Why is the name Elohim plural to the Jews?
“Elohim” is plural for “El”. Many believe that the reason that “Elohim” is plural is that it refers to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As we consider Gen. 32:24-30 we will see that “Elohim” cannot refer to the Father. That passage records Jacob’s physical struggle with “a Man”. And then in verse 30 we read, “….
What is the difference between Yahweh and Elohim?
What are the 12 names of Jesus?
- Jesus.
- Emmanuel.
- Christ.
- Lord.
- Master.
- Logos (the Word)
- Son of God.
- Son of man.
Is Elohim proper or pagan?
Elohim (e-lo-HEEM) is the plural form of El or Eloah, one of the oldest designations for divinity in the world. The Hebrews borrowed the term El from the Canaanites. It can refer either to the true God or to pagan gods. Though El is used more than 200 times in the Hebrew Bible, Elohim is used more than 2,500 times.
Is Elohim and Adonai the same God?
Very briefly, Elohim is usually translated “God” or “gods”, great one or ones. It is plural in number OR collective unity. Adonai means “lord”, more like “my lord”. Yahweh is the revealed sacred name of God, usually substituted with other words like “adonai/Lord” or “Hashem”, meaning “the name”.
Can Elohim be plural?
Though Elohim is plural in form, it is understood in the singular sense. Thus, in Genesis the words, “In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth,” Elohim is monotheistic in connotation, though its grammatical structure seems polytheistic.
Is God singular or plural?
The English language accepts god(s), as used here, as either singular or plural. But, "God," which conveys an idea, not a thing, is strictly singular. Usually, capitalization has nothing to do with the meaning of a term, excepting when the term indicates a name.
Is Yahweh and Elohim the same?
There is much more than meets the eye with the terms El, translated into English as God, Yahweh, translated as the Lord, and Elohim, also translated as God. These terms are all essentially equated today.
Is Elohim masculine or feminine?
masculineBiblical perspectives Elohim is also masculine in form. The most common phrases in the Tanakh are vayomer Elohim and vayomer YHWH — "and God said" (hundreds of occurrences). Genesis 1:26-27 says that the elohim were male and female, and humans were made in their image.
How many elohim are there?
The word Elohim occurs more than 2500 times in the Hebrew Bible, with meanings ranging from "gods" in a general sense (as in Exodus 12:12, where it describes "the gods of Egypt"), to specific gods (the frequent references to Yahweh as the "elohim" of Israel), to seraphim, and other supernatural beings, to the spirits ...
What is God's plural?
god /ˈgɑːd/ noun. plural gods.
What are the 7 names of God?
Seven names of GodYHWH.Adonai.El.Elohim.Shaddai.Tzevaot.Ehyeh.
Which is correct Jehovah or Yahweh?
Although Christian scholars after the Renaissance and Reformation periods used the term Jehovah for YHWH, in the 19th and 20th centuries biblical scholars again began to use the form Yahweh.
What does El Elyon mean?
the Lord of Heaven and EarthEl 'Elyon, the Lord of Heaven and Earth, corresponds to no actual deity in the Canaanite pantheon. He has been artificially set up through the combination of El the Lord of Earth with 'Elyon the Lord of Heaven. In other words, he is the result of theological speculation.
What is the difference between Adonai and Elohim?
Elohim: the more common form in the OT; it is plural in form, emphasizing majesty. El Shaddai: God Almighty (perhaps originally, God of the mountains). Adonai: My great Lord—used for kings, but after the Exile to replace 'Yahweh' in worship.
Does God have a female name?
In fact, the personal name of God, Yahweh, which is revealed to Moses in Exodus 3, is a remarkable combination of both female and male grammatical endings. The first part of God's name in Hebrew, “Yah,” is feminine, and the last part, “weh,” is masculine.
Who is the female version of God?
At one time, Sophia was worshipped as the female aspect of God and as a creative force in the universe, but like many other goddesses, her original identity has either been lost or merged into other religious traditions.
Is Elohim plural in Genesis?
In Genesis 1:1, for example, to take elohim as plural in sense would distort the Hebrew text for the following reason: The English verb “created” has the same form in the singular and in the plural. The sense, however, is clearly seen when a pronoun is attached (he created, or they created). In Hebrew, the singular and plural ...
Is Genesis 1:1 singular or plural?
Genesis 1:1 uses the singular form ( bara, “he created”). This verb, then, prevents the interpreter from considering only the form of Hebrew noun. The noun is plural in form, but the verb is singular in form, telling the reader that both the noun and the verb are singular in meaning. One must look at the sense, ...
Is Hebrew a language?
Since the question is about the form, it is a question about the Hebrew language. It is not about the nature of God. Even so, the answer is not difficult to understand. Hebrew has its own characteristics as a language. Among these is the way in which it expresses might, authority, and reverence.
Was Moses like Elohim?
Second, Moses was to be like elohim to Aaron only in the sense that he would be in a position of more authority and respect. The same expression is used in 7:1, where Moses is told that he would be like elohim to Pharaoh. These examples show that elohim has a singular sense, despite its form.
What does the name Elohim mean?
Answer. Elohim is a Hebrew word that denotes “God” or “god.”. It is one of the most common names for God in the Old Testament, starting in the very first verse: “In the beginning [ Elohim] created the heavens and the earth” ( Genesis 1:1 ). The name Elohim occurs over 2,500 times in the Tanakh.
Why is Elohim plural in the Bible?
With that said, and in light of the overall teaching of the Bible, the plural form of Elohim certainly allows for the further revelation of God’s triune nature; the Old Testament hints at the Trinity in order to prepare people for the Messiah who would be much more than a human prophet.
What are some examples of Elohim?
Place names, too, can contain the shortened form of Elohim: Bethel (“ House of El”), Jezreel (“El Will Sow”), and, of course, Israel (“Prince of El”) are examples. When Jesus cried out from the cross, “ Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?
Is polytheism forbidden in the Old Testament?
Polytheism is expressly forbidden in the Old Testament. What about Trinitarianism? Does the fact that Elohim is plural suggest the triune nature of God? It is best to understand the word construction as a plural of majesty; that is, writing “Elohim” is a stylistic way of emphasizing greatness, power, and prestige.
Is "elohim" plural or singular?
Note that elohe is a form of elohim used with qualifying words or phrases and translated “god of.”. Interestingly, the word Elohim is grammatically plural rather than singular (the -im suffix in Hebrew indicates the plural form). The singular form of Elohim is probably Eloah.
What is the plural of Elohim?
Elohim (e-lo-HEEM) is the plural form of El or Eloah, one of the oldest designations for divinity in the world. The Hebrews borrowed the term El from the Canaanites. It can refer either to the true God or to pagan gods. Though El is used more than 200 times in the Hebrew Bible, Elohim is used more than 2,500 times.
What does the name Elohim mean?
Elohim: Biblical Meaning of God's Name. What Is Elohim? Biblical Meaning of God's Name. Elohim is the Hebrew word for God that appears in the very first sentence of the Bible. We remember that he is the one who began it all. This ancient name for God contains the idea of God's creative power as well as his authority and sovereignty.
How many times is Elohim used in the Bible?
Though El is used more than 200 times in the Hebrew Bible, Elohim is used more than 2,500 times . Its plural form is used not to indicate a belief in many gods but to emphasize the majesty of the one true God. He is the God of gods, the highest of all. Christians may recognize in this plural form a hint of the Trinity —Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
What does Elohim mean in the Bible?
As wrriten by Mike Leake on BibleStudyTools, The term "Elohim" means “supreme one” or “mighty one”. It is not only used of the one true God but is also used on occasion to refer to human rulers, judges, and even angels. If you saw one who exhibiting supreme rule and expressed mighty power the word you would use would be Elohim. That does not necessarily mean that you are referring to the one unique God. But even as one comes to understand Yahweh, you might still grab hold of this particular word, Elohim, in order to emphasize God’s power and might.
What is the name of God in the Bible?
The Name of God: Elohim. Elohim is the Hebrew word for God that appears in the very first sentence of the Bible. When we pray to Elohim, we remember that he is the one who began it all, creating the heavens and the earth and separating light from darkness, water from dry land, night from day.
Is Elohim the highest God?
He is the God of gods, the highest of all. Christians may recognize in this plural form a hint of the Trinity —Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Elohim occurs thirty-two times in the first chapter of Genesis. After that the name Yahweh appears as well and is often paired with Elohim and, in the NIV, the two together are translated "the LORD God.".
Is Elohim a cactus?
So, just one child might refer to a kitty cat as puppy and another refer to his beagle as a puppy, so also, one might refer to a cactus as Elohim and another who has full covenant knowledge of Yahweh refer to him as Elohim.
What does Elohim mean?
The term " Elohim " means “supreme one” or “mighty one.”. It is not only used of the one true God but is also used on occasion to refer to human rulers, judges, and even angels. If you saw one exhibiting supreme rule and expressed mighty power, the word you would use would be Elohim. That does not necessarily mean that you are referring to ...
Who is the prophet who said Yahweh is the only true Elohim?
Elijah is known as the prophet who was steadfast in proclaiming that Yahweh was the only true Elohim. Even the name Israel means “prince of El”. Another interesting aspect of the name Elohim is that it is, in fact, a plural.
What does the name Yahweh mean in the Bible?
7 Meanings of Yahweh - God's Name in the Bible. Abba Father - What it Means and Why it’s Important. God is the Alpha and Omega - Meaning & Understanding. The Meaning of Hosanna - Powerful Name of Jesus from the Bible. Jehovah Jireh: “The Lord Will Provide” Name of God.
What are some examples of names in the Old Testament?
Several names of popular OT characters have El in their name: Elijah (“El is Yahweh ”) and Samuel (“Heard by El”) are two such examples. When you remember the story of both Elijah and Samuel , you see the importance a name had in the Old Testament.
What is the name of God in the Bible?
One of these names is Elohim. Elohim is one of the most frequently used names for God in the Scriptures. It is this word which is used in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning [Elohim] created the heavens and the earth.” In fact the word appears some 2,750 times in the Old Testament.
Is Elohim a cactus?
So, just as one child might refer to a kitty as puppy, and another refer to his beagle as a puppy, so also one might refer to a cactus as Elohim and another who has full covenant knowledge of Yahweh refer to him as Elohim.
Overview
Elohim is a Hebrew word meaning "gods". Although the word is plural in form, in the Hebrew Bible it usually refers to a single deity, particularly (but not always) the God of Israel. At other times it refers to deities in the plural.
Morphologically, the word is the plural form of the word eloah and related to el. It is cognate to the word 'l-h-m which is found in Ugaritic, where it is used as the pa…
Grammar and etymology
The word elohim or 'elohiym (ʼĕlôhîym) is a grammatically plural noun for "gods" or "deities" or various other words in Biblical Hebrew.
In Hebrew, the ending -im normally indicates a masculine plural. However, when referring to the Jewish God, Elohim is usually understood to be grammatically singular (i.e. it governs a singular verb or adjective). In Modern Hebrew, it is often referred to in the singular despite the -im ending …
Canaanite religion
The word el (singular) is a standard term for "god" in Aramaic, paleo-Hebrew, and other related Semitic languages including Ugaritic. The Canaanite pantheon of gods was known as 'ilhm, the Ugaritic equivalent to elohim. For instance, the Ugaritic Baal Cycle mentions "seventy sons of Asherah". Each "son of god" was held to be the originating deity for a particular people (KTU 2 1.4.VI.46).
Usage
Elohim occurs frequently throughout the Torah. In some cases (e.g. Exodus 3:4, "Elohim called unto him out of the midst of the bush ..."), it behaves like a singular noun in Hebrew grammar, and is then generally understood to denote the single God of Israel. In other cases, Elohim acts as an ordinary plural of the word Eloah, and refers to the polytheistic notion of multiple gods (for example, Exodus 20:3, "You shall have no other gods before me").
Elohist
The Hebrew Bible uses various names for the God of Israel. According to the documentary hypothesis, these variations are the products of different source texts and narratives that constitute the composition of the Torah: Elohim is the name of God used in the Elohist (E) and Priestly (P) sources, while Yahweh is the name of God used in the Jahwist (J) source. Form criticism postulates the differ…
Latter Day Saint movement
In the Latter Day Saint movement and Mormonism, Elohim refers to God the Father. Elohim is the father of Jesus in both the physical and the spiritual realms, whose name before birth is said to be Jehovah.
In the belief system held by the Christian churches that adhere to the Latter Day Saint movement and most Mormon denominations, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LD…
Raëlism
The new religious movement and UFO religion International Raëlian Movement, founded by the French journalist Claude Vorilhon (who later became known as "Raël") in 1974, claims that the Hebrew word Elohim from the Book of Genesis actually refers to a species of extraterrestrial aliens.
Gnosticism
In the Gnostic text known as the Secret Book of John, Elohim is another name for Abel, whose parents are Eve and Yaldabaoth. He rules over the elements of water and earth, alongside Cain, who is seen as Yahweh ruling over the elements of fire and wind. However, the 2nd century Gnostic teacher Justin proposed a cosmological model with three original divinities. The first is a transcendental being called the Good, the second is Elohim, appearing here as an intermediate …