God's Maternal Nature and Friend

🌸 Scriptures Showing God’s Maternal Nature

Though God is consistently referred to with masculine pronouns, He reveals motherly attributes—nurture, compassion, birthing, and comfort.

1. Isaiah 66:13

“As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”→ God likens His comfort to that of a mother comforting her child—tender, present, and intimate.

2. Isaiah 49:15

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.”→ God’s love surpasses even the strongest natural maternal bond. His remembrance of us is eternal.

3. Deuteronomy 32:11–12

“As an eagle stirs up her nest, flutters over her young, spreads abroad her wings, takes them, bears them on her wings…”→ God is compared to a mother eagle training and protecting her young, symbolizing nurture and discipline.

4. Hosea 13:8

“I will meet them like a bear robbed of her cubs, and I will tear open the enclosure of their heart…”→ Even in judgment, this image conveys fierce, protective motherly instinct—God’s jealousy for His people’s wellbeing.

5. Matthew 23:37 / Luke 13:34

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem… how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”→ Jesus expresses His divine longing with a maternal metaphor—a mother hen gathering her brood.

6. Psalm 131:2

“Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.”→ David depicts his trust in God as that of a child resting against its mother—calm and secure.

🤝 Scriptures Where God (or Christ) Calls Us His Friend

God’s friendship expresses intimacy, trust, and mutual knowing. This friendship is covenantal, not casual—it comes through obedience and faith.

1. Exodus 33:11

“And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.”→ Moses experienced direct fellowship with God—friendship built on trust and communication.

2. 2 Chronicles 20:7 / Isaiah 41:8

“Abraham thy friend forever.”→ Abraham is called the friend of God—his faith and obedience established covenantal intimacy with God.

3. John 15:13–15

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends… Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”→ Jesus redefines divine friendship—rooted in sacrificial love and shared revelation.

4. James 2:23

“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”→ Friendship with God flows from faith that acts in obedience.

5. Proverbs 18:24

“There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”→ A prophetic picture of Christ—steadfast in covenant loyalty and unfailing companionship.

6. John 11:11

“Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.”→ Jesus’s friendship with Lazarus shows personal affection and divine power combined.

💡 Reflection Thought

God’s parental love is both fatherly and motherly—He gives identity and protection like a father, and nurtures and comforts like a mother. As our friend, He invites us into intimacy that transcends servanthood: friendship marked by revelation, trust, and mutual love.

🤝 Part 2: God as Our Friend — His Relational and Intimate Nature

Scripture	KJV	AMP (Amplified Bible)	NLT (New Living Translation)
Exodus 33:11	“And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.”	“And the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend.”	“Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.”
2 Chronicles 20:7 / Isaiah 41:8	“Abraham thy friend forever.” / “But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.”	“Abraham, Your friend forever.” / “But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham My friend.”	“Your friend Abraham.” / “But as for you, Israel my servant, Jacob my chosen one, descended from Abraham my friend.”
John 15:13–15	“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you… I have called you friends.”	“No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends. You are My friends if you keep on doing what I command you… I have called you [My] friends.”	“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command… I call you my friends.”
James 2:23	“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God… and he was called the Friend of God.”	“So the Scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and this [faith] was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called the friend of God.”	“And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: ‘Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.’ He was even called the friend of God.”
Proverbs 18:24	“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”	“The man of too many friends [chosen indiscriminately] will be broken in pieces and come to ruin, but there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother.”	“There are ‘friends’ who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.”
John 11:11	“Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.”	“Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him.”	“Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”

💡 Reflection & Application

• God’s nurture mirrors that of a mother: comforting, birthing, protecting, and remembering us always.

• God’s friendship reflects covenant intimacy: He reveals His secrets, shares His love, and stands closer than a brother.

• These metaphors invite us to approach Him with trust, tenderness, and reverence—secure in His love, yet bold in our communion.