The question is everywhere right now. Parents are asking it. Teenagers are searching it online. Churches are discussing it carefully and prayerfully.
What does the Bible say about genders?
To answer that well, we have to slow down. We cannot rush Scripture. We must begin where the Bible begins — at creation.
The Bible is not silent about male and female. It is also not harsh or careless in how it speaks about people. From the first page of Genesis to the words of Jesus, we see both clarity and compassion. We see design and dignity together.
Let’s walk through this carefully.
How Many Genders Are in the Bible?
When people ask, “How many genders are in the Bible?” the clearest starting point is Genesis 1:27:
“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.”
The biblical text presents two categories in creation: male and female.
The Hebrew words used here are zakar (male) and neqebah (female). These are biological terms. They refer to the physical distinction between men and women as part of God’s created order.
The Bible does not list multiple gender categories. It consistently speaks in terms of male and female throughout both the Old and New Testaments. This pattern continues in family structures, inheritance laws, priesthood instructions, and marriage teachings.
Now, some people search online for “the 8 genders in the Bible.” It is important to say clearly: the Bible itself does not describe eight genders. That idea comes from modern discussions, not from Scripture.
From Genesis forward, the biblical worldview is built on the understanding that God created humanity as male and female. This distinction is not presented as an accident or mistake. It is described as intentional and “very good” (Genesis 1:31).
But that is not the whole story. Because right alongside this distinction, the Bible gives something even deeper.
Male and Female in the Image of God
Genesis does not simply say God created male and female. It says something far more powerful:
Both are made in the image of God.
This idea is often called Imago Dei — a Latin phrase meaning “image of God.” It teaches that every human being reflects God’s character in some way.
This means:
- Men and women have equal value.
- Men and women share equal dignity.
- Men and women are equally loved by God.
The Bible does not teach superiority of one over the other. Instead, it presents distinction without inequality.
In Genesis 2, we see the creation of woman from man’s side. The imagery is important. She is not formed from his head to rule over him. She is not formed from his feet to be beneath him. She is formed from his side — close to his heart — showing partnership.
Understanding this balance helps us answer modern questions with care. Scripture affirms difference. But it also fiercely protects dignity.
What Does God Say About Gender Identity?
The modern phrase “gender identity” does not appear in the Bible. However, Scripture does speak about identity in a broader sense.
The Bible teaches that our deepest identity begins with being created by God.
Psalm 139:13–14 says:
“For You formed my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
This passage emphasizes intentional creation. The body is not random. It is designed.
In biblical understanding, sex — being male or female — is part of that created design. It is not presented as separate from the body. It is woven into creation itself.
That said, the Bible also recognizes human brokenness. After sin entered the world in Genesis 3, all aspects of human life were affected — including relationships, emotions, and even how we understand ourselves.
So when someone struggles with identity, Scripture calls believers to respond with truth and compassion together.
The Bible does not mock confusion. It does not dismiss pain. It calls people back to God’s design while also offering grace.
This balance matters deeply.
What Did Jesus Say About Genders?
Some assume Jesus avoided these topics. He did not.
In Matthew 19:4, Jesus says:
“Have you not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female.”
Notice what Jesus does. He goes back to Genesis. He affirms the creation account as historical and authoritative. He confirms the male and female distinction as part of God’s design.
Jesus does not introduce new gender categories. He reaffirms the original creation pattern.
But Jesus also consistently showed compassion to people who felt rejected or misunderstood. He spoke with women publicly when others would not. He defended the woman caught in adultery. He treated individuals with dignity regardless of their background.
Truth and mercy were never enemies in His ministry.
So when we ask, “What did Jesus say about genders?” the answer is this:
- He affirmed male and female in creation.
- He upheld God’s design for marriage.
- He treated every person with compassion.
That combination shapes how Christians should respond today.
Eunuchs and Cultural Context in Scripture
Some point to Matthew 19:12 where Jesus speaks about eunuchs:
“For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb…”
A eunuch in the ancient world was typically a man who had been physically altered, often for service in royal courts. In some cases, a person may have been born with physical conditions affecting sexual development.
It is important not to read modern gender categories into this term. In biblical context, eunuchs were not described as a separate gender. They were male individuals with specific circumstances.
The prophet Isaiah gives a beautiful promise to eunuchs in Isaiah 56:4–5, saying they would receive a name better than sons and daughters. This shows God’s inclusion and care for those who may not fit social expectations.
The message is clear: dignity is never removed because of physical difference.
The Unity and Difference of Male and Female
Throughout Scripture, male and female roles are connected to family, marriage, and community life.
Genesis 2:24 describes marriage as a union between man and woman. The New Testament echoes this pattern.
However, it is important to see that the Bible’s focus is not simply biology. It is covenant relationship. The male–female distinction is tied to partnership, procreation, and family structure.
At the same time, Galatians 3:28 says:
“There is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
This verse does not erase biological difference. Instead, it emphasizes spiritual equality in salvation. In Christ, men and women stand equally justified and equally redeemed.
So Scripture holds two truths together:
- Male and female are distinct in creation.
- Male and female are equal in worth before God.
Addressing Modern Questions With Care
Today, conversations about gender often include complex emotional and psychological experiences. The Bible does not use modern terminology, but it does provide guiding principles:
- Creation has design.
- Every person has dignity.
- Sin has affected human experience.
- Grace is available to all.
Christians are called to speak truth without cruelty and show compassion without abandoning conviction.
Ephesians 4:15 says believers should speak “the truth in love.” That phrase is deeply relevant here.
How Many Genders Are Recognized in Scripture?
To summarize clearly:
- The Bible consistently presents two sexes: male and female.
- It does not outline additional gender categories.
- It acknowledges physical variations (such as eunuchs) without redefining gender categories.
- It centers identity in being created in God’s image.
So if someone asks directly, “How many genders are in the Bible?” the straightforward biblical answer is: the text speaks of male and female as the created categories.
God’s Heart Toward Every Person
While Scripture affirms male and female distinction, it also makes something even more important clear:
God’s love is not limited by someone’s struggle.
Jesus repeatedly moved toward people who felt outcast. The church must reflect that same heart.
Holding to biblical teaching does not require hostility. It requires humility. It requires patience. It requires prayer.
Christians are not called to win arguments. They are called to represent Christ.
What This Teaches Us About Truth and Grace
So what does the Bible say about genders?
It says:
- God created humanity male and female.
- Both reflect His image.
- Jesus affirmed this design.
- Every person carries equal dignity.
- Truth and compassion must remain together.
In a world filled with noise, Scripture calls us back to something steady.
Creation was intentional. Identity begins with God. And grace meets us wherever we are.
When we approach this topic, we should do so carefully, prayerfully, and kindly. The goal is not to divide. The goal is to understand God’s Word and reflect His character.
Because at the heart of this discussion is not a culture war. It is a question about who we are — and who created us.
And the Bible answers that clearly:
We are made in His image.
