If you’ve ever read through a modern Bible translation like the ESV, NIV, or CSB, you may have noticed something that surprises you: pronouns referring to God—like he, him, or his—are written in lowercase. For those familiar with the New King James Version (NKJV) or other older editions that use capitalized pronouns (He, Him, His), this can seem like a lack of reverence or even a step backward in honoring the Lord.
So why don’t modern translations follow the same practice? Has something changed in how we view Scripture—or in how we view God?
Let’s take a closer look.
1. Capitalizing Divine Pronouns Is a Modern Editorial Tradition—Not a Biblical One
First, it helps to understand that the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts of the Bible did not use uppercase and lowercase letters the way English does today. In fact:
- Ancient Hebrew was originally written without vowels or punctuation—let alone capital letters.
- Ancient Greek manuscripts were often written in all capital letters (called uncials) or all lowercase (minuscules) with no spaces or punctuation.
So when translators capitalize pronouns for God, they’re making an editorial decision, not translating something that was in the original text.
2. Modern Translations Aim for Clarity and Accuracy
Most modern Bible translations—such as the NIV (New International Version), ESV (English Standard Version), CSB (Christian Standard Bible), NRSV (New Revised Standard Version), and NLT (New Living Translation)—choose not to capitalize divine pronouns for a few good reasons:
- Consistency with original manuscripts: Since the original languages didn’t use this distinction, translators often choose not to insert something the text doesn’t include.
- Clarity in ambiguous passages: In some verses, it’s not clear whether the pronoun refers to God, Jesus, or a human figure. Capitalizing “he” or “him” can actually introduce interpretive bias, leading readers to conclusions that the original text doesn’t require.
- Alignment with standard English usage: In English, we don’t typically capitalize pronouns out of reverence. For example, we don’t capitalize “you” or “your” in prayer. Modern translations often aim to reflect standard grammar, making the Bible more readable and accessible.
3. It’s Not About Reverence—It’s About Transparency
Some people worry that not capitalizing divine pronouns is a sign of diminished reverence for God or a lower view of Scripture. But that’s not the case at all.
In fact, many modern translations that don’t capitalize divine pronouns are created by deeply faithful scholars and pastors who hold a high view of Scripture and are committed to preserving the integrity of the original text.
Their goal is not to downplay God’s majesty but to avoid adding to the text what isn’t there, ensuring that readers engage with the Bible as closely as possible to what the original authors wrote—without modern assumptions or traditions layered in.
4. Some Translations Do Capitalize Divine Pronouns
Not every Bible translation has taken the same approach. If you prefer to read a version where divine pronouns are capitalized, there are options for you:
- New King James Version (NKJV) consistently capitalizes pronouns for God and Christ.
- Legacy Standard Bible (LSB) and certain editions of the
- Amplified Bible (AMP) also follow this tradition.
- Some custom Bibles or devotional editions of other translations (e.g., the NASB or ESV) may include capitalized pronouns by special request.
So, you can choose what suits your devotional life and reading style—just know the difference is one of editorial style, not doctrinal substance.
5. What’s Most Important? The Message, Not the Capitalization
At the end of the day, the purpose of Scripture is not to uphold a grammatical convention but to reveal the heart, will, and redemptive work of God. Whether the pronouns are capitalized or not, the glory of God shines through every page.
We can appreciate and even prefer certain stylistic choices, but we should never confuse editorial traditions with theological truth. The holiness of God does not depend on the size of a letter—but on the greatness of his love, his power, and his faithfulness throughout all generations.
Conclusion: Read with Reverence, Regardless of Capitalization
Whether you read He or he, His or his, what matters most is that you read the Word with an open heart and a desire to know the One to whom it points. Capital letters may serve as helpful reminders of divine majesty, but it is faith, not formatting, that draws us near to God.
