Is the Use of ‘Man’ for Humanity Sexist?
The term ‘man’ in the Bible refers to both male and female, unless the context tells otherwise, as observed here:
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:26-27
The Hebrew word translated “mankind” is the same word for “man” in Genesis 2:7. This is clearer in the New King James Version:
26Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Genesis 1:26-27
As you can see in verse 27, ‘man’ in this generic sense refers to both male and female.
That said, I regularly use ‘human’ for man, and ‘humankind’ (or ‘humanity’) for mankind, so that there’s no misunderstanding and no one’s needlessly offended.
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Related Topics:
Human Nature — Spirit, Mind & Body
Is Christ’s Body after Resurrection Physical or Spiritual (or Both)?
Does God Have a Feminine side?
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