What Are the Attributes of God? 21 Attributes
The Character of God
The Scriptures declare that eternal life is knowing the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He sent (John 17:3). Do you know what the Scriptures declare about the character of God?
So, what are the attributes of God? Attributes are essentially characteristics or traits that are inseparable from someone or something. Regarding God, His attributes reveal who He is. We know about God, in large part, by knowing His attributes and His ways. God always acts in accordance with His attributes. It is also important to understand that God does not hold one attribute above another. God is consistent and unified. For example, God does not sacrifice His justice in order to demonstrate His love. All of God’s attributes work together in harmony with one another in everything He does. Below is a list of 21 attributes of God with Scriptural references. This listing of attributes does not imply any ranking about the attributes themselves. It is also not meant to be fully exhaustive. These 21 attributes are well-attested in Scripture. They should be believed by everyone who worships the God revealed in the Bible. God is forever perfect in all of His unchanging attributes and these aspects of His character are all worth our serious and sober-minded reflection.
We must state at the beginning that knowing about God by affirming attributes on a list is not the same as knowing God. Let’s look to the revelation of God in Scripture to know more about who God is. He is more amazing than we could ever imagine. This list is provided to help you grow in your understanding of God so that you may walk with Him more closely.
21 Attributes of God
1. The One True God - While many objects and ideas are worshipped as god, there is only one true and living God. Any other is described in Scripture as an idol. God tells His creation to turn away from idols and turn to Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
“I am the LORD your God, He who brought you from the land of Egypt, from the place of slavery. You must not have any other gods besides Me. You must not make for yourself an image of anything in heaven above, on earth below, or in the waters beneath.” (Deuteronomy 5:6–8)
The LORD is the only true God. He is the living God and the everlasting King. When He shows His anger the earth shakes. None of the nations can stand up to His fury. (Jeremiah 10:10)
For people everywhere report how you welcomed us and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. (1 Thessalonians 1:9)
For more on the One True God, see our article: Who Is The One True God?
2. Eternal - God has no beginning or end in His own being. He sees all time equally vividly. Yet, God sees events in time and acts in time. God simply exists. He has always been and will always be.
Remember what I accomplished in antiquity! Truly I am God, I have no peer; I am God, and there is none like Me, who announces the end from the beginning and reveals beforehand what has not yet occurred, who says, ‘My plan will be realized, I will accomplish what I desire.’ (Isaiah 46:9-10)
Even before the mountains came into existence, or You brought the world into being, You were the eternal God. (Psalm 90:2)
For more on the Eternality of God, see our teachings:
3. Unchangeable - God is unchanging in His being, perfection, purposes, and promises. Yet, God does act and feel emotions. He acts and feels differently in response to different situations.
In earlier times You established the earth; the skies are your handiwork. They will perish, but You will endure. They will wear out like a garment; like clothes you will remove them and they will disappear. But You remain; Your years do not come to an end. (Psalm 102:25-27)
“Since, I, the LORD, do not go back on my promises, you, sons of Jacob, have not perished.” (Malachi 3:6)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever! (Hebrews 13:8)
See our related article for more discussion of God’s immutable nature:
4. Independent - God does not need us or the rest of creation for anything. Yet, we and the rest of creation can glorify Him and bring Him joy. God Himself is the only necessary Being. He exists independently from all He has made and does not depend on anyone or anything external to Himself for any reason. By contrast, the rest of creation is contingent upon God as His creation. This is also sometimes referred to as God’s aseity.
The God who made the world and everything in it, who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He himself gives life and breath and everything to everyone. (Acts 17:24-25)
For more, read our related article on God’s independence:
5. Unity - God is not divided into parts, yet we do see different attributes of God emphasized at different times throughout Scripture.
The LORD passed by before him and proclaimed: “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abounding in loyal love and faithfulness, keeping loyal love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. But He by no means leaves the guilty unpunished, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children and children's children, to the third and fourth generation.” (Exodus 34:6-7)
Listen, Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! (Deuteronomy 6:4)
Related article on God’s unity:
6. Spirit - God’s spirituality means that God exists as a being that is not made of any matter, has no parts or dimensions, is unable to be perceived by our bodily senses, and is more excellent than any other kind of existence.
“God is Spirit, and the people who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)
For more, check out our related article: God is Spirit: Worship Him in Spirit & Truth.
7. Invisible - God’s invisibility means that God’s total essence, all His spiritual being, will never be able to be seen by us. Yet, God still shows Himself to us through visible, created things. God’s image is most perfectly revealed in the incarnation of Christ.
Now to the eternal king, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17)
He alone possesses immortality and lives in unapproachable light, whom no human has ever seen or is able to see. To him be honor and eternal power! Amen. (1 Timothy 6:16)
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, for all things in heaven and on earth were created by Him– all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers– all things were created through Him and for Him. (Colossians 1:15-16)
For more, read our article: The Invisible God: What Does it Mean that God is Invisible?
8. Omnipresent - God is always present at every point of space with His whole being. Yet, God acts differently in different places, at different times, and according to His own purpose. This is not to be confused with thinking that God has material or physical spatial dimensions. God’s presence can be manifested in dramatic ways. It also may seem like God is nowhere to be found. Yet, God is fully aware and able to exercise His sovereign rule over all creation simultaneously, perfectly, and effortlessly.
Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee to escape Your presence? If I were to ascend to heaven, You would be there. If I were to sprawl out in Sheol, there You would be. If I were to fly away on the wings of the dawn, and settle down on the other side of the sea, even there Your hand would guide me, Your right hand would grab hold of me. (Psalm 139:7-10)
9. Omniscient - God fully knows Himself and all things. God knows the actual and possible in one simple and eternal act. God knows.
Your knowledge is beyond my comprehension; it is so far beyond me, I am unable to fathom it. (Psalm 139:6)
And by this we will know that we are of the truth and will convince our conscience in His presence, that if our conscience condemns us, that God is greater than our conscience and knows all things. (1 John 3:19-20)
For who among men knows the things of a man except the man's spirit within him? So too, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:11)
10. Omnipotent - God’s omnipotence means that God is able to do all His holy will. No one can thwart His plans.
“For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)
‘Oh, Lord GOD, you did indeed make heaven and earth by Your mighty power and great strength. Nothing is too hard for You!’ (Jeremiah 32:17)
Our God is in heaven! He does whatever He pleases! (Psalm 115:3)
“I know that You can do all things; no purpose of Yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2)
11. Creator - God is the Creator of the heavens and earth. He is before all things and all things exist because of Him. He was neither caused nor made by something or someone greater than Himself. He is the Cause and Maker of all things. Nothing that does exist would exist apart from Him.
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is an eternal God, the Creator of the whole earth. He does not get tired or weary; there is no limit to His wisdom. (Isaiah 40:28)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was without shape and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the watery deep, but the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the water. (Genesis 1:1-2)
For all things in heaven and on earth were created by Him– all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers– all things were created through Him and for Him. (Colossians 1:16)
All things were created by Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. (John 1:3)
For more on God the Creator, see our teachings:
12. Sustainer - Nothing that exists would exist apart from God. If He were to turn away from His creation for even a moment, all would perish. We owe our every breath and movement to Him.
He himself is before all things and all things are held together in Him. (Colossians 1:17)
“But now, ask the animals and they will teach you, or the birds of the sky and they will tell you. Or speak to the earth and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea declare to you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this, in whose hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all the human race.” (Job 12:7-10)
For in Him we live and move about and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’ (Acts 17:28 )
For no one can eat and drink or experience joy apart from Him. (Ecclesiastes 2:25)
13. Holy - God’s holiness means that He is separated from sin and devoted to seeking His own honor.
“Speak to the whole congregation of the Israelites and tell them, ‘You must be holy because I, the LORD Your God, am holy.’” (Leviticus 19:2)
Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance, but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct, for it is written, “You shall be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14-16)
They called out to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord who commands armies! His majestic splendor fills the entire earth!” (Isaiah 6:3)
Each one of the four living creatures had six wings and was full of eyes all around and inside. They never rest day or night, saying: “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the All-Powerful, Who was and who is, and who is still to come!” (Revelation 4:8)
For more on God’s Holiness, see our teachings:
14. Righteous - God’s righteousness, or “justice,” means that God always acts in accordance with what is right. He Himself is the final standard of what is right.
As for the Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are just. He is a reliable God who is never unjust, He is fair and upright. (Deuteronomy 32:4)
But who indeed are you– a mere human being– to talk back to God? Does what is molded say to the molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special use and another for ordinary use? (Romans 9:20-21)
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His deeds are right and His ways are just. He is able to bring down those who live in pride. (Daniel 4:37)
Equity and justice are the foundation of Your throne. Loyal love and faithfulness characterize Your rule. (Psalm 89:14)
15. Good - The goodness of God means that God is the final standard of good. All that God is and does is worthy of approval.
Praise the LORD! Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, and His loyal love endures! (Psalm 106:1)
He said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only One who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Matthew 19:17)
For more on God’s Goodness, see our article: The Problem of God’s Goodness
16. Truthful - God’s truthfulness means that He is the true God. All His knowledge and words are both true and the final standard of truth. It is impossible for God to lie.
“‘Do not plan evil in your hearts against one another. Do not favor a false oath– these are all things that I hate,’ says the LORD.” (Zechariah 8:17)
So that we who have found refuge in him may find strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us through two unchangeable things, since it is impossible for God to lie. (Hebrews 6:18)
Absolutely not! Let God be proven true, and every human being shown up as a liar, just as it is written: “so that you will be justified in your words and will prevail when you are judged.” (Romans 3:4)
17. Wise - God’s wisdom means that God always chooses the best goals and the best means to accomplish those goals. This is also sometimes referred to as God’s omnisapience.
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how fathomless His ways. (Romans 11:33)
The beginning of wisdom is to fear the LORD, and acknowledging the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)
18. Patient - God’s patience is demonstrated by His withholding punishment toward those who sin over a period of time.
The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because He does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and merciful God. You are patient and demonstrate great loyal love and faithfulness. (Psalm 86:15)
But what if God, willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make known His power, has endured with much patience the objects of wrath prepared for destruction? (Romans 9:22)
And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. (2 Peter 3:15)
19. Wrath - God’s wrath means that He intensely hates all sin.
Arrogant people cannot stand in Your presence; You hate all who behave wickedly. (Psalm 5:5)
The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects the Son will not see life, but God's wrath remains on him. (John 3:36)
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness. (Romans 1:18)
20. Jealous - God’s jealousy means that God continually seeks to protect His own honor.
You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I, the LORD, Your God, am a jealous God, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children to the third and fourth generations of those who reject Me. (Exodus 20:5)
For you must not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. (Exodus 34:14)
For the LORD your God is a consuming fire; He is a jealous God. (Deuteronomy 4:24)
Therefore this is what the sovereign LORD says: “Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob, and I will have mercy on the entire house of Israel. I will be jealous for My holy name.” (Ezekiel 39:25)
21. Love - God’s love means that God eternally gives of Himself to others. It is true that God is loving. However, Scripture goes even further and declares truth that is far deeper. God is love.
The person who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:8)
But God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
For this is the way God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
By this the love of God is revealed in us: that God has sent His one and only Son into the world so that we may live through Him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:9-10)