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www.venmo.com@Maria-MerolaIs the Word “Elohiym” Plural?
Often-times I hear people using Genesis 1:26 to justify the Trinity doctrine, but the English translators added the word “US” & “OUR” into the text!
As a matter of fact, in the next verse (Genesis 1:27), we see Elohiym referring to himself in “FIRST PERSON SINGULAR” again.
In the following verse, I have placed brackets around the words that were added by the English translators:
Bereshiyth (Genesis) 1:26 And Elohiym said, [Let us] make man [in our] image, [after our] likeness: [and let them have] dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.
Bereshiyth (Genesis) 1:27 So Elohiym created man IN HIS OWN IMAGE, IN THE IMAGE of Elohiym created HE him; male and female created HE them.
The reason why the English translators used the words “US” & “OUR” is because they misunderstood the word “Elohiym” to be a plurality of beings!
However, the word “Elohiym” does not denote a plurality of persons, but rather, a plurality of offices and functions.
An example would be the title “King of Kings & Lord of Lords” in Revelation 19:16.
The word Elohiym means that he is the “The Elohiym above all others!”
In the Hebrew mind-set, it is understood that “Elohiym” is a plurality superlatives or adjectives to describe his greatness.
It would be the same thing as me saying to my husband “You are the husband above all other husbands!”
If I were to express to my husband “You are the husband of husbands,” nobody would think I was married to more than one husband.
It would be understood that I am elevating him above all others.
Many have misunderstood Elohiym to be a plurality of persons or deities.
In reality, “Elohiym is above all other false gods!”
He is the “EL of all other Elohiym” (God of Gods) if you will.
That is what the term “Elohiym” literally means!
This is illustrated several times in the TaNaKh (Old Testament) as follows:
Yahuwshuwa (Joshua) 22:22 YHWH EL of Elohiym [God of gods], YHWH EL of Elohiym [God of gods], he knows, and Yisra’EL he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against YHWH, (save us not this day,).
*Explanation: In the above passage, we see Hebrew Strong’s #430, which is “El,” meaning “The Almighty,” followed by Hebrews Strong’s #433, which is the word “Elohiym,” meaning “The Supreme God.”
Tehilliym (Psalm) 136:2 O give thanks unto the Elohiym of Elohiym [God of gods]: for his mercy endures forever.
*Explanation: In this passage, we see Hebrew Strong’s #433, which is Hebrews Strong’s #433, used twice. This is another poetic way of saying that he is “The Supreme God above all other gods.”
Daniel 2:47 The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your Elahh of Elahh [God of gods], and a Master of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing you could reveal this secret.
*Explanation: In the above passage, we see Hebrew Strong’s #426, “Elahh” which is Chaldean, but it means the same thing as “Elohiym.”
Once again, this is a poetic way of saying that he is “The Supreme God above all other gods.”
Daniel 11:36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the EL of EL [God of God], and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
*Explanation: In this above passage, we see Hebrew Strong’s #410, “El” which is Chaldean, but it means the same thing as “The Almighty.”
Once again, this is a poetic way of saying that he is “The Almighty above all other mighty gods.”
When the English translators saw the word “Elohiym,” they misunderstood this to mean a plurality of persons, rather than a plurality of superlatives (adjectives).
This is why they attempted to translate Genesis 1:26 into English by using the words “us” & “our.”
However, Genesis 1:27 gives us the correct interpretation, because they reverted back to Elohiym in the first-person singular tense.
In John 1:1 where it says “In the beginning was the Word, and the was with Elohiym, and the Word WAS Elohiym,” it is conveying that Elohiym has an expression of himself that is a visible, tangible image that we can see in this finite world.
It means that even though he is invisible, he also has a visible, bodily image for himself to be seen through (which is the Son).
The word “angel” in the TaNaKh (OT) is the Hebrew word “malak,” which means “A messenger, a prophet, a priest, an ambassador.”
Most English-speaking people see the word “angel” and they imagine a winged creature. But this word “angel” means much more than that. When we see the English phrase “Angel of the LORD,” in Hebrew, it’s only two words: “Malak YaHuWaH” (Messenger YaHuWaH).
This means YaHuWaH has a part of himself that he sends to earth to be a messenger. It does not mean that he sends a completely different person in his stead. It means that he is the WORD, that would later on put on human flesh (mortality).
But even before he came to earth, he had a Pre-Incarnate existence in eternity, which was visible to humans.
Here is the definition in the Strong’s Concordance for the word “Elohiym.”
#430 elohiym el-o-heem plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used in the plural thus, especially with the article of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, exceeding, God, very great, judges, almighty.
As you can see, it says “Gods in the ordinary sense.” But, it goes on to state that it is specifically used in the plural, but with the article. The article would be like the English word “The.”
Using the plural word “Elohiym” with the article “The,” is like saying “The Elohiym of all other Elohiym.”
It does not denote a plurality of persons, but rather, a plurality of positions, ranks, or greatness thus “The God of all Gods.”
This is evident by the remainder of the definition, which says “The Supreme God.”
This word “Elohiym” is a plurality of superlatives, or adjectives to describe his supremacy above all others!
The dictionary defines the word “superlative” as “An exaggerated or hyperbolic expression of praise; something or someone embodying excellence.”
Therefore, Elohiym as a plural word is denoting that he is a plurality of greatness, a plurality of descriptions and adjectives that nobody can adequately describe in words!
In conclusion, the biblical Messiah is not one of three persons. He is truly one person with the Father, but he takes on many roles. He displays himself as the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, the bridegroom, the lion, the lamb, etc.
Since we humans are created in the “IMAGE & LIKENESS” of Elohiym (having his DNA), we can now see that he is just like us, because we are just like him!
Similarly, YaHuWaH has three parts to his one person:
*The Father is the “head” (the mind) of his person.
*The Son is the bodily image of his person.
*The Holy Spirit is the “Spirit” of his person.
Many people who defend the doctrine of the “Trinity” also cite the Hebrew word “Elohiym” (God) as being a “plural” word for “Elowahh” (God). And once again, they are correct!
However, the fact that Elohiym has a plural nature, does not make him more than one person.
Let’s see what the Strong’s Hebrew Concordance reveals to us about the word “God.”
#430 ‘Elohiym: el-o-heem’ plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, exceeding, God (gods) (goddess, godly), (very) great, judges, mighty.
#433 ‘elowahh: el-o’-ah; rarely (shortened); eloahh {el-o’-ah probably prolonged (emphat.) from 410; a deity or the Deity:--God, god. See 430.
The plurality of the word “Elohiym,” is not describing a plurality of persons. It is describing his plurality of functions.
Here are a few ways that Elohiym manifests himself in a plurality of roles:
*Genesis 22:14 YaHuWaH - Yirah (Provider).
*Exodus 15:26 YaHWaH - Rapha (Healer).
*Exodus 15:16 YaHuWaH - Nissi (Banner of Victory).
*Leviticus 20:7-8 YaHuWaH - Qadash (Sanctifier).
*Jeremiah 23:5-6 YaHuWaH - Tzedeq (Righteousness).
*Judges 6:24 YaHuWaH - Shalom (Peace).
*Psalm 23:1 YaHuWaH - Rohi (Shepherd).
*Ezekiel 48:35 YaHuWaH - Shamah (Always Present).
Elohiym is Like Pants?
At this website, I cited an author named Bunyan Towery, who gave a short and concise explanation on July 19th 2018.
If I were the queen of England, I the Queen, we (that is, I) would use the plural of majesty to express ourselves to the peons of our realm. When royalty uses “we” instead of “me” or “I,” it puts on an air of regal superiority. Is this bad grammar or just an accepted style?
There’s a word in the Bible that’s plural yet singular: Elohim. The word can mean “gods” or the Creator of the universe. Bad grammar?
“So,” you wonder, “why is Elohim plural when we know the Bible teaches us there is just one God?” Before I answer that, let me give you some interesting tidbits about the word Elohim.
First, whenever Elohim is used in the Bible to refer to the Creator of everything (Genesis 1:1), the plural noun generally uses a singular verb. In this case, Elohim is translated as “God” rather than “gods.” When elohim refers to anything else one might think of as “god-ish,” it’s translated as “gods” and uses a plural verb (1st Samuel 28:13).
Second, elohim is like our small-g god. Small-g gods are Thor, Zeus, Ra, Horis, Lennon, and Elvis. At best, these creatures (entities? persons? beings? imaginations? rock stars?) may be god-like, but hardly infinite.
So elohim can be used to refer to angels (Psalm 8:6), authorities (Exodus 21:6), Moses (Exodus 7:1), and to other august (majestic) though somewhat ambiguous spiritual creatures (Exodus 20:3; Psalm 82:1).
Third, and finally, elohim is used in the OT 2602 times. It enjoys a certain popularity among the guild of biblical authors.
What does Elohim mean?
Let me briefly address the “why” for Elohim. Why is a plural noun used for the Creator of the universe?
The simplest explanation is that a plural noun reflects the fullness of deity. Some scholars call this “The plural of majesty.” This is how the Queen speaks: “We are not amused,” she said, after hearing my jokes.
But other scholars disagree: Hebrew doesn’t have a plural of majesty. Instead, it comes back to God’s uniqueness and all his omnis (omniscience—He knows everything; omnipotence—He can do anything; and omnipresence—He’s everywhere).
The “God” of the Bible can do what it takes hundreds, even thousands of gods from Mount Olympus, or from Asgard, or from Hollywood’s Pixar Studios to do. This makes better sense to me that the plural of majesty, Elohim is all about effulgence and aseity (self-sufficiency).
Bad grammar (at least the way we understand it) and all, Elohim is awesome.
Elohim is the Creator of the universe. When we are introduced to Elohim in Genesis 1:1, the verse tells us he created the heavens and the earth. Look around you. One God did all this. Just one Elohim did what the Greeks thought hundreds of gods would have done. That is, (they would have if they actually existed), but they don’t so they didn’t.
Is Elohiym Three Separate Persons?
The Doctrine of the Trinity purports that our Creator is “Three separate persons,” but is that really what the Scriptures teach? Roman Catholic artwork depicts three separate people on the throne, as “Father, Son & Holy Spirit.” However, according to the Catholic Catechism, “Mary is the third person of the Trinity, and he can only operate through her!”
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How can there be “One Creator” who manifests as “three separate persons?”
Such an idea is an “oxymoron.” An oxymoron is a contradicting statement.
The idea of Elohiym as a Trinity of beings has it’s roots in Pantheism. Pantheism is the notion that there are many “gods,” or that the one true Elohiym is a plurality of persons. To learn more about the doctrine of the Trinity, please see my other blog: The Oneness of the Father & the Son Versus Trinitarianism
To get to the root of this conundrum, it is important to define the word “person,” as it is used in Scripture, and also as it is defined in the dictionary. To begin with, there is only one verse in the entire Bible that describes our Creator as a “person,” (singular). That one verse is found in Hebrews 1:3 in the King James Version.
These three verses are describing Elohiym (God) as a singular person who is expressed through the image of the Son:
Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Hebrews 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
The Greek word for “person,” in Hebrews 1:3 is seen in this screenshot, “hupostasis,” which means “an essence or a substance, that which has actual existence; something firm.”
Going by the above definition of the word “person,” we can see that our Creator has only one existence, as he is one essence or substance. An example of the word “substance,” is H20, or water. Water is only one substance, but it can take on more than one form. However, it does not become “three separate substances,” because it remains as H20, regardless of how many forms it takes.
The Hebrew definition for the word “person” is “nephesh,” which literally means “a living, breathing creature.” Going by this definition, we know that the Father, Son & Holy Spirit share the same mind, body and spirit.
Colossians 2:9
For in him dwells all the fulness of the DIVINITY (Godhead) bodily.
The Greek word for “godhead,” is “theotes,” which simply means “deity, divinity, the state of being Elohiym.” By this definition, we understand that there is only one bodily image that embodies the FULLNESS of our Creator, and that bodily image is the one we have seen with our eyes, which is the Messiah, the Son. The Latin word “deitas,” (deity) was used by Tertullian and Augustine in the 2nd Century Alexandrian Texts.
The King James Version explains that the only visible image of Elohiym is the Son:
John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
1st John 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Therefore, we conclude that the FULLNESS OF DEITY, is embodied in the visible, bodily image of the Son. This means he cannot be “three separate persons,” because the Father, the Son & Holy Spirit share the same “breath, nephesh, soul and spirit.” They also share the same mind, and the same bodily image, which is the Son.
The Invisible Elohiym Can Only Be Seen in the Bodily Image of the Son
The King James Version tells us that the Son is the visible image of the invisible Elohiym:
Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
1st Timothy 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
The Dictionary Definition for the word “Person”
As you can see, the word “person,” according to the dictionary, is describing “one of three modes of being.” Going by this definition, a “mode,” is not the same thing as an individual person.
The dictionary defines the word “mode,” as “an expression.” Using this definition, it is true that our Creator manifests in at least “three modes” (Father, Son & Holy Spirit), but not “three separate bodily images or persons.”
As an example, I am a mother, a daughter, a sister, and a wife. This does not mean that I am “four separate persons.” In all four of my “modes,” I am still only “one person.”
The dictionary also defines the word “person” as “the singular personality of Christ which unites the human and divine natures”
The dictionary also defines the word “person” as “the as bodily image, or bodily appearance of a human being.” It can also mean “a human being.”
Going by these definitions, our Creator is not “three bodily images,” nor is he “three human beings.” Only the Son has manifested as a human being. Therefore, the word “person,” cannot be used to describe Elohiym as “three separate beings, or three bodily images, or persons.”
Another Greek Word for “Person”
As you can see, the Greek word “prosopon” is where we get the English word “person.” Going by this definition, the word “prosopon” means “the face, countenance, or appearance” of a person. Since we have already established that Elohiym is invisible, and that he has never been seen by anyone at any time, he cannot be “three separate appearances, or three faces.”
The Roman Emperor Constantine in 325 A.D. argued against “The oneness” of the Father and the Son, by forming a counter doctrine called “Modalism.” Constantine determined that Modalism was “heresy,” and that the Trinitarian belief was to be the official doctrine of the Roman Empire.
Those who opposed the Trinitarian belief, were deemed as “An enemy of the state.” However, having said that, I personally do not consider myself “A Modalist.”
In the construct of Modalism, Elohiym is viewed as being merely “three modes,” but only Yahuwshuwa (Jesus) is a “person.”
*Note: I don’t adhere to this view entirely, as I do believe that Father, Son & Holy Spirit are “persons” (having a personality) but not “three separate persons.”
As an example, I am a mother, a daughter, and a wife, therefore I have “three different roles or modes,” but I am not “three separate persons.”
Additionally, I am only “one person” in “all three modes.” I am a person when I am functioning as a mother; I am a person when I am functioning as wife, and I am a person when I am functioning as a daughter.
Thus, we can see that the idea of Elohiym as “THREE SEPARATE PERSONS” is not supported by Scripture. The word “person” cannot be describing the essence and nature of our Creator, when using the Hebrew & Greek Concordance definitions.
The word “person” also by the dictionary definition cannot be used to describe our Creator either.
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