etymologies suggested. Morgan Kavanagh in The Origin of Language and Myths claimed that the word god was taken from the Buddha 's patriarchal name of Gotama. Henry Scadding, and Henry Le Mesurier in his book Mer - cur - ius, or The Word Maker, also connected Lombard Guodan to Gotama Buddha. The connection of Gwydion with Wotan ( but not with god ) is due to Jacob Grimm. Translations The word God was used to represent Greek Theos and Latin Deus in Bible translations, first in the Gothic translation of the New Testament by Ulfilas. For the etymology of deus, see * dyēus. Greek `` θεός '' ( theos ) means god in English. It is often connected with Greek `` θέω '' ( theō ), `` run '', and `` θεωρέω '' ( theoreō ), `` to look at, to see, to observe '', Latin feriae `` holidays '', fanum `` temple '', and also Armenian di - k ` `` gods ''. Alternative suggestions ( e.g. by De Saussure ) connect * dhu̯es - `` smoke, spirit '', attested in Baltic and Germanic words for `` spook '' and ultimately cognate with Latin fumus `` smoke. '' The earliest attested form of the word is the Mycenaean Greek te - o ( plural te - o-i ), written in Linear B syllabic script. Capitalization KJV of 1611 ( Psalms 23 : 1, 2 ) : Occurrence of `` LORD '' ( and `` God '' in the heading ) The development of English orthography was dominated by Christian texts. Capitalized, `` God '' was first used to refer to the Judeo - Christian concept and may now signify any monotheistic conception of God, including the translations of the Arabic Allāh, Persian Khuda, Indic Ishvara and the Maasai Ngai. In the English language, capitalization is used for names by which a god is known, including ' God '. Consequently, its capitalized form is not used for multiple gods ( polytheism ) or when referring to the generic idea of a deity. Pronouns referring to a god are also often capitalized by adherents to a religion as an indication of reverence, and are traditionally in the masculine gender ( `` He '', `` Him '', `` His '' etc ) unless specifically referring to a goddess. See also Anglo - Saxon paganism also called Wodenism Bhagavan ( Hindi word ) El ( deity ) ( Semitic word ) Elohim Jumala ( Finnish word ) Kadaval ( Tamizh word ) Khuda ( Persian word ) Names of God Tanri ( Turkish word ) Yahweh YHWH References Jump up ^ Watkins, Calvert, ed., The American Heritage Dictionary of Indo - European Roots, 2nd ed., Houghton Mifflin Co., 2000. Jump up ^ A New System of Geography, Or a General Description of the World by Daniel Fenning, Joseph Collyer 1765 Jump up ^ See the chant in the Medieval and Early Modern folklore section of the Wikipedia entry for Wōden. Jump up ^ Northern Mythology, Comprising the Principal Popular Traditions and Superstitions of Scandinavia, North Germany and the Netherlands : Compiled from Original and Other Sources. In Three Volumes. North German and Netherlandish Popular Traditions and Superstitions, Volume 3, 1852 Jump up ^ The Canadian Journal of Science and Literature and History, 1880 p. 302 Jump up ^ Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek - English Lexicon, on Perseus Jump up ^ Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek - English Lexicon, on Perseus Jump up ^ θεωρέω, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek - English Lexicon, on Perseus Jump up ^ Dermot Moran, The Philosophy of John Scottus Eriugena : A Study of Idealism in the Middle Ages, Cambridge University Press Jump up ^ Palaeolexicon, Word study tool of ancient languages Jump up ^ Palaeolexicon, Word study tool of ancient languages Jump up ^ Webster 's New World Dictionary ; `` God n. ME < OE, akin to Ger gott, Goth guth, prob. < IE base * ĝhau -, to call out to, invoke > Sans havaté, ( he ) calls upon ; 1. any of various beings conceived of as supernatural, immortal, and having special powers over the lives and affairs of people and the course of nature ; deity, esp. a male deity : typically considered objects of worship ; 2. an image that is worshiped ; idol 3. a person or thing deified or excessively honored and admired ; 4. ( G - ) in monotheistic religions, the creator and ruler of the universe, regarded as eternal, infinite, all - powerful, and all - knowing ; Supreme Being ; the Almighty '' Jump up ^ Dictionary.com ; `` God / gɒd / noun : 1. the one Supreme Being, the creator and ruler of the universe. 2. the Supreme Being considered with reference to a particular attribute. 3. ( lowercase ) one of several deities, esp. a male deity, presiding over some portion of worldly affairs. 4. ( often lowercase ) a supreme being according to some particular conception : the God of mercy. 5. Christian Science. the Supreme Being, understood as Life, Truth, Love, Mind, Soul, Spirit, Principle. 6. ( lowercase ) an image of a deity ; an idol. 7. ( lowercase ) any deified person or object. 8. ( often lowercase ) Gods, Theater. 8a. the upper balcony in a theater. 8b. the spectators in this part of the balcony. '' Jump up ^ The New York Times Guide to Essential Knowledge. The New York Times. Retrieved 27 December 2011. Pronoun references to a deity worshiped by people in the present are sometimes capitalized, although some writers use capitals only to prevent confusion : God helped Abraham carry out His law. Jump up ^ Alcoholic Thinking : language, culture, and belief in Alcoholics Anonymous. Greenwood Publishing Group. Retrieved 27 December 2011. Traditional biblical translations that always capitalize the word `` God '' and the pronouns, `` He, '' `` Him, '' and `` His '' in reference to God itself and the use of archaic forms such as `` Thee, '' `` Thou, '' and `` Thy '' are familiar. External links Look up God in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Use of guþ n the Gothic Bible. Use of guda n the Gothic Bible. Gothic language and its relation to other Germanic languages such as Anglish ( English ) and Saxon Names of God In Christianity In Hinduism In Islam In Judaism In Zoroastrianism In Chinese religion Adonai Ahura Mazda The All Allah Bathala Brahman Cao Đài El Elohim El Elyon El Shaddai God Great Spirit Haneullim Hu Hyang I Am that I Am Ik Onkar Ishvara Jah Khuda Ngai Olodumare The One Parvardigar Shangdi Svayam Bhagavan Tenri - Ō - no - Mikoto Tian Tianzhu Waheguru YHWH Jehovah Yahweh Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=God_(word)&oldid=864305802 '' Categories : God English words Etymologies Names of God Hidden categories : Articles containing Old English - language text Articles containing Gothic - language text Articles containing Old Norse - language text Articles containing Dutch - language text Articles containing German - language text Articles containing Proto - Germanic - language text Articles needing additional references from April 2018 All articles needing additional references Articles containing Ancient Greek - language text All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from March 2007 Articles containing Lombardic - language text Articles containing Latin - language text Articles containing Armenian - language text Articles containing Masai - language text Talk Contents About Wikipedia فارسی Português Shqip Edit links This page was last edited on 16 October 2018, at 11 : 50 ( UTC ). 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Question: where did the english word god come from
Answer: the Old English god (guþ, gudis in Gothic, guð in Old Norse, god in Frisian and Dutch, and Gott in modern German), which is derived from Proto-Germanic *ǥuđán