Anthropopathy
Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary [1]
a metaphor by which things belonging to creatures and especially to man are ascribed to God. Instances of this abound in the Scriptures, by which they adapt themselves to human modes of speaking, and to the limited capacities of men. These anthropopathies we must however interpret in a manner suitable to the majesty of the divine nature. Thus, when the members of a human body are ascribed to God, we must understand by them those perfections of which such members in us are the instruments. The eye, for instance, represents God's knowledge and watchful care; the arm, his power and strength; the ears, the regard he pays to prayer and to the cry of oppression and misery, &c. Farther, when human affections are attributed to God, we must so interpret them as to imply no imperfection, such as perturbed feeling in him. When God is said to repent, the antecedent, by a frequent figure of speech, is put for the consequent; and in this case we are to understand an altered mode of proceeding on the part of God, which in man is the effect of repenting.
Charles Buck Theological Dictionary [2]
A figure, expression, or discourse, whereby some passion is attributed to God which properly belongs only to man. Anthropopathy is frequently used promiscuously with anthropology; yet in strictness they ought to be distinguished, as the genus from the species. Anthropology may be understood of any thing human attributed to God, as eyes, hands, &c. but anthropopathy only of human affections and passions, as joy, grief. We have frequent instances of the use of these figures in holy scripture.
Webster's Dictionary [3]
(n.) The ascription of human feelings or passions to God, or to a polytheistic deity.
