Meaning & Analysis
Refers to whether an individual is a genuine, natural human being as created by God, or conversely, seems artificial, unnatural, or flawed in character or appearance.
Insights
Authenticity and Artifice
The proverb serves as a judgment on a person's genuineness. To be 'of God's making' is to be authentic and unpretentious, while 'not of God's making' implies affectation, pretense, or being a counterfeit of a true man.
Natural versus Unnatural
It distinguishes between a person embodying natural, inherent human qualities and someone who appears corrupted, deformed, or so altered by artificial means (like excessive cosmetics or strange behavior) that they no longer seem human in the intended, natural sense.
Judgment of Character
The phrase is a moral or social evaluation. A 'man of God's making' is often a simple, honest person ('a good fellow'), whereas someone 'not of God's making' may be deceitful, strange, or morally suspect.
The Divine Ideal
It posits a divine or natural ideal for humanity. Individuals who deviate significantly from this ideal—whether in virtue, appearance, or manner—are metaphorically described as not being crafted by the master creator, but by a lesser, incompetent hand.
Theological Worldview
The proverb is deeply rooted in a pre-Enlightenment, Christian worldview where humanity is a direct creation of God. It reflects a society that measures human worth and authenticity against a divine standard, viewing significant deviation as a perversion of God's intended natural order.
Shakespearean Critique
Shakespeare memorably uses this concept, especially in Hamlet's critique of actors as being made by 'Nature's journeymen'. This highlights its use as a standard for aesthetic and social judgment, condemning poor imitation and inauthenticity in both art and life.
Psychological Authenticity
Psychologically, the proverb touches on our innate ability to detect genuineness versus affectation. It reflects the discomfort or suspicion aroused by individuals whose behavior or appearance seems 'off' or poorly performed, violating social expectations of natural human expression.
Rhetorical Devices
Theological Metaphor
The phrase 'God's making' serves as a powerful metaphor for authenticity, naturalness, and inherent worth, contrasting with an implied 'man-made' or 'devil-made' counterfeit.
Implied Antithesis
The proverb operates on a strong implicit contrast between the divine (perfect, natural, good) and the artificial or corrupt (flawed, unnatural, suspect). This binary opposition makes it a sharp and decisive tool for judgment.
Idiomatic Expression
The phrase functions as a concise idiom to pass summary judgment on a person's character, encapsulating a complex evaluation of their authenticity and moral standing in a simple, memorable line.
Transcription
Quotations
I am a poor Friar, a man of Gods making, and a good fellow as you are.
Luxurio, as they say, a man of God's makinge, as they saye Came to my house.
For though thou art not like to be a Lady as I am, yet sure thou art a creature of Gods making.
I believe further that many Knights and some Laydyes were neuer of Gods making.
Here's a swaggering fellow sir, that speakes not like a man of god's making.
Indeed at this time I am hardly like one of God's making.
He was once a creature, It may be, of God's making, but long since He is turn'd to a druggist's shop.
Shakespeare Citations
'A speaks not like a man of God his making.
God made him, and therefore let him pass for a man.
Is he of God's making? What manner of man? Is his head worth a hat? or his chin worth a beard?
I have thought some of Nature's journeymen had made men, and not made them well, they imitated humanity so abominably.
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
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