What does transcendent mean? How is God transcendent?

TL;DR:

Transcendent means to be greater than—to transcend—something or someone else. God is transcendent because He is the Creator, and thus, both greater than and unlike anything in creation.

Transcendence refers to something or someone being higher, bigger, or different than something or someone else. We might say, for example, that a particular athlete’s abilities transcend all others. That means that they are unlike other athletes. When we talk about God’s transcendence, then, we are talking about His greatness. However, God’s transcendence is not “greatness by degree.” That is, God is not like us, just a lot bigger. Instead, as the Creator, He is entirely different from us. We are unable to understand His thoughts, override His will, or be of any kind of threat to Him. And though God is also near to us, because of the distance between us and the holy God, we can only relationally draw near to Him through Jesus.

from the old testament

Because God is the Creator, He is distinct from creation (Genesis 1:1). Because God is the Creator and created everything, He is completely distinct from it and completely unlike it.
God, being transcendent, sees everything at once (Psalm 33:13–15).
For us, the universe is giant. For God, who is transcendent, it’s like His chair (Isaiah 66:1–2).
Speaking about the insignificance of nations compared to God, we read, “Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales” (Isaiah 40:15). “Dust on the scales” metaphorically shows how small they are. Nations are like dust on a scale that no one bothers blowing off because it is so insignificant that it doesn’t affect the scale’s reading. For God, nothing we do is significant in the sense that it changes things one way or the other. Being transcendent means that He isn’t limited by us, controlled by us, or affected by us.
The rulers of nations are said to be plotting against God (Psalm 2:1–3). In response, “He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision” (Psalm 2:4). God laughs because they are fools for thinking they have a chance against Him, even when banding together with other rulers. Instead, God simply turns to His Son, and says, “I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession” (Psalm 2:8). In other words, while the inhabitants of earth are running around and plotting, God is parceling them out as an inheritance for His Son. They are like insignificant “grasshoppers” (Isaiah 40:22).
When the Bible talks about God’s transcendence, it means that there is no comparison between Him and us. He is not like us (Hosea 11:9), His ways are impossible for us to understand (Isaiah 55:8–9), and He does as He pleases, regardless of our plans (Psalm 115:3).

from the new testament

Though transcendence is not a main theme of the New Testament, we still learn about it. For example, we learn that God being transcendent means that He doesn’t think like us. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord’” (Romans 11:33–34a).
God has an eternal domain, is immortal, and unseeable (1 Timothy 6:15–16). God is distinct from us, yet His transcendence does not prevent Him from being a near and personal God, as demonstrated in His Son.

implications for today

There are few other truths of Scripture which cause us to figuratively strain our necks trying to see where God ends more than the doctrine of transcendence. We often—and rightly—think of God as near and working for our good. However, we need to stop and also think about just who God is.

He is not like us, only bigger. Instead, He is completely different than us. He has always existed, creates out of nothing, and does whatever He wants. While He offers a relationship with Himself through Jesus, He also demands reverence and fear. That is why even believers are to live humbly and obediently. Thinking about God’s “size” is one way for us to grow in that humility.

Also, as we think about how great He is, we grow in confidence. When we think of God as small, we fear our enemies. However, when we remember that He knows all of the billions upon billions of stars personally (Psalm 147:4), then there is no one that we need to fear because they are like dust to our God.

Let us praise Him and remember who He is and treat Him like He deserves. He’s a kind God, but not a small one—let that thought encourage us to lift our gaze even higher as we exalt Him!

understand

God's transcendence means He is completely distinct from creation.
God’s transcendence means He is beyond human limitation.
Though infinitely beyond us, God is also near and invites us to know Him.

reflect

How does remembering that God is completely different from you—eternal, unlimited, and all-knowing—affect how you approach Him in prayer?
When was the last time you felt small in light of God’s greatness, and how did that shape your trust or fear in that moment?
Where do you need to grow in reverence or humility as you consider God's transcendence?

engage

How does understanding God’s transcendence challenge common ideas that portray God as merely a "bigger version of us"?
What are some ways we, as believers, can help others keep a right view of God's greatness without losing sight of His nearness?
How does a proper understanding of God’s transcendence change our perspective on power?