What is the total number of genders?

I. Foundational Scriptural Passages

Genesis states, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27). This passage introduces the concept of two distinct, divinely instituted categories—male and female—at creation. Scripture then continues in Genesis 5:2, “He created them male and female, and He blessed them. And in the day they were created, He called them ‘man.’”

In the New Testament, Jesus reiterates this dual framework when He says, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female’?” (Matthew 19:4). These statements align with a consistent biblical witness pointing to the existence of two genders.

II. The Creation Account and Complementarity

The opening chapters of Genesis highlight not only the origins of humanity but also the intentional design inherent in male-female partnership. Genesis 2:24 states, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” This complementarity suggests a purposeful distinction: two individuals, identified as male and female, joining together in a covenant relationship.

Throughout the Old Testament, marriages, genealogies, and instructions for family structure consistently refer to “sons” or “daughters,” “fathers” or “mothers,” upholding the division of humanity into these two categories. Theologically, it demonstrates how male and female together reflect the image of God in a way that is distinct and complete.

III. Language and Definitions

In the Hebrew of the Old Testament, the word for “male” (זָכָר, zakar) and the word for “female” (נְקֵבָה, neqebah) indicate clear biological categories. In the New Testament Greek, the terms ἄρσεν (arsen, “male”) and θῆλυ (thēly, “female”) reinforce the same binary perspective on humanity.

The language of Scripture does not present a spectrum of genders, nor does it hint at a third category. Instead, it consistently returns to two distinct descriptors, a reflection of God’s creative choice and purposeful design.

IV. Old Testament Affirmations

1. Genealogical Records

Passages such as Genesis 5 and 10 detail lineage through sons and daughters. These records, preserved in numerous manuscripts and confirmed through textual analysis, underscore the importance of biological descent and the recognition of male-female divisions.

2. Legal and Cultural Instructions

The Mosaic Law (e.g., Leviticus 12:1–5, Deuteronomy 22:5) refers to men and women with instructions specific to each group. There is no mention of additional genders or separate categories. Instead, the Law covers distinct roles and duties applicable to either men or women, reflecting the same twofold understanding.

V. New Testament Affirmations

1. Jesus’ Teaching

In Matthew 19:4–5 and Mark 10:6–8, Jesus affirms the early chapters of Genesis, quoting directly about the Creator’s establishment of two genders. His reference to God’s original design reaffirms that this was not a temporary or cultural norm, but a foundational truth from the very beginning of humanity.

2. Apostolic Doctrine

The letters of Paul and Peter address practical Christian living, marriage, and church leadership in terms of men and women. Ephesians 5:22–33 discusses the relationship between husbands and wives as two distinct, complementary parties. No new gender category is introduced anywhere in the teachings of the Apostles; rather, they consistently return to the structure of male and female as laid out in Genesis.

3. Unity in Christ

Galatians 3:28 reads, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female—for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” This does not abolish the physical differences between men and women; it addresses spiritual equality in salvation, stating that believers of all backgrounds, both male and female, stand equally before God. It affirms unity rather than denying the two genders.

VI. Historical and Theological Consistency

Throughout church history, biblical commentators—from early church fathers to modern conservative expositors—have acknowledged the presence of only two genders in humanity. Ancient manuscripts (e.g., the Dead Sea Scrolls, which preserve portions of the Old Testament text) corroborate that the language regarding male and female has not shifted over time.

From a theological standpoint, these two genders illustrate vital truths about God’s design, human relationships, and redemption. The consistent witness of Scripture, preserved reliably through manuscript evidence, is that male and female constitute the full range of human genders.

VII. Observations from Nature and Design

Many who argue from an intelligent design perspective point out that biology across species typically distinguishes between male and female for reproduction and continuity of life. While rare chromosomal anomalies (e.g., XXY conditions) exist, they are understood as variations within the two primary categories of male and female rather than wholly separate genders.

Observers from fields like medical science, anthropology, and genetics have documented how societies historically functioned by recognizing the two complementary sexes/genders. Archaeological studies revealing artifacts, burial sites, and anthropological records provide evidence that cultures have consistently identified individuals as either male or female. Such findings align with the straightforward reading of the biblical text.

VIII. Addressing Modern Questions

Questions about gender can arise from personal experiences, cultural shifts, or changing societal norms. While Scripture underscores compassion and care for every individual (Colossians 3:12–14), it nevertheless clarifies that male and female remain the divinely ordained arrangement for humanity. Believers are encouraged to speak truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) and point to the hope found in God’s creative purposes.

In a world where new terms and categories continue to emerge, the biblical perspective remains anchored in God’s original design. The Christian worldview invites all people to understand and embrace that design while extending kindness and empathy to those struggling with identity-related questions.

IX. Conclusion

When surveying the entirety of biblical teaching, corroborated by the manuscript evidence and supported by the consistent framework of Scripture, there are only two genders described: male and female. From the earliest chapters of Genesis through the ministry of Jesus and the Apostles, this binary understanding is upheld.

The total number of genders both in Scripture’s account and in its theological framework is two. This foundational truth reflects God’s intentional creation of humanity in two distinct, yet complementary, categories that reveal His design and purpose for human flourishing.