How is God infinite? What does it mean that God is infinite?

TL;DR:

To say that God is infinite is to say that He is unlimited in His nature and perfections. God is without boundary in His power, presence, knowledge, and existence—unlike anything in creation.

To be infinite means to be without end. Because we are finite creatures, whose entire lives are filled with limitations, it is difficult for us to understand what it would be like to be infinite. However, Scripture’s consistent witness is that God is infinite. God is not like created beings, who are constrained by time, space, or ability. The Bible describes Him as eternal (Psalm 90:2), all-knowing (1 John 3:20), all-powerful (Jeremiah 32:17), and present everywhere (Psalm 139:7–10). These qualities are not separate from His being—they are expressions of His infinite nature (Psalm 145:3; Isaiah 40:28). Because He is infinite, He does not grow or diminish in any capacity (Malachi 3:6), nor is He restrained by the limitations of human minds or systems (Romans 11:33). God’s infinite nature means that He is always sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9), always faithful (2 Timothy 2:13), and always sovereign over all things (Daniel 4:35).

from the old testament

Being infinite means that God’s greatness is immeasurable. David proclaimed, “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable” (Psalm 145:3). Being “unsearchable” means that God is so great that we don’t even know where to start looking to be able to understand it.
God’s knowledge is infinite (Isaiah 40:28). God’s understanding—His wisdom and knowledge—is infinite.
Being infinite means that God is infinite in size, and nothing can contain Him. When Solomon built the first temple and dedicated it to God, he acknowledged this truth, saying, “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!” (1 Kings 8:27). Even the universe cannot contain God; therefore, most surely, the tiny temple was not big enough to fully contain God.
Because God is infinite, God spans infinitely into both the past and future (Psalm 90:2).
God is everywhere, seeing everything (Jeremiah 23:24). No one can hide from God because He has infinite knowledge of everything going on at every moment.
God being infinite means He is far beyond anything we can imagine (Job 11:7–9).

from the new testament

Because He is infinite, it is impossible to wrap our minds around God (Romans 11:33).
Because God is infinite, He is eternal and immortal (1 Timothy 1:17).
God Himself is quoted as saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega…who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8). As the “Alpha and Omega,” He exists both before and after all things.
God’s wisdom, power, and ability is far beyond our comprehension (Ephesians 3:20–21).
Colossians 1:17 speaks to Jesus’s infinite power and eternality. He existed before everything and is able to keep everything in the universe together because His power is limitless.
Being infinite means that God both sees everything happening and has the capacity to infinitely judge any and all sin (Hebrews 4:13).

implications for today

God being infinite is both a comforting doctrine and a frightening one! For believers, it is a comfort because He is never limited in His ability to care for His people—His strength never runs out, His wisdom never fails, and His presence never leaves. That means there is no situation too complex, too hidden, or too broken for Him to redeem. Because we are finite, we are prone to forget this, but remembering His boundless nature fuels our worship and deepens our trust. God’s infinite knowledge means He fully understands our needs before we even speak. His infinite mercy assures us that no sin is beyond His grace for those who come to Him in repentance. And His infinite justice reminds us that evil will never have the final word. When we rest in the truth that God is infinite, we stop trying to manage life in our own strength and learn to worship a God who is more than enough.

However, this is a frightening doctrine for unbelievers. Being infinite means that God knows everything and will judge everything. It also means that every sin we commit is against an infinitely holy God who is infinitely offended and requires infinite punishment. Scripture talks about a day when all unbelievers will be raised from the dead so that God can eternally punish them (Revelation 20:12–15). However, God is also infinitely merciful, willing to punish His Son in your place. Such a gift requires that you humble yourself, repent of your sin, and trust in Jesus. If you do, God promises to remove your sin infinitely away from Him, such that He will never count you guilty for it in the future (Psalm 103:12).

understand

God is unlimited in all His attributes—power, knowledge, presence, and time.
God’s infinite nature means He never changes or runs out.
God’s infinity brings both comfort and accountability.

reflect

Where in your life are you trying to manage things in your own strength instead of trusting in God’s infinite power?
How does knowing that God sees and understands everything about you—even what’s hidden—affect how you relate to Him?
How do you struggle to grasp or trust God being infinite?

engage

How can we encourage one another to rest in God’s infinite wisdom?
In what ways is God’s infinite nature both comforting and frightening, depending on where someone stands with Him?
What are some practical ways we can worship God in light of His infinite greatness that is beyond our understanding?