Indigens Deo
“In need of God.”
Augustine, De Civitate Dei 12
What does “Indigens Deo” mean?
Indigens Deo translates as “In need of God.”
Expresses the idea that human beings are not self-sufficient and depend on God.
“Indigens Deo” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Indigens | in need of, needing | nominative singular (masculine or feminine) of the present participle of indigeo, “I need, I lack”; here used like an adjective, and it takes the ablative or genitive of what is lacking |
| Deo | God | ablative singular (masculine) of Deus, “God”; the thing that is needed, which indigeo can take in the ablative |
How to pronounce “Indigens Deo”
The differences are in the g (hard in Classical, like “j” in Church Latin) and in the i of the second syllable, which sounds like the “i” in “it” in Classical but like “ee” in Church Latin. Stress falls on the first syllable of Indigens and the first of Deo, which is pronounced as two syllables.
The story behind it
Word for word the phrase says “needing God” or “in need of God”. It is a short formula, taken from a longer sentence rather than a stand-alone saying.
It comes from Augustine’s City of God (De Civitate Dei), the great work he wrote in the early fifth century. In the passage around Book 12 he asks why created beings find their happiness in God and not in themselves.
The thought is that a creature is not self-sufficient and is only complete when it turns to the one who made it. Today the phrase is used mainly in religious and devotional settings, as a statement of humility and dependence.
How to use “Indigens Deo”
It suits a tattoo, a devotional card, a motto or a print for anyone who wants to express humility and dependence on God. It also works as a short quote in an essay or sermon about human limits and faith.
- Latin
- Indigens Deo
- English
- In need of God.
- Source
- Augustine, De Civitate Dei 12
- Era
- Late Antiquity
- Theme
- Faith
Common mistakes
- It describes a state of need, not a request. It does not mean “God is needed” or “God needs us”.
- Deo is not the nominative. The nominative is Deus, so “Indigens Deus” would be wrong Latin and would change the meaning.
- Indigens is a participle, so it agrees with the person speaking. For a group it becomes plural: indigentes Deo.
- It is a fragment of a longer Augustinian argument, so it should not be presented as a complete saying of Augustine.
Questions about “Indigens Deo”
What does “Indigens Deo” mean literally?
“Needing God” or “in need of God”. Indigens is the present participle of indigeo (to need), and Deo is God in the ablative case.
Who said “Indigens Deo”?
It comes from Augustine’s City of God (De Civitate Dei), around Book 12. It is a phrase from his argument, not a famous standalone motto.
How do you pronounce “Indigens Deo”?
In Classical Latin: IN-dih-gens DEH-oh, with a hard g. In Church Latin: IN-dee-jens DEH-oh, with a soft g.
Is “Indigens Deo” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes, as a phrase it is grammatical and clear. Note that indigens agrees with the person, so a group would use the plural indigentes Deo.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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