The timeless question of “how tall is God?” has inspired theologians and believers for centuries, and it is still an intriguing mystery today. While countless stories and parables from various religious traditions have speculated on the perceived size and scope of divine power, a true understanding of the divine measurement remains elusive.
The Bible provides some clues about the actual height of God, suggesting that humans cannot truly comprehend it. The Book of Jeremiah attests that “his understanding is beyond measure” (Jeremiah 17:9), while the author of Psalm 139 admits that “such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it” (Psalm 139:6).
Other scriptures point to the limits of human understanding when it comes to physical depictions of God. The passage in Exodus 33:20 reads: “But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” This reinforces the idea that humans are, and will always be, confined to the bounds of their limited, mortal understanding when it comes to perceiving and conceiving the size and shape of God.
The Bible invites believers to look beyond the physical and consider spiritual attributes, such as love, mercy, justice, and wisdom. And, the spiritual is often thought to be the truer reflection of God. This is emphasized in the words from Isaiah 55:8-9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
From a philosophical perspective, some have argued that trying to fathom the size or shape of God is a futile endeavor. It’s a classic paradox – the concept of a being that is both infinite and unchanging conflicts with our limited conceptions of scale and space. Put simply, God is bigger than any potential measurements.
Believers and nonbelievers alike will likely continue to grapple with the mysterious dimensions of God, but it is clear that the answer remains a degree of enlightenment and understanding rather than a concrete measurement.
