We invite readers to submit questions. Or perhaps we continue in even greater suppression and fail to acknowledge any concept of Elohim, choosing instead to place ourselves as the mighty one. Yahweh is the name for God given by God especially to Israel. What does the word Yahweh mean? The text (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) of the Shema reads "yahweh eloheinu", meaning "Yahweh is our god". Yahweh was revealed to Moses as God's new and memorial name, as recorded in Exodus 6:3, which reads, "I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty (Ail … Elohim:Unfortunately, the precise development of the word "elohim" is unknown. Verse: The Mighty One, God, the Lord (Jehovah), the Mighty One (El), God (Elohim), the Lord! Dr. Michael D. WilliamsGod insists that his name is Yahweh. As wrriten by Mike Leake on BibleStudyTools, The term "Elohim" means “supreme one” or “mighty one”. Such an honorific plural is used for humans in texts like 1Kings 1:43, where we read, "our lord King David." This begs the question, is Yahweh an El among the Elim? What Is Elohim? and the most common use in the scripture. aleph, lamedh, he, yod, mem, nun. It is translated from the original words "YAHWEH Elohim". Second, the relationship between YHWH and Elohim in the combination YHWH Elohim is one of apposition, that is to say the second noun is placed immediately after the first noun to provide some sort of further definition or explanation. Further maturation might have the child now calling the dog a specific breed—like a beagle. This is an imperfect illustration of the relationship between Elohim and Yahweh, but perhaps it will capture enough of the thought to be helpful. First, YHWH is a proper noun, the personal name of Israel's deity. 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. It is clear in this latter example that even though the form of the word Elohim is plural, the referent is singular, because the verb with which Elohim is used ("created") is singular in Hebrew. Elohim is the plural form of "eloah." When referring to Yahweh, elohim very often is accompanied by the article ha -, to mean, in combination, “the God,” and sometimes with a further identification Elohim ḥayyim, meaning “the living God.” Though Elohim is plural in form, it is understood in the singular sense. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever. First, YHWH Elohim cannot mean "Lord of Gods." If you saw one who exhibiting supreme rule and expressed mighty power the word you would use would be Elohim. Yahweh, Adonai, LORD, Jehovah... God seems to have a lot of names, what exactly am I supposed to call Him? He is the God of gods, the highest of all. Does this mean this is a clear reference to the Trinity? And if that knowledge moves into a relationship, Elohim is now identified as Yahweh. "—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Christians may recognize in this plural form a hint of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The song of Moses is making a comparison between Yahweh and the other Elim, and recognizing that Yahweh is more glorious and holy than the other Elim. However when there is a relationship involved with humanity the name Yahweh is used (Genesis 2). From Gen. 2:4 onward, it is LORD God – YAHWEH Elohim. It can refer either to the true God or to pagan gods. Its plural form is used not to indicate a belief in many gods but to emphasize the majesty of the one true God. So, YWHW is the true God's personal name, and Elohim by itself is simply the Hebrew common noun used to refer to the true God in an honorific way. 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. - Psalm 109:26, Elohim is the Hebrew word for God that appears in the very first sentence of the Bible. The word Elohim is the plural of El (or possibly of Eloah) and is the first name for God given in the Tanakh: "In the beginning, God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1): The name Elohim is unique to Hebraic thinking: it occurs only in Hebrew and in no other ancient Semitic language. The plural term Elohim represents the Father and Son in a family relationship. In reality, a man drowning in ten feet of water isn’t in much better shape than a man drowning in a hundred feet of water. ", Elohim (e-lo-HEEM) is the plural form of El or Eloah, one of the oldest designations for divinity in the world. Elohim is actually a plural noun (indicated by the /im/ as in cherubim and seraphim). What Does Elohim Mean & Why is This Name of God So Important? According to Scripture, everyone knows there is a higher power. This honorific plural is also used of God elsewhere in texts like Psalm 8:1, where we read, "O LORD, our Lord…." The problem with YHWH Elohim is that Hebrew grammar does not permit a proper noun to be put in construction with a common noun, so YHWH Elohim cannot mean "YHWH/Lord of Gods." 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. This ancient name for God contains the idea of God's creative power as well as his authority and sovereignty. What Does it Mean to Be a God-Fearing Christian? Now, what about the combination YHWH Elohim? And if the puppy comes to live in the child’s home what once was ‘puppy dog’ will now become ‘my beagle’. Notice that the two phrases Yahweh Tseva'ot and Yahweh Elohim are synonyms, one using a feminine plural word meaning "forces," the other a masculine plural word meaning "powers." Why this change of nomination of God? In Genesis 2, on the other hand, deity is referred to as YHWH Elohim. Yahweh was the national god of Ancient Israel. Help me, O Yahweh my Elohim. The Old Testament writers understood that Yahweh was an elohim—but no other elohim was Yahweh. In addition, when Elohim refers to the true God, it is singular and so translated "God" and not "Gods.". Elohim is actually a plural noun (indicated by the /im/ as in cherubim and seraphim). Second, Elohim is a common noun, used to refer to deity. 6,600 years ago on the Island of Patmos (Pelan), the 60,000 Elohim volunteered for the selective breeding experiment. Also note that Yahweh is not the tseva'ot but a part of it, Yahweh is a part of the "forces," hence the usual translation of "LORD of hosts." Its contraction Yah occurs 49 times. As his knowledge of truth matures Elohim might take upon a specific character, i.e. When the creative aspect of God is recorded then the name Elohim is used (Genesis 1). How relevant is pragmatism to the education system today? The Spirit of God In later Jewish thought, a third tier was added below the earth. Eloah () nm God Elohim () nm God. He was also the firstborn from the dead, which references His resurrection; whereas, being firstborn over all creation references His pre-existence. Yahweh is the covenant-keeping name of God. Use in the Bible: … The Hebrews borrowed the term El from the Canaanites. ELOHIM is the masculine plural title form EL {aleph, lamedh.} So it is especially significant when Jesus says; Hebrews 13:8. Sometimes Elohim refers to plural "gods," as in "You shall have no other gods before me" (Deuteronomy 5:7). The words Elohim and Adonai are titles. 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. He is the Elohim above all other elohim. If Yahweh refers to Himself as Elohim in the very Book He inspired Moses to write, then is not Elohim a term sanctioned by Yahweh Himself? Sometimes the referent is plural. At other times the referent is singular. It, too, is a family relationship. - Psalm 109:26. Like most words in English, Elohim can mean several things. Ruach may be understood as the Author of the animating dynamic of the created order, the underlying Principle of creation, and the One that imparts the nephesh to the entire universe. Though El is used more than 200 times in the Hebrew Bible, Elohim is used more than 2,500 times. Sometimes the referent is plural. The Name of God: Elohim. Like most words in English, Elohim can mean several things. Jesus used a form of the name in his agonized prayer from the cross. | BibleStudyTools.com, Praying the Names of God | Christianity.com. We make ourselves arbiters of truth. Biblical Meaning of God's Name. The meaning hidden in the name Yahweh . Help me, O Yahweh my Elohim. He specializes in Hebrew language and is author of the book Beginning Biblical Hebrew (Eisenbrauns, 2003). So, why the plural form if the referent is singular? 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. Elohim is the Hebrew word for God that appears in the very first sentence of the Bible. This is the case when plural verbs are used with it in the Hebrew language. Yahweh, the god of the Israelites, whose name was revealed to Moses as four Hebrew consonants (YHWH) called the tetragrammaton. The significance of this can be seen in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2. Likewise, acknowledging the existence of an Elohim doesn’t put you in a position any better than one who actively and aggressively denies the concept of God. The implication is that Elohim is a Family of … In chapter one, only Elohim is used 34 times. Who is YAHWEH? If a small child sees a furry animal he may very well refer to it as a puppy dog, but as he matures he is able to clearly differentiate between a puppy dog and a kitty. 8 Beautiful Prayers for Moms This Mother's Day. Look at these verses, Gen 2:5, 7, 8, 15, 16, etc. Our Heavenly Father, Yahweh Elohim, brought forth His Son from the beginning, and the pre-existent Yahshua was the firstborn of all creation. After the Babylonian Exile (6th century bce ), and especially from the 3rd century bce on, Jews ceased to use the name Yahweh for two reasons. This messenger then tells Jacob "I am the El of Beytel." These two accounts converge to affirm that YHWH (the God of Israel) and not any other ancient Near Eastern deity is Elohim (the universal God). Yahweh. We especially welcome questions that provide professors the occasion to draw erudite distinctions and incorporate mention of matters you had no idea were connected to the topic at hand. He knows, and may Israel itself know. In this text "LORD" (small caps) translates YHWH, while "Lord" translates a common noun for "master," which is in this text plural in form though referring to the singular YHWH. We remember that he is the one who began it all. Image: Western Wall with the Dome of the Rock in background by askii // CC BY. Answered by Mark D. Futato, Robert L. Maclellan Professor of Old Testament and Academic Dean at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando. This is the case for a fundamental grammatical reason. “Ask a Scholar” matches readers’ questions to scholars with answers. It is interesting to note that even though Elohim is plural, the Hebrew dictionary still translates it "God" instead of "Gods." In the same way, a person might see a powerful expression and say Elohim. ELOHIM [el-oh-heem]: God “Creator, Mighty and Strong” (Genesis 17:7; Jeremiah 31:33) – the plural … As written by Mike Leake, another interesting aspect of the name Elohim is that it is, in fact, a plural. These differences are consistent throughout the entire Old Testament. The best answer is that this is an "honorific plural," that is to say, a plural used to show honor to a singular referent. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? Second, Elohim is a common noun, used to refer to deity. Click on the link to send us an email, or you may submit questions via Intellectual Takeout's Ask the Professor feature. It may also (or alternatively) carry some force as a plural of amplication. In Hebrew there is a special grammatical relationship between two nouns called the construct state. This ancient name for God contains the idea of God's creative power as well as his authority and sovereignty. 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. Professor Sandra Stotsky describes Mann's shaping influe...... 420 Madison Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10017, Copyright © 2021 National Association of Scholars, Western Wall with the Dome of the Rock in background. This is because the Hebrews know that there is only one Yahweh. In short, as the ruach is to the created nephesh, so the Ruach Elohim is to God Himself, part of God and identified with God. In Genesis 1 only Elohim is used to refer to deity. From chapter 2:4 LORD GOD, YAHWEH Elohim is exclusively used 11 times. The Names of God. If it was in rebellion, or if in an unfaithful act against the Lord do not save us this day! As Judaism became a universal rather than merely a local religion, the more common Hebrew noun Elohim (plural in form but understood in the singular), meaning “God,” tended to replace Yahweh … El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty) (el shad-di') All-Sufficient One, Lord God Almighty. 6:4-5) "Hear, O Israel, YAHWEH our Elohinu is one.” ELOHIM. At other times it refers to the singular "God," as in "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). So then, YHWH Elohim does not mean "Lord of Gods...the one of many," but means that YHWH, the personal God who rules over Israel, is at one and the same time the universal God who rules over all. Article Images Copyright © 2021 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. In the original Hebrew, the name Yahweh appears to link directly to the meaning, “He was, he is and he is to come”. NAME OF GOD: Jehovah El Elohim MEANING: The LORD God of gods, the LORD, mighty, powerful, strong One over all. Yahweh Elohim is the Eternal Son with His Father in this plural God relationship. Many scholars refer to this as a divine plural. Usually found in poetry, this plural is an emphatic statement of the root idea, as might and counsel.”. ", Excerpt from Praying the Names of God by Ann Spangler. The Hebrew word translated "lord" in this case is plural, even though it refers to the singular David. If the inspired texts — breathed from Yahweh's very own mouth — occasionally refer to Yahweh as "Elohim" (meaning "Mighty One"), how can it be wrong for us to refer to Yahweh as an Elohim? Elohim occurs thirty-two times in the first chapter of Genesis. Yahweh (or Jehovah) means literally, "He who will be", and occurs 6,829 times in the Old Testament. First, YHWH is a proper noun, the personal name of Israel's deity. 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