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. Notice in verse 27 that ‘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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