Arizona State Motto

"Ditat Deus"

(God enriches)

Adopted in 1864.

Language: Latin

Focus: Religious

See Arizona State Seal

Ditat Deus has been translated as: "God Enriches." The motto has remains unchanged since its introduction by Richard Cunningham McCormick in 1864. The motto is an expression, most likely biblical in origin, of a very deep religious sentiment. A shield with the motto Ditat Deus, which means God Enriches, lies in the center of the seal and contains symbols of Arizona's key enterprises.

Arizona's motto, Ditat Deus, meaning God enriches, is in all probability derived from Genesis 14:23 of the Latin Vulgate Version of the Bible.

There are four states with mottos that mention "God." Most people would probably regard them as being religious mottos:

1. Arizona: "Ditat Deus" This means "God Enriches in Latin."
2. Florida: "In God We Trust." -- identical to the current national motto
3. Ohio: "With God, All Things Are Possible." This is a direct biblical quotation from the King James Version of Matthew 19:25-26: "When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."
4. South Dakota: "Under God, The People Rule."

There are three other states with mottos that make reference to "God."

1. Colorado: "Nothing Without Providence"
2. Connecticut: "He Who Transplanted Still Sustains"
3. Maine: "I Direct"

Arizona Constitution

Arizona Constitution, Article 22, Section 20.

Article 22. SCHEDULE AND MISCELLANEOUS.
Section 20. Design of state seal.

20. Design of state seal Section 20. The seal of the State shall be of the following design: In the background shall be a range of mountains, with the sun rising behind the peaks thereof, and at the right side of the range of mountains there shall be a storage reservoir and a dam, below which in the middle distance are irrigated fields and orchards reaching into the foreground, at the right of which are cattle grazing. To the left in the middle distance on a mountain side is a quartz mill in front of which and in the foreground is a miner standing with pick and shovel. Above this device shall be the motto: "Ditat Deus." In a circular band surrounding the whole device shall be inscribed: "Great Seal of The State of Arizona", with the year of admission of the State into the Union.